[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6689318,"mediaKeyId","2083696-dac0a16f4bf021fc3b16222767f196ce","parentId",2083696,"title","Rockville council narrows Lincoln Park design changes to footprint and height","audioSeconds",4596,"startMs",2272000,"endMs",6868000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2083696-dac0a16f4bf021fc3b16222767f196ce&start=2272&end=6868","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2083696-dac0a16f4bf021fc3b16222767f196ce/thumbnail_2272000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6689318/Rockville-City/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Rockville-council-narrows-Lincoln-Park-design-changes-to-footprint-and-height","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689318-b815ce13df039ed4166a3c57c42a192c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206947&Signature=Lsh3yRr7ndEHOwiJj0VtvsbNACNCyDHaK65Ha-3SRgLCO7nCn-MXxvvd~XpKsQXwPwOQMz1IWQqp23cCTnpRmzXxb-bEHweT~8hSH5F1Ooq8j2vshwKa6LZax~vkOzyfg8mte6PaqMlFa3CsJ0He2xVJLJOe-KIoUXIMbXd6mgU8hEeuXF0WTlwZKGDUKU~Lwt6JM10sEHDF88H5mOasN6DCWKGxn3A8MQWsoM0q47NSuMor-4t9W859U9aK~~OFWjhDRVRLNRa7DLx~rc-hF6hys8gr6CL~3R06gir-A5C0d0rruG5P1sQofCVwNW11D6LzMfkL4bMFYSQkzRWY9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Rockville","date","2025-01-06T00:00:00Z","article","Rockville Mayor and Council on Jan. 6 focused their follow‑up on a proposed update to the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Conservation District, directing staff to bring back a concise amendment that primarily increases allowable building footprints and clarifies maximum heights rather than adopting a broad new set of mandatory design standards.

The council held an extended work session on proposed new design guidelines for Lincoln Park, a historic, largely single‑family neighborhood. City planners proposed several changes after walking tours, stakeholder interviews and a small online survey; staff said the most frequent complaint from residents was that the existing lot‑coverage/footprint limit made modest expansions difficult.

“This is the most commented issue that we that staff has heard throughout the process,” planner Christopher Davis said in the presentation, describing a proposal that would raise the maximum principal‑dwelling footprint from the existing 1,500 square feet to 1,800 square feet while retaining a 2,100‑square‑foot allowance in some one‑story situations.

Why it matters: Lincoln Park is a compact, older neighborhood where many homeowners said current limits forced them into unusual design choices to add living space. Council members said they want to correct the rules that create those pressure points while avoiding a long list of prescriptive new controls that could increase costs or limit flexibility for residents.

What the council asked for: After reviewing staff slides and extended discussion with residents and civic leaders, council members gave majority support to moving forward with targeted amendments that would:
- Increase the building footprint cap described in the conservation district (staff proposed 1,800 square feet, with retained allowances for certain one‑story additions).
- Clarify the height standard (staff proposed a simplified maximum of about 30 feet, replacing a more complex, harder‑to‑interpret rule).

“I appreciate the outreach and the walking tour,” Councilmember Marissa Valeri said during the session. “Which of the guidelines are the things that residents have really focused on and wanted help on?” City staff pointed to lot coverage (footprint), height, additions and front‑yard paving as the recurring themes.

Staff explained how the proposed guidelines differ from the current rules: the draft replaces vague “sympathetic” language with direct, measurable standards and adds an alternative‑compliance process so property owners can apply for exceptions when lots are unusual. “So what I’m hearing is…the existing building footprint standard needs to be changed,” Ricky Barker, director of planning, told the council.

Public input and next steps: Staff said outreach included walking tours, an advisory committee and an online survey; Davis told the council the formal online survey generated 13 responses, supplemented by many in‑person comments at meetings. Several residents, including Anita Neal Powell (Lincoln Park Historical Foundation), addressed the council during the community forum and the work session, arguing for careful attention to neighborhood character and long‑term stewardship.

Council members repeatedly urged caution about adding many new mandatory restrictions, especially those that govern materials, window sizes and other facade details. A number of council members said they were comfortable approving a narrow package of changes that remove the most burdensome constraints—particularly those that drove “mushrooming” second‑story additions intended to circumvent lot‑coverage limits—and asked staff to return with a redline amendment rather than a long new design manual.

