Parking Study Delayed Until County Chooses Wheaton Developer

Montgomery County's executive branch plans to select a developer for Wheaton before conducting the planning study that the county council allotted money for in the fiscal year 2013 capital improvements program.

Steve Silverman, the director of the Department of Economic Development, said that the study could take place before the end of the fiscal year. The selection of a developer for Wheaton may be announced before the end of January.

The council included the parking study in response to concerns that construction on parking lot 13 in the center of Wheaton would harm the small businesses that rely on the parking spaces to attract customers.

The council set aside $650,000 for the parking study, a bus bay feasibility study and local job creation studies.

However, Silverman said earlier this month that the executive branch has chosen not to go forward with the bus bay feasibility study, which was designed to keep the door open for redeveloping the triangle space between Reedie Drive, Georgia Avenue, and Veirs Mill Road.

Silverman anticipates language in the general development agreement for Wheaton about local purchasing and job opportunities. The county plans to work with Montgomery Works in Westfield Wheaton to engage in community outreach.

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See more articles on this topic:

Wheaton Redevelopment Update: Developer Choice May Come Soon

County Drops Bus Bay Feasibility Study for Wheaton Redevelopment

County Council Focuses Redevelopment on Park & Planning Headquarters