Wednesday, January 09, 2008

DEVELOPER-BEHOLDEN
ROYCE HANSON AND
PLANNING BOARD LAUNCH
BLITZ IN WESTBARD SECTOR

121 Housing Units Approved on
Washington Episcopal School Campus
Off River Road and Little Falls Parkway

Eight Story Building Claimed as "Senior
Housing;" But No Guarantees

"All the Financials Were Beneficial."
You Can Say That Again!

Montgomery County Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson and his fellow board members rubber-stamped the first major development in the Westbard Sector last week. It approved 121 "senior housing" units in a proposed 8 story tower on the property of the Washington Episcopal School.

They are also trying to get a traffic light at Lindy Lane and River Road. Question for State Highway Administration engineers: How many stoplights can you have in a single block? There are three in this block of River already.

What will the view of this tower be from our neighborhood or the Kenwood neighborhood? We don't know because the developer, Sheridan Development Company, never came to us with any details on this project. They simply greased the wheels of government and we've been victimized by the Royce Hanson-Developer Planning Tank again on the outer fringes of the Sector.

And remember, there is no guarantee that these units will be senior housing now or ever. Don't forget, Park Bethesda started as a luxury apartment building and became an American University dorm overnight.

This is the last stand against developer excess in the county. Developers are putting the final touches on the Twinbrook and White Flint plans, guiding hands and greasing government palms all the way. Once the action moves to Westbard itself and the other side of River Road, the battle will be joined.


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