Park and Planning: Reedie Drive Headquarters Would Need More Land

If the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission were to build a new headquarters south of Reedie Drive in Wheaton, it would need to acquire more land, M-NCPPC Chair Francoise Carrier told members of the Montgomery County Council Friday morning.

As presently designed, the proposed building would extend to the edges of the property, with the possibility that taller buildings erected next door in the future could completely block M-NCPPC windows, Carrier said during a joint council committee meeting.

The headquarters also would not contribute to the retail flavor of Reedie Drive that is called for in the Wheaton Sector Plan, she said.

The council approved exploring the aquisition of land adjacent the Mid-County Regional Services Center during a closed session in March, said Council President Nancy Navarro (D-Dist. 4) of Silver Spring.

Councilmember George L. Leventhal (D-At Large) of Takoma Park said he is reluctant to acquire more land and would rather use land that the county already owns.

Carrier said that she believes M-NCCPC would be able to buy additional land using funds already appropriated by the council.

Park and Planning is not tied to the idea of locating its headquarters on the south side of Reedie Drive, she said. “We would be perfectly happy on [Parking] Lot 13," which is north of Reedie Drive.