After 13 worksessions, there are enough remaining concerns with the Montgomery County Zoning Code Rewrite that the County Council will take the unusual step of adding at least another six months of review to the process.
But one local community got what it was looking for out of the rewrite earlier this month, when the Council’s Planning Committee agreed to grandfather in density limits, a green buffer and other requirements the developer of the Chevy Chase Center project agreed to with Chevy Chase Village residents.
Pat Baptiste, chair of the Village Board and a former Planning Board commissioner, testified as to how the new Zoning Code proposed by the Planning Board would mean a zoning conversion for Chevy Chase Center (2 Wisconsin Circle). That conversion could have meant the loss of binding elements — requirements for a park and limits on building height and width — the Village and other residents fought for when the Chevy Chase Land Company built the upscale shopping center.
It’s home to Sushiko, a Giant food store, Potomac Pizza, Clyde’s restaurant and other retailers.
On Dec. 2, the Council’s Planning Committee agreed by a 3-0 vote to amend the Zoning Rewrite to preserve those binding elements. The shopping center is on the edge of the Village of Chevy Chase.
Baptiste, who has long been involved in Chevy Chase development issues, and the Village retained well known area development lawyer Jody Kline to help make the case.
The Council will restart its review process of the entire rewrite with full Council worksessions on Jan. 14, 15 and 16.
Photo via Chevy Chase Land Company
