master plan: land use plan special study area 10: ge technology park

Master Plan: Land Use Plan, September 5, 2006 The current and approved <strong>land</strong> <strong>use</strong> and build-out of the GE Technology Park is as follows: 142 Map Legal Description Land Use Status Development Area Size (sq ft) 1 Part of Lot 1 Office Developed 373,116 2 Part of Lot 1 Vacant Undeveloped * 3 Part of Lot 1 Lake / Open Space Undeveloped N/A 4 Lot 2 Wareho<strong>use</strong> Developed 261,316 5 Parcel C Vacant Undeveloped * 6 Parcel E Single-family detached ho<strong>use</strong>s Developed N/A 7 Lot 3 Recreation** Proposed * Total 1,334,432 *Addendum 1 to the Annexation Agreement specifies a total of 700,000 additional square feet of development in GE Technology Park, but does not specifically allocate it to any of the lots or parcels. These map <strong>area</strong>s are the designated <strong>area</strong>s for the additional 700,000 square feet of new development. **Currently, the proposed aquatic center is in the early sta<strong>ge</strong>s of development. While the aquatic center has been proposed for this specific site, it is possible that a comprehensive development <strong>plan</strong> could include a <strong>land</strong> exchan<strong>ge</strong> and conceivably relocate the proposed recreational facility to another location within the <strong>special</strong> <strong>study</strong> <strong>area</strong>.

Special Study Area <strong>10</strong>: GE Technology Park The current build-out density for the GE Technology Park of 1,334,432 square feet results in an overall floor-to-<strong>area</strong> ratio (FAR) of approximately 0.316. Other developments in the City, including Washingtonian Center, Quince Orchard Park, and Kent<strong>land</strong>s have a higher overall FAR. The MXD zone provides a maximum FAR of 0.75 and the C-2 zone provides a maximum FAR of 1.5. The current I-3 zoning does not have an FAR limit, but does have a height limit of 1<strong>10</strong> feet. SPECIAL STUDY AREA REVIEW The City of Gaithersburg held a Stakeholders Meeting on April 29, 2004 for the G.E. Technology Park Study Area (formerly known as the National Geographic Property). City staff presented a <strong>ge</strong>neral overview of the Master Planning process and gave <strong>ge</strong>neral background information about the <strong>study</strong> <strong>area</strong>, including current <strong>use</strong>s and annexation information. Following the staff presentation, the community spent the remaining time brainstorming possible <strong>land</strong> <strong>use</strong> options and asking <strong>ge</strong>neral questions. The Stakeholders Meeting raised several concerns about development on the property. This included traffic impacts, school impacts, preservation of the lawn and tree <strong>area</strong> adjacent to Darnestown Road, preservation of Lake Placid, inappropriateness of apartments as a residential <strong>use</strong> for the property, necessity of high architectural and design standards for any new development, and the size and location of the proposed Gaithersburg Aquatic/Recreation Center. The Mayor and City Council and City Planning Commission held a joint public work session on June 14, 2004 for the G.E. Technology Park Study Area. City Staff presented baseline development requirements and three <strong>land</strong> <strong>use</strong> options for the Study Area, based upon the Stakeholder Meeting discussion. During the June 14, 2004 joint work session review and discussion of the three options, the Planning Commission and Mayor and Council requested that Option 1 be altered to allow for a residential component. This new option (Option 2) was incorporated into the <strong>study</strong> <strong>area</strong> as well as the three original options (Option 1, Option 3, and Option 4) discussed during the joint work session. On September 1, 2004, the Planning Commission reviewed the <strong>special</strong> <strong>study</strong> <strong>area</strong> report and four <strong>land</strong> <strong>use</strong> options and made a recommendation to the Mayor and City Council to endorse Options 1, 2, and 3 and to eliminate Option 4. On September 7, 2004, the Mayor and City Council reviewed the Planning Commission recommendation and the four <strong>land</strong> <strong>use</strong> options and selected Options 1, 2, and 3 to proceed forward through the Master Plan Amendment process to incorporate the GE Tech Park Special Study Area into the Land Use Element. A joint public hearing was held on December 6, 2004 and both the Planning Commission and Mayor and City Council voted to hold their respective records open indefinitely. A second joint work session was held on February 15, 2005. Staff introduced a new fourth option based on the discussion and concerns raised during the December 6, 2004 public hearing. Also, during this work session, there was considerable discussion regarding concurrent redevelopment of the various map designations and the impacts of the current I-3 zoning and potential rezoning to the September 5, 2006 143 MASTER PLAN: LAND USE PLAN