Planning commission approves Chipotle, Lightbridge daycare at Walnut Hill with conditions on vehicle circulation and lighting

The Gaithersburg Planning Commission on Nov. 19 granted final site plan approval (SP-10177-2025) and final forest conservation plan approval (ENV-01076-2025) for a new 2,385-square-foot Chipotle and an on-site Lightbridge daycare playground at Walnut Hill Shopping Center, finding the applications in conformance with sections 24-12.6(e) and (g) of the city zoning ordinance and attaching three conditions.

Staff presented the proposal and noted since the packet was posted the applicant has been coordinating with Montgomery County to improve the existing sidewalk on Northwestland Drive; the county also asked the applicant to add street lighting. Jake Deepiazza, representing Grama Canyon Partners (the shopping center managing member), described recent center renovations (Aldi, Concentra), the planned Sheetz at the corner, and EV charger installation tied to the annexation agreement. Deepiazza said the Chipotle would be a pickup-window operation ("not a traditional drive-through") with stacking for up to six cars and a pull-off area if orders are not immediately ready.

Commissioners asked several operational and safety questions: how drivers will know the lane is pickup-only, whether physical lane geometry could force right turns out of the pickup lane, where cars would pull over if food is not ready, and whether parking counts include the upper lot. The applicant said they would add signage (including "do not enter" and no-right-turn markings), widen an island to discourage left turns, require employees to park in the back to preserve customer spaces, and continue working with staff and the county to refine vehicle movements.

Staff recommended approval with three conditions: (1) submit revised plans to address staff comments and site-plan cleanup prior to final signature; (2) continue to work with staff to improve vehicle movement from the drive-thru exit prior to final signature; and (3) submit revised lighting plans to address Montgomery County Department of Transportation comments prior to final signature. A commissioner moved to approve the final site plan and forest conservation plan with the written conditions; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.

The applicant said leases are signed for both Chipotle and Lightbridge and that construction and permitting are expected to proceed quickly, with a building permit for Chipotle to be submitted in the next one to two weeks and the developer aiming to deliver the project before the end of next year. The commission asked staff to verify final plan revisions before signature and to ensure county lighting and vehicle-movement comments are addressed.