Staff will prepare the revised conservation‑district amendment for a future meeting. The council asked that the updated packet call out precisely which design standards are being altered, clarify how the alternative‑compliance process will work, and include the outreach record and a short summary so residents can see what changed without reading a multi‑page draft.

Ending: The council did not adopt final text at the Jan. 6 session; instead, it directed staff to return with a focused package (footprint and height clarifications, plus procedural changes) for formal consideration. Staff said it will post the revised draft and supporting materials in advance of the next vote and continue outreach to the Lincoln Park Civic Association and neighbors.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rockville - Mayor and Council Meeting - January 6, 2025 (Meeting No. 01-25) - Jan 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Rockville Mayor and Council on Jan. 6 focused their follow‑up on a proposed update to the Lincoln Park Neighborhood Conservation District, directing staff to bring back a concise amendment that primarily increases allowable building footprints and clarifies maximum heights rather than adopting a broad new set of mandatory design standards.","taxTitle","Rockville City, Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",9268,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6689313,"Council adopts half‑mile corridor boundary for Town Center plan, agrees to require parking plans from developers",5002,11654000,16656000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2083696-dac0a16f4bf021fc3b16222767f196ce&start=11654&end=16656","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2083696-dac0a16f4bf021fc3b16222767f196ce/thumbnail_11654000.jpg","/articles/6689313/Rockville-City/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Council-adopts-halfmile-corridor-boundary-for-Town-Center-plan-agrees-to-require-parking-plans-from-developers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689313-ea315f5ee2325c738fe8283d415ab6b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206947&Signature=AVrjfkzAzrkg0Z0~yfEBQ-HFdglXA-IeYskxshPJJhe4f1BP6ZBdqUvZoA9kZykyiw2DB3xqIDLZU9aENcbx9pyhTnSpgz~qokYAAOSCcukL9lRoFw53xlkZAIgl6EfCaeB8vIWzqp8yrwFq0AasxR78Lpg4seVtXphTELxh6BxNmHeqqTm~6YRUXaeYet9VRfwTpqdwJAWKbrp0XGXRzwemkSeLgCAVfitr~~2D05VNWMTZCbOcVYaLDtmvIUR6Z2rMYUQmxC1b4m3IT1NYuAYSWSrWQfL4nTZ8fwi8nVEJYqR3lioX8cgJ2s3BcbypRfkk6tdIc4b89fgG58XsbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Rockville Mayor and Council on Jan. 6 moved forward on two central elements of the Town Center master plan: (1) the geographic boundary and height framework for the Maryland 355 corridor, and (2) parking policy for future development.

The council chose a middle‑ground map for the 355 corridor, and it asked staff to require every applicant to submit a development‑level parking plan as part of the review process. That parking plan will require applicants to justify how many off‑street parking spaces they propose, explain demand assumptions and cite comparable projects or management approaches; the council said the requirement should be specific enough to prevent a one‑line justification and to let staff make an informed review.

“Staff’s recommendation is proceeding with scenario 2,” principal planner Andrew Rattlebach said during the meeting when presenting three mapping options for parcels to be included in the 355 character area. Scenario 2 includes parcels within roughly a half‑mile of the Rockville Metro station and aligns the corridor to a broader swath of properties staff deemed most likely to redevelop in the near term.

Why it matters: The decision governs where the plan’s tallest, transit‑oriented development could be allowed and sets the rules that will guide later rezoning and site‑plan reviews. The chosen boundary frames which parcels are eligible for higher base and bonus heights; higher permitted heights in the corridor allow more housing density in return for public benefits such as affordability.

Parking options considered: Staff presented three approaches:
- Option 1 (Planning Commission draft): remove minimum off‑street parking requirements across the full Town Center planning area.
- Option 2 (revised April draft): remove minimums only within a half‑mile of the metro and within a quarter‑mile of planned, funded BRT stations (mirrors a common county approach).
- Option 3 (staff’s analytic recommendation): tailor parking minimums to the plan’s character areas — eliminate minimums in the corridor and core, and reduce minimums by about 25 percent in the plan’s edge areas.

