Development News: Costco Will Apply for Special Exemption for Gas Pumps

Community members learned Wednesday evening that Costco construction at the Wheaton mall site should begin in the next few months.

The company will pursue the special exception so that it may install gas pumps near the store, Rob Klein, manager of development programs for Montgomery County's Department of General Services, told a meeting of the Wheaton Redevelopment Advisory Committee.

Costco had attempted to fast-track the review, but with opposition from the community and some county planning officials, the wholesaler instead decided to lease the space first from Westfield. The county Planning Department has not yet received the special exception application yet.

Across Georgia Avenue, Safeway's site plan will go before the planning board on Oct. 28. This is a major step in moving toward groundbreaking.

At Tuesday's meeting of the Wheaton Urban District Association Committee (WUDAC), committee members were told that current timeline for the project would include demolishing the existing store this December, with construction beginning in spring of next year.

Earlier this year, Patriot Realty, the management company for the Safeway lot, successfully passed a project review.

Additionally, community members learned that a fence will be placed on the median on Georgia Avenue leading up to Reedie Drive in order to address pedestrian-safety concerns. The wrought iron fence will be nearly identical to the one on Veirs Mill Road leading up to the mall and will be installed to deter pedestrians from crossing the street mid-block.

Natalie Cantor, director of the Mid-County Services Center, had requested this fence in the interest of pedestrian safety in the Wheaton Urban District.

Several committee members, including Susan Petersen, said they did not agree that the action was pedestrian friendly and wanted to be consulted in discussions of future fences.

The Wheaton Sector plan continues slowly but surely. Workgroup sessions on the plan will be held Oct. 7, 28 and Nov. 18 at M-NCCPC in downtown Silver Spring. These sessions will work out changes to the plan, based on public comment and community walking tours, before it is sent to the Montgomery County Council next year.