HOC’s Board approves Wheaton Gateway budget, funding, and concept plan
Recently, senior staff members of the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) of Montgomery County presented a conceptual massing for the Wheaton Gateway project to the HOC Commission, the policy-making body of the agency appointed by the County Executive with the concurrence of the County Council.
The presentation by HOC staff included a summary of the development’s assemblage, diagrammatic massing studies to assist with the initial discussion between the development team and the Montgomery County Planning Department, a predevelopment budget, predevelopment funding, an anticipated predevelopment timeline, and a summary of recommendations. The Commission, which reviews and approves development plans for all HOC projects, gave its unanimous approval, paving the way for the start to the formal development application process.
The approval is only in service to HOC-related operations – specifically the predevelopment budget and funding, approval of a loan to the Wheaton Gateway development team (Wheaton Gateway, LLC), and approval of the concept plan for the redevelopment of the existing sites containing Ambassador Hotel, Lindsay Ford, and Mattress Firm. The outcomes of this presentation are an organizational action only and do not constitute approval by the Montgomery County Planning Board.
The formal approval of Wheaton Gateway by the Montgomery County Planning Board will follow an orderly progression through the entitlement process, which will be undertaken after the voluntary, informal discussion with Montgomery County Planning Department staff of the Concept Plan. The formal development application process can take a number of years and will include a sketch plan, preliminary plan of subdivision, and site plan. At each stage of this process, there will be community engagement and outreach activities, including required pre-submission meetings and public hearings. Approval from HOC’s board of commissioners will also be sought at each stage.
Commission meetings are open to the public. More information about current projects and upcoming meetings is posted on the HOC website. For a complete overview of how Montgomery Planning, landowners, and community members work together to review plans for new development, please see this brochure, which outlines the entire process.
We thank you for your interest in Wheaton Gateway. Our development team is committed to keeping the community informed and maintaining an open dialog, and we will keep you informed through these emails and on our website at WheatonGateway.com. If you have any questions, we invite you to contact us directly.