White Oak Science Gateway
formerly the East County Science Center
Planners have prepared a public hearing draft (9.3 MB) for a new master plan in the White Oak area of eastern Montgomery County. The consolidation of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the White Oak Federal Research Center (FRC) provides an opportunity for the county to re-examine its long-term goals and objectives for the area.
The master plan seeks to leverage White Oak's assets and establish the foundation upon which the area can evolve into a community that offers more local opportunities to live, work and play. The plan envisions White Oak's major centers -- Hillandale, White Oak/FDA and North White Oak/Cherry Hill -- evolving from conventional, auto-dependent suburban shopping centers, business parks and light industrial areas into vibrant, mixed-use, transit-served nodes.
NEW The Planning Board has scheduled a public hearing on the draft White Oak Science Gateway plan on May 23, 2013.
- Download the public hearing draft(9.3 MB).
- View the plan appendix
- Sign up online to testify at the public hearing (at date prompt, scroll to 5/23)
Background
The plan provides a vision and recommendations to guide future growth by amending portions of the 1997 White Oak and Fairland Master Plans. The plan area includes several major properties and developments, the largest of which is the 610-acre Federal Research Center. The FDA occupies 130 acres of the FRC and now has 5,500 employees on site. Adventist HealthCare plans to build a new Washington Adventist Hospital and medical campus on nearly 50 acres along Plum Orchard Drive (pending approval of a Certificate of Need from the State). In addition, approximately 300 acres on two sites (Site 2 and Percontee) near the FRC and Washington Adventist Hospital may provide the potential for economic synergies, as well as the possibility of new housing and retail near jobs. The area’s largest employers are the FDA, Seventh Day Adventist Church, Kaiser Permanente, Holy Cross and Comcast.
The plan also provides recommendations for the National Labor College (located on 46 acres at New Hampshire Avenue and I-495), and the White Oak and Hillandale shopping centers. The need for more community facilities, recreational opportunities, and pedestrian and bicycle links will be explored as well.
In November 2012, the County Council adopted the 2012-2016 Subdivision Staging Policy, which sets the rules for how the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance is administered at the preliminary plan (subdivision) stage of development. The newly adopted SSP contains a new transportation test – Transportation Policy Area Review (TPAR), which replaces Policy Area Mobility Review (PAMR).
Given that the plan transportation modeling and analysis completed in 2012 used the PAMR test, the County Council directed the Planning Department to redo the transportation analysis applying the TPAR test. This additional transportation analysis was completed for the staff draft.
planner Nancy Sturgeon.
- The Planning Board approved a Scope of Work (2.1MB) for the plan on February 3, 2011.
- View the plan schedule.
The Challenge
Transportation problems, and attempts to solve or relieve traffic congestion, have characterized the eastern county for 30 years. Transportation issues have been a major focus of the planning effort, which explored a range of mobility alternatives – both transit and road infrastructure – that could increase travel options and traffic capacity to allow additional development.
The plan focuses on the future growth of sites within the North White Oak/Cherry Hill Road area – particularly Site 2 and Percontee. The adjacent FRC site presents a physical planning challenge, since it is a large, secured facility, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to truly integrate the campus with adjacent sites to create a walkable, mixed-use center. The planning process will examine:
- Development demand and potential for spin-off companies and businesses generated by FDA
- How to preserve existing established communities while planning for possible growth
- Options for creating a mixed-use center served by transit
- Capacity of roads, schools, and other public facilities
- Options for improved connectivity
- Housing needs and demands, including workforce and affordable housing
- Creating additional public open spaces and/or improving access to existing facilities
- Protecting environmental resources in the watersheds
Community planner Khalid Afzal welcomes people to the meeting.Related studies
A Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) Transportation-Land Use Connection (TLC) Grant provided a consultant to work with staff to explore various transit options. View report (3.2 MB).
A Countywide Bus Rapid Transit Study managed by the County Department of Transportation analyzed the potential demand for BRT service, including routes on Colesville Road and New Hampshire Avenue that would serve the master plan area. The study confirmed the feasibility – from a demand and ridership standpoint – of a network of BRT corridors within the county. In response, the County Council initiated an amendment to the Master Plan of Highways to reflect a network of BRT corridors. This BRT Amendment has been added to the Planning Department’s FY 12 work program.
Schedule
Plan milestones
- September/October 2012: Staff presented, discussed preliminary recommendations (15 MB) for the staff draft to the Planning Board
- April 4, 2013: Staff presented the staff draft to the Planning Board, requested public hearing
- May 23, 2013: Planning Board public hearing
- June-July 2013: Planning Board worksessions
- September 2013: Planning Board approves draft
- September 2013: Planning Board transmits its draft to County Executive and County Council; Executive agencies review and prepare fiscal impact analysis
- October 2013: County Council public hearing notice period
- November 2013: County Council public hearing
- January-March 2014: County Council review, PHED committee worksessions, Council worksessions
- April-July 2014: Commission adoption, sectional map amendment
Upcoming events:
- May 21, 2013: Presentation to the Greater Colesville Citizens Association
- May 23, 2013: Planning Board public hearing
Past events:
Planning Board Meetings
- May 1, 2013: Presentation to the East County Citizens Advisory Board
- April 4, 2013: Staff presented the staff draft to the Planning Board
- September 20, 27 and October 4, 2012: Staff presented preliminary recommendations to the Planning Board
- May 31, 2012: Presentation to the Planning Board
Staff briefed the Board on the results of traffic modeling and analyses. View the staff report.
Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) Meetings
More ▼Meetings with Citizens Associations / Other
More ▼Community Outreach
The Planning Board appointed members of a Citizens Advisory Committee to provide input and guidance to planners in developing the plan. The group assisted in developing recommendations for the White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan. The CAC includes representatives of groups within the plan’s boundaries, including community and civic associations, business and property owners, and area organizations and institutions.
In addition to the CAC, community engagement efforts include:
- Periodic open house meetings for the larger community
- Staff attendance at local community association meetings, as requested. Please contact Nancy Sturgeon to attend your citizen’s association meeting and make a presentation about the White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan
- Inter-agency coordination with public sector stakeholders, including Prince George’s County Planning Department
M-NCPPC Staff Contacts
Environmental planner Steve Findley talks about watersheds with residents.Nancy Sturgeon, Area 2 planner
301-495-1308
Nancy.Sturgeon@montgomeryplanning.org
Khalid Afzal, Area 2 planner
301-495-4650
Khalid.Afzal@montgomeryplanning.org
Date of last update: May 7, 2013
Montgomery County Planning Department
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910
www.montgomeryplanning.org