Gaithersburg planning commission approves 10,175-square-foot retail building and parking waiver at 715 Progress Way

The Gaithersburg Planning Commission on May 17 unanimously approved final site plan SP-9991-2024 for a 10,175-square-foot multi-tenant retail building at 715 Progress Way and granted a parking waiver to allow 50 parking spaces where the zoning code calculation yields 41 spaces.

The site plan, submitted as part of the redevelopment of the former IBM property, was presented by Caroline (staff member), followed by Philip Hummel of Shulman Rogers and Brian Morris, director of entitlement for Matt and Companies. Caroline said the application is “the first of 2 final site plans anticipated to fulfill schematic development plan SDP 9759-2024,” which was approved by the mayor and city council by Resolution R-49-24. The building is on Lot 7 of a roughly 43.96-acre redevelopment and includes associated parking, outdoor dining, and a shared seating area that will be constructed with Lot 7 and serve both Lot 7 and a future Lot 8.

Why it matters: the project fills part of a large commercial redevelopment along Progress Way and North Frederick Avenue that already includes two flex buildings, a Chick-fil-A and a Sheetz. Commissioners and staff said the retail frontage supports leasing in adjacent office/flex buildings and enhances pedestrian connections to the Frederick Avenue Linear Park and the site’s internal sidewalks.

Key details: Brian Morris described Lot 7 as “roughly an acre” with a 10,175-square-foot building and said the project team is negotiating tenant leases. The applicant requested the parking waiver because the city’s new zoning ordinance uses a ratio of one space per 250 square feet; applied to 10,175 square feet that ratio yields a requirement of 41 spaces, while the applicant proposes 50 spaces. Morris said, “We are requesting 50 spaces,” and explained the additional spaces respond to the site’s existing auto-oriented context and tenant needs. Staff recommended approval with one condition to clarify some landscape-plan notes (including a watering schedule) and to provide a clearer print of a storm-drain detail.

Public comment and circulation questions: David Mullins, a resident who identified himself as living at Gateway Apartments, asked what the waiver covered; the project team responded that the waiver permits the nine additional spaces above the 41-space ratio. Commissioners asked about accessible and bicycle parking; Morris said the site plan provides required handicap parking and eight bicycle spaces, “on either end of the building.” The project team identified the dumpster location and said delivery vehicles would typically use the parking area and that the largest truck turning radius accommodated is the WB-40 class.

Design and landscaping: the applicant presented elevations showing brick at the pedestrian level with EIFS at upper portions, metal and fabric awnings, articulated parapets, and patterned brick on the rear elevation to reduce the appearance of a blank back-of-house wall. The site will provide 36% green area on Lot 7, above the 25% lot requirement; the applicant said that, in aggregate across the full redevelopment, they are providing approximately 43% of the project’s green-area requirement.

Action taken: a planning commissioner moved to grant final site plan SP-9991-2024 and the parking waiver, noting staff findings and recommendations. The motion was seconded and passed by a 4-0 vote. The approval includes the single staff condition on landscape and storm-drain plan notes.

Next steps: the applicant said Lot 8 will be the subject of a subsequent site-plan application; commissioners praised the early construction of shared amenities and the project’s pedestrian connections to the linear park. The planning commission’s approval permits the applicant to proceed with the specified lot improvements consistent with the staff condition noted in the record.