Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Rock Spring Master Plan

Community Plan Meeting
October 28, 2015

Agenda
7:00 pm

Welcome and Introductions

7:10 pm

Review of Past Meetings

7:30 pm

Staff Presentations

7:45 pm

Presentations on Future Developments

8:30 pm

Next Steps

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Agenda

September 1st Master Plan Kick-off Meeting at Walter Johnson High School
A large turnout of local and nearby residents and office workers
School capacity issues were a major topic
Table break out discussions focused on schools, connectivity, pedestrian
safety and access, and the need for more recreation space.

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Kick Off Meeting

After a lengthy discussion on schools and school capacity, several other issues
were discussed among the audience in smaller break out tables. At the table
discussions, audience members were asked to address the Strengths,
Weaknesses, Needs and Wants of the Rock Spring Area.
The following is what we heard from you:
Strengths:
Trees and Open Space
Access to quality retail

Great access to highway

Traffic confined to office park and retail
Medical offices seen as an asset

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Table Discussions

The audience also laid out a number of different challenges outside of school
capacity issues for the overall area. The table break out discussions saw the
following Weaknesses:
Overcrowded schools at all levels from elementary to high

Pedestrian safety and walkability

Lack of transit connections and accessibility.
Democracy Boulevard not safe to cross
Improve infrastructure before developments.
Too much traffic and congestion
Intersections cant handle current traffic
Affordability

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Table Discussions

Needs:
Schools and acquiring a school site in the plan boundary
Keep density near I-270. Residents want mixed use but not something as
dense as Pike & Rose

Provide better crosswalks and access on Democracy Boulevard and Old

Georgetown Road
Recreation space and a community center
Pedestrian and bike trails. More walking paths
Improve connectivity
Better access to transit
Reduce traffic congestion
Larger library
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Table Discussions

Wants:
New community buildings and parks
Balanced infrastructure and development
Senior Community Center and senior housing
Maintaining the suburban character
Repurposing buildings
More open space
Better school amenities and a new school site
Restaurants and a Wegmans
Improve walkability

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Table Discussions

The major points of the comments that we heard could be summarized into
three major subject areas.
Transportation:
Better connections and accessibility both inside and outside the boundary

Walkability, Problems crossing Democracy Boulevard

Access to transit
Recreation and Parks:
Need for more parks and open space
Walking trails and bicycle paths
Community Facilities:
Community center/senior center

More Schools
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Major Points

After hearing residents voice concerns over school capacity at the Kick-off
meetings for Rock Spring and White Flint 2, the staff teams scheduled a
meeting on September 17 at Walter Johnson High School that focused on
school issues.
Staff also met with:
September 9

Luxmanor Civic Association

September 14

Walter Johnson PTA Cluster Coordinator

September 15

Ashburton Elementary School PTA

September 16

Luxmanor Elementary School PTA

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Schools Outreach

Rock Spring/White Flint II Joint Master Plan School Meeting

Both the Rock Spring and White Flint II Master Plans held a joint meeting to
discuss school capacity in the Walter Johnson cluster.

Councilman Berliner and the Planning Board Chair both addressed the
crowd and discussed the challenges of school capacity.
MCPS and Planning staff outlined strategies to accommodate new growth
and discuss factors that have led to current capacity issues

September 17th Joint Master Plan School Meeting at Walter Johnson High School
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Joint School Meeting

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Rock Spring Master Plan & White Flint 2 Sector Plan

Summary of County Agency Roles

Montgomery County Public Schools/Board of Education

Re-open closed school sites
Build additions to schools capable of expansion
Re-district school boundaries
Construct new schools
Planning Department/Planning Board
Recommend master plans that address long term development and school facility
needs.
Recommend modifications to the standards for approving new development set by
the Subdivision Staging Policy.
Approve only subdivisions and site plans that meet the adequacy standards set
under the APFO.
Recommend to the County Executive and County Council public facilities that should
be prioritized for inclusion in the Countys CIP.
Montgomery County Council
Approve master plans to guide future development.
Establish standards through the Subdivision Staging Policy (SSP ) for the MCPB to
use in approving new development
Program community facilities in the CIP.
Raises $$ to fund capital projects (taxes; required developer contributions; State
aid)
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission
11

The Scope of Work for the Rock Spring Master Plan was approved by the
Montgomery County Planning Board on October 8th. At the Planning Board
hearing, the board approved the following:
The Plan Boundary
Community Outreach Methods
Purpose of the plan

Timeline

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Scope of Work

 To reimagine the typical suburban office park, with its auto-oriented street
network and surface parking spaces.

Improve connectivity (ex. by identifying opportunities for a new street grid).

Identify places for public use spaces and amenities.
Provide a mix of uses and build a sense of place.
Plan sustainable environmental measures.
Additional Placemaking Initiatives

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Purpose of the Plan

Staff Presentation
Economic, Office and Retail Conditions in Rock Spring
Rick Liu, Research Planner

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Office Market & Retail

Top 5 Employers

Employees in Rock Spring

Lockheed Martin
Marriott
National Institutes of Health
Nordstrom
Macy's

MONTGOMERY
COUNTY

16%

ROCK SPRING
Company Management

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

24%

3000+
3000+
2000 to 2999
250 to 499
250 to 499

9% 4%

19%

68%

20%

Professional/Scientific/Technical

Retail

7%

30%

Finance/Insurance

Other

Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, BLS

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Economic Base

 Montgomery County Office Market

Assessment, 2015
Forces shaping the office market
Technology
Space Utilization
Federal Sequestration