Staff also summarized private parking operator data and other local examples. For two privately owned mixed‑use garages, staff reported that operators estimated daily average occupancies in the roughly 50–80 percent range and that some structures operate with substantial daytime vacancy. “When you add that altogether, they’re looking at a daily average occupancy of around 80%,” staff said when summarizing one operator’s data.

Council direction and outcome: After lengthy discussion and public comments, a majority of council members favored Option 2 (eliminating minimums within the half‑mile and quarter‑mile radii) coupled with the staff add‑on requiring a developer’s parking plan at the time of application. Council members also asked staff to explicitly state in the plan that requirements for accessible (ADA/“accessible”) parking remain in force and that on‑street spaces cannot be reallocated without city approval.

“I think that brings us to a majority on option 2,” one councilmember said at the conclusion of the discussion, an assessment staff confirmed on the record.

Next steps and notes on implementation: Staff will update the draft plan to reflect the council’s selection of the scenario‑2 boundary for the Maryland 355 character area and the parking policy decision. The packet will be revised and posted before the next council meeting; staff also committed to a follow‑up implementation checklist that will identify near‑term projects (wayfinding, pilot parking management, and signage) and track whether reduced parking requirements lead to additional affordable units through greater density.

Ending: The council did not adopt zoning changes on Jan. 6; it adopted policy direction for the plan. Staff will circulate the updated draft and an implementation timeline and return for formal adoption at a subsequent meeting.

","Rockville Mayor and Council on Jan. 6 directed staff to use a half‑mile radius around Rockville Metro (and a quarter‑mile around funded BRT stations) as the Maryland 355 character area in the Town Center master plan, and to require each project application to include a developer‑prepared parking plan justifying off‑street parking proposals.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6689310,"Votes at a glance: Jan. 6, 2025 Rockville Mayor and Council",109,3742000,3851000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2083696-dac0a16f4bf021fc3b16222767f196ce&start=3742&end=3851","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2083696-dac0a16f4bf021fc3b16222767f196ce/thumbnail_3742000.jpg","/articles/6689310/Rockville-City/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Jan-6-2025-Rockville-Mayor-and-Council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689310-ab217e62f993283271efefdbaf5d8527/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206947&Signature=h68cV7sk2js-TdMF-fBeG0uewdChUqdp4qyB6vDo~BEzmn-mtJpJyOJA3-oMUHgqcqrklAVixmTIvKzFunnBCezRVn37qFxIfR3O68TQfK52QZbrlz3cxnwqF5~d7FrLjrXKhQHuAB3dfWxNCmncE0SohMfaiwApoFsdc1EEmT~i-7hX9kO0RPidxUaeG9-tXkkzyFRrSNIlmf7IoL0lEuBP6HEwJ4I2bhSR5her-065xCW8EQa2oAUwRtjNODhAo-2jghYdR2XtNeFQ-46x8HUPXl6tqPqusaJ33D3-rkJQ3EEjuT6fR9b2iMozQ3lpL5fP0C0~p~eYG0Cv1L3DMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the Jan. 6 Rockville Mayor and Council meeting the council approved a consent item related to a county housing loan. Summary:

- Montgomery County loan to Scarborough Square owner: Adoption of a resolution to approve Montgomery County, Maryland’s $1,500,000 Housing Initiative Fund loan to RHE Scarborough Square, LLC (owner of Scarborough Square townhomes and apartments). The motion was moved by Councilmember Lehi, seconded by Councilmember Jackson, and the council voted unanimously in favor (recorded as unanimous in the meeting minutes).

No other legislative items (ordinances, zoning changes or final adoption votes) were taken on Jan. 6; the council spent the session on extended work sessions about Lincoln Park design rules and the Rockville Town Center master plan, which were left as council direction to staff rather than final actions.

","A single consent item passed unanimously at the Jan. 6 meeting: the council approved Montgomery County’s loan to a local housing owner; no other final ordinances were adopted during prolonged work sessions on Lincoln Park and Town Center.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rockville council narrows Lincoln Park design changes to footprint and height

Council adopts half‑mile corridor boundary for Town Center plan, agrees to require parking plans from developers

Votes at a glance: Jan. 6, 2025 Rockville Mayor and Council