Presentation of the

Illustrative Concept Plan

and Development Guidelines

www.olneytowncenter.org

December 11, 2007

The Future of Olney Town Center

Choices, choices, choices…

Today’s Presentation

Introduce Committee Present Master Plan Principals and

Recommendations Present Illustrative Concept Plan and

Development Guidelines Discussion and Feedback

The Olney Town Center Advisory Committee

Purpose Create an Illustrative Concept Plan for the

town center Create a concept plan for a civic center/town

commons Review development proposals for parcels

within the town center and make recommendations to Montgomery County Planning Board

The Olney Town Center Advisory Committee

Members from Civic Organizations

Greater Olney Civic Association—Gina Angiola

The Olney Coalition— Sunita Bhatia

PROJECT CHANGE— Dorothy Kane

Members from Homeowners Associations

Environ HOA—Walter Lee Hallowell HOA—

Nancy DeLalio Oatland Farm HOA—

Jim Smith Williamsburg Village Civic

Assoc.— Mark Feinroth

The Olney Town Center Advisory Committee

Members from County Service Agencies

Mid-County Services Center— Helene Rosenheim

Mid-County Recreation Advisory Board—Joe Fritsch

Mid-County Citizens Advisory Board—Eileen Cahill

Outreach Subcommittee Member Bob Beard, GOCA Executive

Vice-President

Members from Business Groups Olney Chamber of Commerce—

Paula Kahla Freeman Properties—Mike Reilly

Staff from Montgomery County Planning

Khalid Afzal, Community Planner

The Olney Town Center Advisory Committee

Milestone Events Formation, March-May 2006 Visited Mixed-Use Centers, June 2006 and

Mayor Giammo August 2007 First Development Proposal, July 2006 Logo Contest, selected March 2007 Presentations from Miche Booz December

2006 and June 2007.

The Olney Town Center Advisory Committee

Milestone Events (continued) Freeman Properties Dec 2006 and July 2007 Qualitative Analysis of Town Center Nov ‘06 to

May 2007 Began Collecting Requirements for Civic

Center/Town Commons, Feb 2007 Began Illustrative Concept Plan with RTKL

March 2007 Met with Bob Simpson with DPWT (Feb 2007)

and Engineers at SHA (Oct 2007)

Olney Master Plan

Process Began with community-wide survey in July

2001. 20 public meetings of a Master Plan Advisory

Group of 40 residents and business owners. Public hearing before the Planning Board. Public hearing before the County Council. Final version adopted April 2005.

Olney Master Plan

Master Plan Area

Olney Town Center Master Plan

Town Center AreaInsert image of town center

Olney Town Center Master Plan

Goals Create an economically healthy, attractive,

pedestrian-oriented, and well connected Town Center to be the commercial and civic heart of the community. Create a civic center in the Town Center through redevelopment of a major shopping center or a public-private partnership.

Olney Town Center Master Plan

Vision of Olney Town Center Town Center as focal point of the community. Preserve Olney’s semi-rural character by

encouraging density and development in the Town Center and discouraging commercial development outside of the Town Center.

Allow for changes that will inevitably come as economy grows.

Olney Town Center Master Plan

23 Recommendations Including: Create civic center and major public open

space. Variety of measures to improve pedestrian

circulation and safety. Create more street connections (e.g. N High to

Morningwood and Third Ave to Hwy 108.) Limit building heights to 70’ in core and 42’ to

56’ at edge. Setbacks above 2nd story on narrow streets.

Olney Town Center Master Plan

23 Recommendations Including: (continued) Front building facades up to sidewalks. Create “main street” effect on Freeman property

with multiple connections to existing streets. Landscape: wider sidewalks, amenities in public

spaces, visual breaks in larger parking lots. Environmental: stormwater management, protect

streams, forest conservation.

Illustrative Concept Plan

What it is A general picture of

what the town center could look like if most areas redeveloped following master plan recommendations.

Illustrates some opportunities for land owners.

What it is NOT A development

blueprint

• Framework of pedestrian friendly streets.

• High-Priority Pedestrian Crossings.

• Central public open space.• Building heights tapered from

core, residential meets residential.

• Street Façade Locations.

Illustrates the following principles:

MXTC Zoning Existing conditions

vs. full development yield of approximately 2 acre minimum (at 20 units per acre equals 40 units residential.)

Density requires structured parking of 2-3 levels.

Commercial development: 3+ stories.

Office above retail.

NW Quadrant Limited opportunity for

consolidation due to condominium development.

Explore “flex” or “live-work” development on smaller parcels.

The corner property (at 108 and Georgia Ave.) will be important to redeveloping this quadrant.

SW Quadrant Explore potential for

consolidating Library/shopping center parcel to facilitate development of signature Public building at gateway.

Mixed-use development on remaining blocks

Consider eventuality of relocating existing light industrial uses.

SE Quadrant Orient commercial

development along Georgia Avenue and 108 w/ residential development Transitioning to neighborhoods.

Explore mixed-use grocery store model.

Create more vehicular/pedestrian connections.

Small public open space.

NE Quadrant

Option 1: Internal public space to become the heart of downtown.

Strengthen pedestrian crossings across Route 108.

Phased development of the quadrant.

Development pieces can create a small town mixed use character anchored by a community public space.

NE Quadrant

Option 2: Public space on Route 108 creates a “window” making the public space more visible.

Strengthen pedestrian crossings across Route 108.

Shows center of quadrant redeveloped (future phase).

Explore “flex” or “live-work” development on smaller parcels.

Development Guidelines

Part II of document Establishes quality standards

that should be achieved through the Town Center.

Provides guidelines for: -architectural design -street design -parking lots and garages -streetscape design -landscape architecture -signage and screening -design review process Guidelines will be used by

developers and government.

Development Guidelines

References two works by local architect Miche Booz:• Report on Local Building Traditions: History

and Analysis, Nov. 10, 2006

• Report on Local Villages, Towns, and Mixed-Use Centers: Catalog, Analysis, & Critique, June 18, 2007.

Acknowledgements

Bill Caldwell, PrincipalLaura Rydland, Urban Designer

Miche Booz, Architect

Khalid Afzal, Community Planner

Your Feedback is Important Provide comments to plan on Feedback

Form www.olneytowncenter.org James.Smith@olneytowncenter.org Olney Town Center Advisory Committee

PO Box 1164 Olney, MD 20830