PIKE AND ROSE

Strongest markets in urbanized,

mixed-use, walkable communities
with transit
COMSAT BUILDING
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Office Challenges

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Office Challenges

Rock Spring includes high quality, suburban office buildings

that has historically attracted highly recognized companies
Proportion of Class A Office Space

100%
Class C

80%

Class B
60%

Class A

87%
40%

50%

20%
0%

Rock Spring

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Montgomery County

2009-2013 American Community Survey, U.S. Census Bureau

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Office Context

But
Higher vacancies than County
Rents are strong, but should be
stronger
Three (3) buildings account for
41% of vacant space

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Office Market
# of Buildings
Rentable Square
Under Construction
(square feet)
Vacancy Rate
Rent/square foot
per Month

Montgomery
Rock Spring
County
32
1,517
5,447,205
73,394,375
0
23.7%
$30.12

400,021
15.0%
$27.82

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Office Context

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Retail Context

 Retail is strong:
Rent Rates higher than
County (+20%)
Vacancy rates lower than
County (-60%)
Rock Spring comprises:
~20% of building supply
sales in County
Over 10% of GAFO sales
in County
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Retail Market
# of Buildings
Rentable Square
Feet
Under Construction
(square feet)
Vacancy Rate
Rent/square foot
per Month

Montgomery
Rock Spring
County
19
2,326
1,856,217
0
1.4%
$32.00

39,913,783
68,742
3.9%
$27.33

Monthly and Annual Retail Trade Report, U.S. Census

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Retail Context

Staff Presentation
Placemaking
Mike Bello, Lead Urban Designer

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Office Market& Retail

 Lack of identity
Lack of pedestrian and bike amenities

Connectivity; I-270 as a barrier

Lack of human scale
A lack of placemaking

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Plan Challenges

What is Lack of human scale?

Rockledge Blvd

130

Rockledge Drive

Rockledge Drive

50
150

80

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Plan Challenges

What is human scale?

Rockledge Drive

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Rockledge Drive

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Plan Challenges

What is human scale?

Rockledge Drive

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

Rockledge Drive

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Plan Challenges

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Changing Character

CONNECTIVITY + EXPERIENCE NOW

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

CONNECTIVITY + EXPERIENCE NOW

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

CONNECTIVITY + EXPERIENCE NOW

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE BY HIGHLIGHTING

ROCK SPRINGS EXISTING CHARACTER | CAMPUS

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE WITH ENGAGING ACTIVITIES

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE BY HIGHLIGHTING

ROCK SPRINGS EXISTING CHARACTER | CONNECTIVITY

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE BETWEEN STREETS

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE BETWEEN STREETS

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

CONNECTIVITY + EXPERIENCE TOMORROW

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE ALONG STREETS

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

ENHANCING THE EXPERIENCE ALONG STREETS

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Placemaking

Office Vacancy
Office Vacancy Task Force
Montgomery County Development Corporation
ULI TAP
Schools
Interim Superintendent Report
Subdivision Staging Report to the Planning Board on November 5th

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Staff Summary

Planning Department is sponsoring efforts focused on office vacancies:

Urban Land Institute Technical Assistance Panel (December or January)
Consultant Study to Explore Adaptive Reuse of Office Buildings (January
March 2016)
Planning Department is updating the Countywide:
Subdivision Staging Policy - ensures public facilities, including schools and
roads, are adequate to meet new growth and development.
Kick-off Meeting held October 19
SSP reviewed every four years; will be approved by the County Council in
2016.

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Staff Summary

Montgomery County Government is forming:

Office Market Working Group will explore options to help reduce office
vacancies
(November 2015)
Economic Development Corporation is a new public-private entity focusing
on strategic priorities to enhance the Countys economic growth and
vitality (November 2015)
Montgomery County Public Schools
Report of the Cross-Agency Work Group on School Design Options
transmitted to the BOE on 9-30-15
Interim Superintendents Recommended CIP for 2017-2022 now available
Interim Superintendent Recommends formation of the Walter Johnson
Roundtable Discussion Group to address near-term and long term facility
issues; BOE vote on 11/16/15.
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Staff Summary

To speak about the changing character of Rock Spring we have the developers
or property owners of recent pipeline approved developments who will speak
about their projects more in depth. Tonight we have developers representing
the following:
Westfield Montgomery Mall
Jim Agliata & Eric Howard of Westfield

Montgomery Row
McLean Quinn of EYA
Rock Spring Center
Steve Robins, attorney representative & DRI Development Services

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Future Development

Westfield Montgomery Mall

Jim Agliata & Eric Howard of Westfield

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Montgomery Mall

Montgomery Row
McLean Quinn of EYA

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Montgomery Row

Rock Spring Center

Steve Robins, attorney representative & DRI Development Services

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Rock Spring Center

All comments, questions and concerns will be recorded on the project webpage
(www.montgomeryplanning.org/rockspring) and summarized at our next
community plan meeting.
November 18 6:30 9:30 pm White Flint 2 Sector Plan Community Meeting #4
Rocking Horse Road Elementary School
December 14 7:00 9:00 pm Rock Spring Master Plan Community Meeting #4
Walter Johnson High School
Subdivision Staging Policy Meetings
October 19
Kick-off Meeting
November 5 Planning Board Overview Briefing
December 3 Planning Board Briefing on Transportation Policy Area Review
Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission

MONTGOMERY COUNTY PLANNING DEPARTMENT

Next Steps