Planning Commission holds record open on Quince Orchard apartment amendment after resident concerns about traffic and safety

The Gaithersburg Planning Commission on March 19 held a public hearing and voted to keep the record open on ASDP‑09/2024, an application to remove condition No. 2 from a previously approved schematic development plan (SDP‑73602‑2016) for property at 913 and 917 Quince Orchard Road. The amendment would permit construction of a 304‑unit apartment building in the MXT (Mixed Use Development) zone under a revised plan the applicant presented.

Planning staff (Jasmine) framed the hearing as public‑comment only and said staff would not take final action that night. The Mayor and City Council had reviewed the application as a courtesy and determined it to have a minor effect; the council directed the Planning Commission to hold the hearing and make a final decision on the amendment.

Attorney Jody Klein, representing the applicant, said the proposed amendment removes a previously required second phase that had been conditioned on resolving infrastructure connections with the adjacent Sol (SAUL/Sol) property. Klein said the applicant pulled the building footprint back, eliminated the…