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Rockville residents urge council to reconsider RM‑25 rezoning that could allow denser development near Newmark Commons
Summary
Residents of Newmark Commons and neighboring areas told the Rockville Mayor and Council on Sept. 15 they are alarmed by a draft comprehensive‑plan change that would rezone a wooded parcel near Tower Oaks from R‑90 to RM‑25, a move they said could spur much denser development and more traffic.
Several Rockville residents urged the Mayor and Council at the Sept. 15 community forum to revisit a proposed zoning change that would rezone a wooded, roughly 9–10 acre parcel near Tower Oaks and Newmark Commons from lower‑density zoning (R‑90) to RM‑25.
Pat Reber, who said she lives in Newmark Commons, told the council that the draft comprehensive‑plan proposal would change the property’s underlying zoning from about 4.5 dwelling units per acre (R‑90) to RM‑25, which allows up to 25 dwelling units per acre and multi‑unit buildings potentially up to 75 feet tall with reduced setbacks. Reber said neighbors are alarmed the change would permit a more than fivefold increase in residential density and could bring higher traffic volumes through their community.
Marty Reese, another nearby resident, pointed to the site’s wetlands, challenging terrain and limited access and said those constraints leave only a narrow central band of buildable land. Reese urged the council to consider alternative zones such as R‑75 or R‑60 for compatibility with surrounding neighborhoods.
Mark Pescela, a former council member and Ready board member who spoke later in the forum, urged the council to preserve REDI’s third‑party model for economic development while recommending explicit points of view be requested of REDI on contentious local development matters.
Speakers asked the council to walk the site and offered to lead a neighborhood tour to show steep slopes, wetlands and how the property relates to Newmark Commons. Council members did not take immediate action; staff noted the issue will return as part of the citywide draft plan that the council expects to act on in December.
No formal rezoning vote occurred at this meeting; the comments were made during the public forum and recorded for council consideration in future hearings.
