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Shady Grove plan passes, school bus lot shift opposed

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2006

The County Council agreed Tuesday that a school bus lot in Rockville should not be transferred to the Webb Tract on Snouffer School Road.

A vote to prevent the move came as the council approved the Shady Grove sector plan, which calls for relocating a County Service Park on Crabbs Branch Way to make room for thousands of new housing units around the Shady Grove Metro Station.

The council was clear, however, that other elements of the service park — such as a county liquor warehouse, a Ride On bus maintenance facility, and a school food warehouse — could still be moved to the privately owned Webb Tract.

The decision was a victory for Montgomery Village residents who have waged a vigorous campaign against the bus depot relocation.

At least one councilmember said the decision could be reversed in the future.

The controversial sector plan allows the buildup of between 5,388 and 6,340 new housing units, thus adding about 20,000 more residents to the area just south of Gaithersburg.

Eight council members voted for the plan; only Councilman Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg voted against it.

Councilman Steven A. Silverman (D-At large) of Silver Spring, a vocal supporter of the plan, called it a ‘‘shining example of Smart Growth in Montgomery County.”

Andrews said the planned housing density ‘‘is just too high for the area to support.”

His comment echoes those of some residents, who say the plan is too dense and will overwhelm already strained roadways, schools and other public amenities in the area.

About 8,000 residents live in the sector, an area of about 2,000 acres roughly bordered by Midcounty Highway to the northeast, Redland Road to the east, Gude Drive to the south, Route 355 to the west and Gaithersburg and Washington Grove to the northwest.

Supporters say the answer to future congestion is to build more housing near public transportation.

The council’s final plan fell short of the Greater Shady Grove Civic Alliance’s most recent expectations.

The alliance wanted 30 percent less density and a dedicated community center, said Brad Botwin, acting president of the civic group.

Instead of a community center, the council voted to include additional meeting space in the new library.

‘‘They’re trying to make this a hub,” Botwin said. ‘‘Well, a hub needs a place for people to get together. And that’s not always a library.”

The group also wanted a county guarantee to purchase the Casey at Mill Creek property, located south of Washington Grove, before a development agreement reserving the land for possible school construction expires.

The council voted to establish a citizen’s advisory committee to monitor implementation of the sector plan.

The council vote to restrict moving school buses from the service park to the Webb Tract, a 134-acre property near the Montgomery County Airpark.

John Matthews, director of transportation for county schools, said the system intends to decentralize approximately 400 school buses currently housed in the service park.

Council President George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park previously criticized the sector plan, calling it ‘‘inadequate” to discuss relocating the public facilities in the 91-acre service park without properly analyzing where they would be moved and how much it would cost.

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D), whose office will help negotiate any potential relocation arrangements, has made the revenue-neutral relocation of the service park a condition of his support.