| Home > Rockville Pike Neighborhood Corridor > Rockville Pike Corridor Neighborhood Plan |  |
Department of Community Planning and Development Services
Rockville Pike Corridor Neighborhood Plan
1989 Rockville Pike Corridor Neighborhood Plan
Summary of the 1989 Plan | Demographic Profile
Rockville Pike Corridor Neighborhood Plan: Update
Twinbrook Metro Performance District Guidelines - Update and Revision
The Mayor and Council have determined that a review and update of the Rockville Pike Corridor Neighborhood Plan is a priority. The Rockville Pike Corridor Plan encourages excellence in urban design. To achieve this goal, staff has developed a process to review and evaluate the existing design guidelines in the Twinbrook Metro Performance District, which are part of the Rockville Pike Corridor Plan adopted 17 years ago. The updated Twinbrook Metro Design Guidelines present an opportunity to sharpen the image for the Metro Performance District, much like the Town Center Master Plan Guidelines. The restructured study for the Twinbrook Metro Performance District will provide additional guidance on design standards and further implement the goals of the Rockville Pike Corridor Master Plan.
Existing Design Guidelines 1989
Existing urban design guidelines in the Rockville Corridor Neighborhood Plan 1989, are organized into two separate chapters, (relating to Chapters V and VI of the Plan).Preliminary Draft Design Guidelines 2006
Introducing a mix of land uses to the district, which will complement and leverage the Metro Station, the draft study makes specific recommendations in the design principles.
Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) Joint Meeting
The Long Range Planning Division coordinated a meeting that took place on November 22, 2005 with Maryland National Park and Planning Commission planning staff to discuss the development along the Rockville Pike corridor. The purpose of the meeting was sharing information and discussing involvement in the logical development along the Pike.
Workshop and Community Kick-Off Meeting
In October 2004, City planning staff hosted a workshop to gain an initial understanding of the issues and opportunities in the Rockville Pike corridor in advance of the review and update of the existing Plan. The results of the workshop helped staff members to establish the format of the Community Kick-Off Meeting.
The Community Kick-Off Meeting was held on December 8, 2004. Staff introduced the planning area and discussed the planning process. Also, through a facilitated discussion and exercise, staff members gathered information on the positive and negative attributes of the Rockville Pike corridor, as well as solutions and recommendations to address issues in the corridor. The findings in both the workshop and community meeting helped to identify issues and concerns in the corridor area.
Project Description and Purpose
The Rockville Pike Corridor Neighborhood Plan will update the 1989 Plan. In addition, the updated Plan will serve as an amendment to the Master Plan for the City of Rockville adopted November 12, 2002. Planning area 9 and part of planning area 1, or corridor extends along 1.5 miles of Rockville Pike (Maryland 355) between Twinbrook Parkway and Richard Montgomery Drive. This area encompasses 258 acres of land, which contains 1.2 million square feet of retail space (in shopping centers with 50,000 square feet or more of gross leaseable floor space), 1,015 dwelling units (2004 est.) and 1.1 million square feet of office space.
The purpose of the Plan is to achieve a mix of land uses, improve transportation and pedestrian circulation and to enhance the streetscape and appearance of the corridor through urban design techniques. The revised Plan may confirm this, or modify the intent of the existing Plan in some way.
Project Boundary Description
The corridor area is generally bounded to the north by Richard Montgomery Drive; to the west by Fleet Street, Woodmont Country Club and East Jefferson Street; to the east by Metro Red Line/CSX railroad tracks; and to the south by the City boundary near Twinbrook Parkway and Rollins Avenue. Base map | Aerial map
Brief History of Rockville Pike
The Pike has experienced a number of changes since its inception. In its earliest form, the Pike served as an Indian trail. After the arrival of European settlers, the trail was widened to transport tobacco. In the 1920s, the Pike became a two-lane paved road, and in 1957 it was expanded to four lanes. Today, the Pike has six lanes with adjacent retail, office and residential uses.
Background
The Rockville Pike Corridor Neighborhood Plan was adopted in 1989. The majority of the corridor was rezoned under a new classification called the Rockville Pike Commercial (RPC). The goal of this reclassification was to help promote a mix of uses. In addition to the reclassification, a Metro Performance District was established as an element of the RPC zone near the Twinbrook Metro Station to intensify adjacent development and encourage increased transit use.
There have been a number recent development and redevelopment projects along the corridor. Also, there is a proposed transit-oriented development known as Twinbrook Commons surrounding the Twinbrook Metro Station, as well as the Twinbrook Sector Plan process, which is being organized by staff of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.
We Value Your Ideas and Comments!
Send you comments via e-mail to:
Mayra Bayonet, Planner III, 240-314-8214
Jennifer Zirkle, Planning Technician, 240-314-8216
Jim Wasilak, Chief of Long Range Planning, 240-314-8211
City of Rockville, Maryland
Department of Community Planning and Development Services
111 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850-2364
240-314-8200