Town center plan gets mixed reviews

The Olney Town Center Advisory Committee is made up of 12 volunteers, representing civic organizations, homeowners associations, county agencies and local businesses.

The plan shows how Olney could look in 20 years.

Plans are under way for the Carl M. Freeman Companies to develop the Olney Town Center shopping center, but the individual landowners would redevelop other parcels and the timeframe would likely be driven by the economy.

RTKL Associates Inc. worked with the advisory committee pro bono to develop the illustrative concept and it was on hand to present their findings.

‘‘You have a really good master plan in place, which will lead to a much higher quality of living, increased property values and a town center that everyone should be proud of,” RTKL representative Bill Caldwell said.

The plan, which includes buildings of up to five stories featuring retail, residential and office space, structured parking, a civic center and green space, has met with mixed review.

‘‘Accolades go out to the Town Center Advisory Committee,” GOCA President Barbara Falcigno said. ‘‘They have put a lot of work and research into producing this illustrative concept, and I think we are moving in the right direction.”

Some area business members at the meeting expressed concern.

Debi Klein, owner of the Backyard Naturalist in Olney, stated that the small businesses are the heart and soul of the community, and that some businesses that were relocated during the redevelopment of Rockville’s Town Square development did not survive.

The Olney Town Center Advisory Committee will address concerns at a presentation geared toward businesses and property owners at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 22 at the Olney Library.

The Olney Chamber of Commerce will hold another presentation on the illustrative concept plan at a breakfast meeting at 7:30 a.m. Feb. 19 at the Inn at Brookeville Farms. It will also be geared towards the business community, but is open to the public. The cost is $15, and those wishing to attend should RSVP to the chamber at 301-774-7117.

The illustrative concept plan is on display at the Olney Library and will remain up through January. Feedback forms are also available.

For more information, visit www.olneytowncenter.org.

GOCA reiterates opposition to interim plan for ICC

GOCA members continue to express their opposition to an interim plan designed to alleviate congestion when the first phase of the Intercounty Connector opens.

The first section of the ICC, expected to open in 2010, will stretch from Interstate 370 in Gaithersburg to Georgia Avenue in south Olney. The ICC is an 18-mile toll road that will eventually connect to Interstate 95 in Laurel at a cost of $2.4 billion.

When that first span opens, eastbound traffic will be forced onto an already crowded Georgia Avenue as well as the failing intersection of Georgia and Norbeck Road.

The second phase of the ICC will continue eastward, but could take more than a year after the first stretch of roadway opens.

At GOCA’s September meeting, Sen. Rona E. Kramer (D-Dist. 14) of Olney and Del. Benjamin F. Kramer (D-Dist. 19) of Derwood, her brother, presented a proposal of an interim plan they believe would provide some relief.

The plan calls for a new left-turn lane built on the southbound side of Georgia Avenue. Cars would loop down into the new designated lane and make a left turn onto a new spur road that would connect with eastbound Norbeck Road.

At the November GOCA meeting, GOCA members passed a resolution formally opposing the interim improvement proposed by the State Highway Administration.

GOCA’s motion recommended that the ICC exit to Georgia Avenue not be opened until the ICC is extended to at least Route 28 on its present route; that a temporary exit be constructed at Route 28 to accomplish that; and that Stage A of the ICC be changed to put the ICC through to such an exit at Route 28.

Following the November meeting, Falcigno and other GOCA delegates met with state highway officials to get further clarifications on the interim plan.

Based on that information, which included learning the Georgia Avenue would be widened to three lanes from Leisure World to Hillcroft Drive (and possibly to Emory Lane) and also information on why other solutions were not feasible, Falcigno asked the delegates if they should change the resolution.

They reiterated their concern, and vowed to push for improvements to the Georgia Avenue⁄Norbeck Road interchange, which is approved, but not funded.

‘‘The group said no, so the resolution will stand,” Falcigno said. ‘‘I am still meeting with elected officials to explore all possible solutions.”

Falcigno said she would send a letter to SHA officials stating GOCA’s position by the end of this week.