Gaithersburg

The City of Gaithersburg Planning Commission is tentatively scheduled to make a recommendation on the proposed annexation of the Walnut Hill shopping center at its Wednesday, July 5, 2023 meeting at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.  The Mayor and City Council have tentatively scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall (virtual participation will also be available).

As we previously reported, the Applicant, Granite Partners, has submitted Annexation Petition X-9510-2023, proposing to annex three parcels that currently abut the City boundary, along with a portion of the North Westland Drive right of way.  The Annexation Plan proposes several changes to the existing Walnut Hill Shopping Center, including constructing a new freestanding convenience store with accessory gasoline pumps (MoCo and Gaithersburg’s second Sheetz location), demolishing an existing small freestanding building on the south side of the property, renovating the exterior of the main shopping center building, and making improvements to the parking lot and landscaping. The shopping center will also be welcoming Aldi in the space that was previously home to Weis. No changes are proposed for the other two properties included in the Annexation Petition.

A Joint Public Hearing on the sketch plan application was held on Monday, March 20, 2023.  The Planning Commission record closed at 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2023 and they recommended approval of the sketch plan to the Mayor and City Council at their May 3, 2023 meeting. The Mayor and City Council record closed at 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2023 and they conducted their policy discussion at their June 20, 2023 meeting, during which the Council adopted Resolution R-32-53 and approved the sketch plan.

The Applicant, Muddy Branch Investments, LLC, has submitted Sketch Plan application SK-9497-2023, proposing to construct 380 multifamily residential units in four buildings up to five stories in height, all located on approximately 14 acres.  The sketch plan includes surface parking, open space, pedestrian connections, and amenities for the multifamily units.  The sole vehicular access to the proposed development will be along a private street coming off Muddy Branch Road. The subject property is located at 770 Muddy Branch Road, and is west of Muddy Branch Road, north of the Lakelands Ridge community and the Muddy Branch Square shopping center, east of the Lakelands Ridge community and Great Seneca Highway, and south of the Timberbrook community, Lakelands Ridge conservation area, and City-owned land.