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Committee recommends amending abandonment resolution for Washington Grove Lane to support Emery Grove redevelopment
Summary
The Transportation and Environment Committee voted by unanimous consent to recommend amending a county resolution to reflect a revised measurement of abandoned right‑of‑way on Washington Grove Lane in Gaithersburg, clearing a county‑held parcel to support the Emery Grove affordable‑housing and heritage redevelopment. MCDOT approval conditions require preserving public‑utility easements and resolving title issues.
The Montgomery County Transportation and Environment Committee on June 23 recommended that the full council adopt an amended resolution to abandon two county right‑of‑way parcels along Washington Grove Lane in Gaithersburg to support the Emery Grove heritage redevelopment, which includes affordable housing and community revitalization to honor the area’s Black heritage.
Council staff told the committee the applicants — the Housing Opportunities Commission and Emery Grove United Methodist Church — jointly seek abandonment of one larger area along the south side of Washington Grove Lane and a smaller area on the north side. Council staff recommended changing the square‑footage figure in the draft resolution after the applicant and the Montgomery County Department of Transportation agreed an updated measurement was more accurate. “We recommend amending the resolution to change the square footage of abandonment area number 1 from 56,826 square feet to 41,997 square feet,” council staff said.
Staff and MCDOT testified that the rights of way were originally dedicated for a possible widening and a potential relocation of State Route 124 but that those plans are not needed for current or foreseeable public use. MCDOT recommended approval of the abandonment subject to conditions commonly required in such cases: preserving public‑utility easements for Pepco, WSSC Water and other utilities; maintaining access and connectivity in any future redevelopment so properties retain functional ingress/egress; and resolving title and ownership questions through the subdivision process.
A committee member moved the staff amendment and the committee adopted it by unanimous consent, instructing staff to forward the amended resolution with the committee recommendation to the full county council. The committee did not take a final council vote; formal adoption and any MCDOT conditions will be reflected at the full‑council stage.
Next steps: the amended resolution will be scheduled for full council consideration; any final abandonment action will be subject to the council’s vote and applicable subdivision and easement processes.
