Last summer, Eddie V’s Prime Seafood sought approval to build a 10,000 SF restaurant at 151 Lakelands Drive, at the corner of Lakelands Drive and Great Seneca Highway in Gaithersburg– what would be Eddie V’s first Maryland location. The proposal was met with mixed emotions, sparking opposition from many Lakelands residents and prompting a petition that garnered over 100 signatures in the days following the news.
According to the City of Gaithersburg planning department, the city is awaiting updated plans to be submitted by the restaurant. This update does not provide any answers regarding whether the restaurant will ultimately proceed, but it informs the community about the current progress of a project that attracted significant attention when it was initially announced.
Additional information was disclosed in the “Statement of Justification” submitted to the City of Gaithersburg last summer:
“Lakelands, LLC has been approached by the operators of Eddie V’s Prime Seafood dining establishment. Eddie V’s is a restaurant division within the portfolio of Darden Restaurants which includes such comparable dining brands as Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Olive Garden, etc. There are currently thirty Eddie V’s restaurants nationally with the closest one located in Tyson’s Corner, Virginia.
When Eddie V’s became aware of the unique setting that the Subject Property provided with a) large surrounding population, b) easy access from adjacent transportation routes and c) a much desired water view dining environment, it promptly began planning about how to bring its food and entertainment specialties of seafood, prime steaks, cocktails and musical entertainment (jazz) to this remarkable setting.
This Final Site Plan Application seeks to increase the size of the restaurant building to take advantage of the vista over Lake Varuna and to organize parking and site circulation in a manner to minimize site disturbance and loss of existing vegetation.”
Also per last summer’s update, “plans are under review and a public hearing has not yet been scheduled. Comments on this application may be either mailed to 31 South Summit Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD, 20877 or emailed to [email protected].”
