Sketch plans detailing the proposed construction of a 393-unit residential building in an office park near Westfield Montgomery mall in Bethesda have been approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board.
The NRP Group, a developer based in Cleveland, Ohio, submitted its sketch plan application for the Democracy Center development to the county in mid-March, proposing the construction of a seven-story residential building at the site which is located next to the Lockheed Martin headquarters on Rockledge Drive.
The planning board unanimously approved the developer’s sketch plans at its May 30 meeting.
Located in the Rock Spring Park area the proposed site is bounded by I-270 to the west, Rockledge Drive to the east and Westlake Terrace to the south, according to planning documents. Three triangular-shaped office buildings constructed in 1984 are on the site.
According to county planners, Rock Spring Park is beginning to transition from an office park into more of a multi-use neighborhood with several housing developments planned for the area. The NRP Group plans to improve the site of its proposed housing development with a 1.3-acre privately owned public urban park next to the building.
Its proposed park plans include Bocce courts, a large lawn, tennis courts and a nature-based play area, according to planning documents.
“We believe that this is a major amenity for the surrounding community, not just for the residents of the building but the existing residents and future residents of this area,” planner Amy Lindsey said during the May 30 meeting.
The project includes 472,710 square feet for residences. Fifteen percent of the total number of multi-family units will be moderately priced dwelling units, per county rules.
According to sketch plans, the building will feature an inner courtyard area as well as an above-ground parking structure within the building.
“We are very excited to bring this project to the Planning Board. We truly believe that this fulfills a great part of the Rock Spring Sector Plan. It truly is the live-work-play concept brought to fruition,” said Soo Lee-Cho, a principal at Bregman, Berbert, Schwartz and Gilday law firm representing the developer.
The 2017 Rock Spring Sector Plan focuses on enhancing the suburban office park and explores opportunities for public use spaces and amenities, residential and commercial uses and transit, according to Montgomery Planning.
Board Commissioner Shawn Bartley echoed Lee-Cho’s excitement and said he has visited the office park many times for medical appointments and viewed the area as an “office building wasteland.” He said it was exciting to see a developer taking the opportunity to convert office space into housing.
The next step of the project entails the submission of a site plan in which the design of the building and the park will be hashed out in more detail, according to planning documents.