Council Chooses Developer Approach for Wheaton

County officials have the next six months to work with private developers on plans for Wheaton redevelopment that could include the new Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission headquarters, the Montgomery County Council decided at a budget worksession Monday.

With the current Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission headquarters at 8787 Georgia Avenue in Silver Spring added to the mix of properties available in Wheaton, county officials say they are seeing more interest from developers.

The project description form (PDF) embraced by the Council sets forth a timeline for this process:

The Executive has indicated his intent to issue an RFP by June 1 and select a developer by Nov. 1. Planning and engineering will commence in FY14. Construction of the private sector development is anticipated to begin in FY16 with the county's construction of the town square planned to follow with a FY18 start.

This decision came after two joint committee meetings where councilmembers had trouble reaching an agreement over amendments to the county's CIP budget.

Council President Nancy Navarro, after advocating a split project approach in which the Park and Planning headquarters project would proceed separately from other redevelopment projects in Wheaton, announced that she had changed her mind, due to concern that a divided Council would take no action at all.

According to the PDF, the county would spend $66 million for Wheaton redevelopment over the next six fiscal years. Construction funds would kick in beginning in fiscal year 2016.

This revised PDF will allow for the solicitation of proposals for public and private development on Lot 13, the site of the existing Wheaton Regional Services Center, and Lot 34. The revised project provides for the planning, design, and for construction of a town square at the southern side of Parking Lot 13, which is at least 1/3 the area of the site.

The PDF also includes $650,000 for a parking study -- a key request from a coalition of small business owners in the Wheaton Central Business District who worry that construction will reduce parking spaces for their customers -- and planning studies for job training opportunities and approaches to creating local jobs.

In a letter to her fellow councilmembers, Navarro asked that they support allowing Park and Planning to move forward separately with its own headquarters if a developer has not been selected by Dec. 1.

Related Links:

• Councilmembers Divided on Wheaton Redevelopment Approach
• Council Weighs Options for Park and Planning Headquarters
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• Wheaton Redevelopment: Different Site Considered for Park and Planning Headquarters 
• Report: Leggett Opposes Moving County Agencies to Park and Planning Headquarters in Wheaton