Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the COMSAT Redevelopment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs stronger economic‑development language for COMSAT site
Summary
Council and staff pressed to add an explicit land‑use goal to drive employment and economic development at the former COMSAT/COMPSAT property; planning staff recommended cross‑checking changes across the plan and prioritizing public benefits tied to redevelopment.
Council staff asked the committee to add a land‑use goal that explicitly supports economic development and employment opportunities—especially tied to redevelopment of the large former COMSAT property that has been largely vacant since 2005. Planning staff noted the 1994 plan had designated the COMSAT and Gateway 270 properties as employment campuses, and council staff argued the new plan should restore a clear economic development goal.
Council Vice President Marilyn Balcom said the COMSAT site is "one of the top sites" for county economic development and urged language to ensure future proposals include employment components, not only housing. Planning staff responded that applications will be evaluated against plan goals in totality and that a 100% housing proposal for the COMSAT site would likely be inconsistent with the recommended language. "If a recommendation came forward for 100% housing on the COMSAT site, to me, that would seem not to be in line with this language," said one council member questioning how staff would evaluate proposals.
Staff also reminded the committee that any change to a recommendation will be cross‑referenced throughout the plan to maintain consistency and that zoning details will be addressed in neighborhood sections. The committee agreed to the suggested strengthening of language supporting economic development and to proceed to other sections of the plan.
