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Board approves final plan for Square at Forest Hill Heights development off Winchester Road
Summary
The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen unanimously approved the final plan for Phase 18D of Forest Hill Heights (the Square at Forest Hill Heights), allowing two 13,000-square-foot commercial buildings to proceed to construction-plan review.
The Board of Mayor and Aldermen on Feb. 10 approved the final plan for Phase 18D of the Forest Hill Heights planned development, known as the Square at Forest Hill Heights, clearing the way for two 13,000-square-foot commercial buildings near the Hyatt Hotel to move to construction-plan review.
Sarah Pounter, the city's planning division manager, described the plan as part of the adopted Forest Hill Heights small area plan and said the parcels are within the city's T5 smart-code zoning district. "This is the final plan phase 18D of the Forest Hill Heights planned development," Pounter said, adding that the proposal includes retail and office uses, restaurants and parking areas serving the two buildings.
The plan had previously received approvals from the Planning Commission and the Design Review Commission (DRC). Pounter told the board the project required five design warrants — now called justifiable design alternatives — tied to existing easements that limit how the parcel can be developed. Those included reduced building frontage (less than 70%), parking in excess of typical allowances, parking located in front, and screening adjustments; she said an existing landscape buffer along Winchester helps screen parking and eliminated the need for a screening wall.
Alderman Salvaggio praised the developer's work with the Planning Commission and the DRC, saying the proposal "will really set a high standard for that area for future development." Alderman Sherry Hicks, who served on the DRC, said the applicant responded to requests to improve the rear elevations so that the view from the Hyatt Hotel "doesn't look like the back of a building."
Motion and outcome: Alderman Sanders moved to approve the amended planned development final plan (Phase 18D, Square at Forest Hill Heights); Alderman Hicks seconded. The board voted unanimously in roll call (Alderman Yulicki, Alderman Salvaggio, Alderman Sanders, Vice Mayor Gibson and Alderman Hicks voted yes) and the motion carried.
What happens next: With the board's approval the developer may submit construction plans to the city's engineering department for plan review. Pounter noted many easements are already in place and that the design adjustments reflect existing constraints.
Details recorded on the record: The plan calls for two 13,000-square-foot retail/office buildings and associated parking; the site sits at the corner of Forest Hill, Irene and Winchester near the Hyatt Hotel and is within the Forest Hill Heights small area plan. The Planning Commission approved five warrants (design alternatives) for the project and the DRC reviewed building materials, colors, fencing and four-sided elevation concerns.
No amendments to the approved plan were recorded at the Feb. 10 meeting; the board's action was to adopt the final plan as presented.
