Recommendation
Approve the attached revised resolution and forward to the Montgomery County Council in advance of the upcoming March 10 work session of the Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee.

Discussion
On March 8, 2010, the Mayor and Council reviewed a draft resolution regarding the Montgomery County Planning Board Draft of the Gaithersburg West Master Plan. At that meeting, the Mayor and Council requested that certain changes be made to the resolution and that a special meeting of the Mayor and Council be held on March 9 in order to review and approve a revised resolution that can be sent to the County Council in time for the March 10 work session the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee.

Background for the resolution is described in the discussion section of the March 8 Agenda on this same topic.

Attachment A is a revised version of the draft resolution.
Attachment B is a transmittal letter from the Mayor and Council to Council President Floreen.

Mayor and Council History
The Public Draft of the Gaithersburg West Master Plan was presented to Rockville Mayor and Council by Montgomery County Planning staff on March 9, 2009, in advance of the Montgomery County Planning Board's public hearing on March 26, 2009. On March 31, 2009, Mayor Hoffmann, on behalf of the Mayor and Council, sent a letter to Royce Hanson, Chair of the Montgomery County Planning Board, during the period of open comments. The letter expressed the Mayor and Council’s support of the overall concept of the Life Sciences Center, but expressed concerns in a number of areas, including the impacts on traffic in the City and other impacts of the proposed high level of new density in the plan. On September 14, 2009, the Mayor and Council approved a letter to the Montgomery County Council expressing similar thoughts. On January 11, 2010, the Mayor and Council approved a letter to the Montgomery County Council expressing once again concerns regarding the plan.

On October 26, 2009, the Mayor and Council endorsed the concept of Light Rail for the Corridor Cities Transitway, which is a key part of the Gaithersburg West Master Plan. The County Council has subsequently also endorsed the Light Rail option.

On March 1, 2010, the Mayors and City Councils of Rockville and Gaithersburg met with Montgomery Councilmembers to discuss their cities' concerns regarding the plan.

On March 8, 2010, the Mayor and Council (of Rockville) reviewed a draft Resolution, and requested that a revised version be brought back for review and approval on March 9, 2010.

Attachments

Department Head:



Susan Swift, Director of Community Planning and Development Services
Approved on: 03/09/2010

City Manager:

Scott Ullery, City Manager
Approved on: 03/09/2010