Annexation agreement makes way for hotel

In its 2003 annexation agreement, Monument negotiated 1 million square feet of office space. In 2004, a 250,000-square foot LEED-certified building, which still remains empty, was built on the site.

A second office building ‘‘can be built at any time,” Felton said. The new hotel will use about 60,000 to 90,000 square feet.

Monday’s decision came on the heels of what the city views as a troubling change in policy-making. Since 2005, the Watkins Mill Interchange has been a ‘‘top three” priority for the Montgomery County Council. But last week County Council staff recommended breaking the $140 million project into two parts – and building the highway ramps and connecting bridge separately, with priority placed on the bridge.

Felton recommended that city leaders hold an ‘‘aggressive” push in meetings with state highway project teams and state delegates.

No new city manager yet

It’s been three weeks since city manager finalist candidates came to town for a second round of interviews and tour of the city and the city has still not made a hire. Finalists are Ted Voorhees of Durham, N.C., and Angel Jones of Eugene, Ore.

Gaithersburg has been without a city manager since October, when city manager David B. Humpton retired. Daily, Katz and the City Council have met in closed executive sessions for the last three Mondays. City leaders have said they hope to make a hire by August.

Housing amendment

City leaders voted Monday to include a Water Street development in the Olde Towne Central Business District – and amended the city’s affordable housing ordinance so that newly annexed CBD properties must still build the required units.

‘‘This amendment to our affordable housing ordinance is not expanding the exemption,” said Councilman Jud Ashman on Monday. ‘‘It’s freezing it in place.”

The existing affordable housing ordinance effectively gave Olde Towne’s CBD an exemption by requiring a $1 fee per unit in lieu of building the required 15 percent affordable housing units. For example, developers of the planned Archstone development on East Diamond Avenue will pay $181 to avoid building 181 affordable housing units.

Monday’s amendment applies the rule to the city’s enterprise zone, rather than CBD.

The change means that properties newly annexed into the central business district would not be exempt from building the city’s normal affordable housing requirements because new CBD properties are not part of the enterprise zone, Felton said.

Name change

Gaithersburg’s Parks and Recreation Director Michele McGleish got married July 5. Her name is now Michele Potter.

Rabies clinic

A free rabies clinic is scheduled 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday at the Montgomery County Humane Society’s animal shelter, located at 14645 Rothgeb Drive in Rockville. All pets must be accompanied by an adult, all dogs must be kept on a leash and all cats must be contained.

Communication awards

Four city employees were recently honored at the 2008 APEX awards, an international communications award ceremony.

Public Information Director Britta Monaco received an award of excellence in magazine and journal writing for the 2008 Gaithersburg City Guide she produced with The Gazette.

Graphic designer Haleh Brandau won an excellence award for her design of a poster promoting the Activity Center at Bohrer Park.

Cable program producer Chris Clifford and television production specialist Amy McGuire were honored for a video, ‘‘Celebrating Rachel Carson,” which used the words of Rachel Carson Elementary students to celebrate the environmentalist’s life.