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WHEREAS, the City
of Rockville Planning Commission (hereinafter referred to as the “Commission”),
under the provisions of Section 3.07 of Article 66B of the Annotated Code
of Maryland may recommend adoption of any amendment for the whole or any
part of the City and may recommend adoption of any amendment or extension
of or addition to the Plan; and
WHEREAS, previously, on June 16, 1993 the Planning Commission did approve,
and on October 25, 1993 the Mayor and Council previously adopted a Master
Plan for the City of Rockville, Maryland; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council did instruct the Commission to make and
approve, and recommend to the Mayor and Council a Plan for the Town Center
Planning Area of Rockville (hereinafter known as the “Town Center
Master Plan”), and in connection therewith the Mayor and Council
did direct that a consultant be engaged to assist in the preparation of
the Town Center Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City contracted with Development Concepts, Inc. and HNTB
(hereinafter known as the “consultants”), to prepare the Town
Center Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and Council appointed a Town Center Master Plan Advisory
Group, consisting of citizens, property owners, developers, business owners,
and government representatives, to review the recommendations and draft
Town Center Master Plan developed by the consultants;
WHEREAS, the consultants and Town Center Master Plan Advisory Group prepared,
consistent with Section 3.05 of Article 66B of the Annotated Code of Maryland,
a plan for the Town Center Planning Area of Rockville, Maryland entitled
“Rockville Town Center Master Plan”; and
WHEREAS, in connection with the preparation of the Town Center Master
Plan, the Advisory Group and the consultants did carefully and comprehensively
survey and study present conditions, projections of future growth of the
Rockville Town Center, and the relation of the Town Center to neighboring
areas and jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, the Town Center Master Plan has been prepared for the purpose
of guiding and accomplishing coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development
of the Rockville Town Center and its environs; and
WHEREAS, the Town Center Master Plan supports the seven visions of the
State of Maryland’s Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning
Act of 1992, and the Smart Growth and Neighborhood Conservation Policy;
and
WHEREAS, after the preparation of said Town Center Master Plan as a proposed
amendment to the Master Plan for the City, the Commission gave notice
of the time and place of the public hearing to be held on said Town Center
Master Plan as an amendment to the Master Plan for the City by giving
notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the City; and
WHEREAS, the Commission did refer copies of said Town Center Master Plan
to all adjoining planning jurisdictions and to all state and local jurisdictions
that have responsibility for financing or constructing public improvements
necessary to implement the Town Center Master Plan at least sixty (60)
days prior to the public hearing; and
WHEREAS, the Commission held a public hearing on said Town Center Master
Plan in the Council Chamber at City Hall, Rockville, Maryland on July
18, 2001; and
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission took into consideration the testimony
presented at said public hearing and now desires to present its recommendations
for an amendment to the Plan for the City of Rockville, Maryland; and
WHEREAS, the planning and development policies recommended in the Town
Center Master Plan have been closely coordinated with and represent an
extension of planning policy contained in the Master Plan for the City
of Rockville, Maryland; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of Rockville,
Maryland, as follows:
1. That the Town
Center Master Plan be and the same is hereby approved and recommended
for the adoption by the Mayor and Council of Rockville, Maryland pursuant
to Article 66B, Section 3.08 of the Annotated Code of Maryland as an
amendment to the 1993 Master Plan for the City of Rockville, Maryland.
The Town Center Master Plan consists of the following:
a. The publication entitled the Rockville Town Center Master Plan, dated
May 2, 2001; and
b. Addendum and Errata sheet dated August 1, 2001.
2. The Planning Commission is concerned about future traffic impacts.
Additional traffic analysis is currently being prepared. Based on the
outcome of that analysis the Mayor and Council should review the zoning
and other recommendations and revise them as appropriate.
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