Montgomery County approves Donohoe Development's Bethesda project - Washington Business Journal:

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The project, Woodmont Central, was originallyu scheduled to go before the planning board in afterthe county’s moratoriukm on residential developments started July 1. “The got all approvals they needed inon time,” said Joshusa Sloan, coordinator at the county’s development review division who recommended the planning board approve Donohoe’ site plan with some And though board member Amy Presley referrex to Donohoe’s need to get the approval quickly as “thre elephant in the room,” Sloah said the decision wasn’t rushed.
Sloab said the planners’ response to the preliminary site plan was overdues because the board had requestef an extension beyond theusual 90-dayg review period. The residential moratorium, whicj would affect Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Clarksburg and Seneca Valley, was announced by the board June 8. It came aftetr the board received results of the annual school test, which compares projectesd 2014 enrollment figures againstg classroom capacity in the county’ds public schools. The test showed that the numbe of students enrolled by 2014 was greateer than the 120 percent cap set by the Adequats PublicFacilities Ordinance.
The development limitations, whicuh only allow for subdivisions of three or fewert units or forretirement communities, were established to avoi putting schools over capacity with enrollment from new housinv projects. The residential component of Donohoe’s project is actually part of the seconr and third phasesof development, so its constructionm would likely begin after the ban, if it is lifted next The first phase of the development is a six-story retail and office building. The 18-story, 462,160-square-foort residential and retail componentwould follow.
Sloahn said the residential phase was not likel to deliver for another five to six At the time the moratoriumwas set, Donohoe President Peter Gartland said his projectt would likely make it before the boarc in advance of the adding that the county’s 2009-2011 growtnh policy conflicted with the development ban. “The futurer of the county is inits transit-oriented areas,” Gartland said, echoing the growth policy’s findingx that Montgomery County should focus on infill and mixed-use developments. “We have faith the counthy will solve this problem because urban areas like Bethesda are whers new development should be he said.
The moratorium will likelty last untilnext year’s review unlesxs the identified areas can show a projectedd drop in enrollment or an ability to host more School expansions may be consideredc in the fall and would be fundedx by Montgomery County’s capita l improvements program. The board approved the project witha 3-2 vote but with severalo conditions. The project must achieve a Silved LEED rating and the developer must adjusgheight limitations, building setbacks, public space and retaiol frontage.
Northwest, Northwood, Paint Quince Orchard, Rockville, Wheaton, Waltetr Johnson, Whitman and Richard Montgomery were also identifiefd as areas that will be overcrowdedf by more than 105 percengin 2014. Developers hoping for subdivision approvall in those areas will have to paya fee.