A 14-story, 140-unit apartment project in downtown Bethesda became the first to be impacted by an additional right-of-way required by the county for a bus rapid transit system with an uncertain future.
Adding the right-of-way could result in a wide swath of Wisconsin Avenue sidewalk that looks out of place with the rest of the street.
Douglas Development’s 8008 Wisconsin project is set for the corner of Wisconsin and Cordell avenues that used to be home to the Ranger Surplus store. But at a meeting with county planners last year, the developer and attorney representing the project were in for a rude awakening.
Under the master plan approved in 2013 that made the county’s plans for a bus rapid transit system official, the State Highway Administration requires an additional 18 feet of right-of-way along Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda. That means Douglas Development had to give up 9 feet of the sidewalk on its side of the road, according to attorney Emily Vaias.
The developer also had to provide an additional 10 feet of right-of-way on its side of the street because a bus rapid transit station is in the master plan for the corner of Cordell and Wisconsin avenues.
The project is the first in downtown Bethesda that has been directly impacted by the bus rapid transit master plan.
“We struggled with them for a little while and ultimately came to the conclusion that we would compromise so that we could move the project forward,” Vaias told the Woodmont Triangle Action Group Friday morning.
The county-organized group of local residents, developers and county officials regularly reviews new development projects and provides input to county planners.
The new building design will still include 140 units in a 143-foot building. But the developer and architect had to adjust where the apartment entrance and lobby would be and squeeze in a number of other features.
The State Highway Administration, Montgomery County Department of Transportation and the county Planning Department agreed to let Douglas build a 10-foot overhang about 15 feet off the ground that will cover part of the bus rapid transit station—if it’s ever built.
The developer will also be allowed to build its underground parking garage under the widened road.
The changes forced upon the project were startling to some in the advisory group.
Jad Donohoe, senior vice president of Donohoe development and a member of the group, said he’ll also have to give up right-of-way at his property about a block north of 8008 Wisconsin Ave.
This, despite the fact that the Flats At 8300 project across the street is currently being built up to the former right-of-way line.
While the county is still trying to figure out how to finance and implement a countywide bus rapid transit system, the Flats at 8300 and many existing buildings could spell trouble for the corridor slated to run along Wisconsin Avenue and Rockville Pike.
The Flats at 8300 building, which will include 359 residential units and a 50,000-square-foot Harris Teeter store, has yet to open and Donohoe said it will likely remain for the next 80-100 years.
Until the bus rapid transit corridor is implemented, the new right-of-way demands will mean a wide swath of empty sidewalk at 8008 Wisconsin Ave.
Vaias said the project is on the Planning Board’s agenda for June 18. The developer hopes to have all necessary approvals in the next year to start construction, Vaias said.
