Report on DRC Meeting Regarding Takoma Junction

The Montgomery County Development Review Committee (DRC) held a meeting this morning with Neighborhood Development Company (NDC) representatives to discuss County and other agency staff comments on the proposed site plan and preliminary plan for the Takoma Junction development project. The meeting allowed NDC to follow up on DRC staff comments such as Fire Department access points and other technical clarifications.

Two major points from the meeting:

1. 1. The County’s Department of Transportation and the Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) stated the review of the transportation elements of the project will be delayed until after the SHA’s Vision project of the Junction intersection is completed this fall, thus delaying the project and the consideration of the project by the Planning Board. NDC will be following up with SHA about this.
   2. Questions remain about the position of the Historic Preservation Commission regarding the plans. The staff person for the HPC provided written comments that seemed to conflict with Master Plan provisions and traditional historic preservation principles. Few existing commercial properties in the Takoma Park Historic District would meet the criteria identified by the staff person, so clarification is needed. NDC has been meeting with the HPC staff person and then will be meeting with the Commission to learn the position of the Commission concerning the proposal.

NDC will present a project update at the Takoma Park City Council meeting tomorrow night, Wednesday, March 20 at approximately 8:15 pm. For more information about the project, go to: Takoma Junction Project.