East County Science Center (ECSC)
Planners are setting the stage for a master plan that will support an expanding federal agency and a growing biosciences industry in eastern Montgomery County.
The East County Science Center Master Plan will create a vision for an expanded Cherry Hill Employment Area with the goal of creating a mixed-use life sciences center that builds upon the presence of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) campus in White Oak. It is intended to address the land use, urban design and environmental issues. It also will address the need for mobility options in the area.
Background
The area is expected to be home to a significant cluster of life science industries. The planning area boundary will be determined by the Planning Board in fall 2010. View the draft boundaries on a preliminary locator map.
Home to the Federal Research Campus, which includes FDA, the master plan area is expected to house the relocated Washington Adventist Hospital, a potential East County Science and Technology Center on County-owned land known as Site 2 (formerly belonging to the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission), and a potential new community on the Percontee property. The new plan will set a new vision and guide future growth in the area by amending the 1997 White Oak and Fairland Master Plans.
The Challenge
The plan will address planning issues related to the future growth of the Cherry Hill Employment area. The proposed master plan will make recommendations for a science center that is functional, attractive, safe and highly accessible by:
Community planner Khalid Afzal welcomes people to the meeting.- Providing housing and amenities to complement existing and future employment activities
- Creating mixed-used, walkable development nodes served by transit
- Addressing the capacity of roads, schools and other public facilities
- Creating public open space
- Protecting environmental resources in the watershed
Project Schedule
- Fall 2010: Staff develops plan scope of work
- Late Fall 2010: Scope of Work to be presented to the Planning Board
Community Outreach
- June 30, 2010: Open House,Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center. About 75 community members attended to inform planners of issues and opportunities that should be addressed in this plan. Maps and summary of the comments from the Open House.
M-NCPPC Staff Contacts
Environmental planner Steve Findley talks about watersheds with residents.Nancy Sturgeon, Community-Based Planning
301-495-1308
Nancy.Sturgeon@montgomeryplanning.org
Khalid Afzal, Community Based Planning
301-495-4650
Khalid.Afzal@montgomeryplanning.org
Date of last update: September 1, 2010
Montgomery County Planning Department