What's the Plan, Burtonsville? Public Hearing Tonight in Rockville

County Council members will hear from residents about a plan to bring business and a sense of community back to Burtonsville.

Have ideas for how to bring customers back to the businesses in Burtonsville? Got something to say about walkability and bikeability on the town's main thoroughfares? Montgomery County Councilmembers want to hear it at tonight's public hearing at 7:30 p.m. To testify, speakers must sign up in advance by calling the Council Office at 240-777-7803. For more information on Council's procedures, click here. Everything you ever wanted to know about plans for Burtonsville? Go here.  The planning department approved a plan that would re-zone both of Burtonsville's shopping centers, allowing for both residential and retail at Burtonsville Crossing. Along Route 198, planners want to add sidewalks, bike lanes and public gathering spaces to slow …

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Public Hearing, Council Committee Meetings Scheduled for Burtonsville Plan

Suggestions for how to bring commerce and customers back to Burtonsville's businesses is headed for the Montgomery County Council this fall.

Now is the time to speak up about a Burtonsville plan to spruce up the town's central business district, paving the way for more community spaces, foot traffic and business. In coming months, the Burtonsville Neighborhood Plan, a vision for how to bring a sense of community and increase economic vitality to the area, will go before the Montgomery County Council--first in a public hearing, then in a couple of committee meetings and finally a full vote.  Senior Planner Kristin O'Connor began a study in November 2010 to discover ways to revitalize the area, spurred in part by the struggling Burtonsville Crossing shopping center, which continues to lose both tenants and customers.  Haven't been following along? Get caught up on plans for …

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SaveBurtonsville.com: Property Owners, Planners Spar Over Future of Rural Area

Land owners in Burtonsville want to build townhomes on their property, but the planning board says the land is too important to the area's water supply.

What does Burtonsville need to survive and thrive? If you ask Tom Norris, a resident and land owner, he'll tell you "more housing."  He and a group of others who collectively own an undeveloped 40-acre tract just north of Burtonsville Crossing recently started a petition on Change.org to allow them to build on their land. The petition asks the Montgomery County Council to reject a proposal by planners that continues to outlaw substantial residential development on the acreage. Thirty-two people have signed so far.  "There’s not enough people to support the shopping center, or the shopping centers, both of them are struggling," said Norris.  Kristin O'Connor, senior planner with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, has …

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WATCH: Plans for Burtonsville to Provide 'More Human Connections'

Sidewalks, bike lanes and outdoor gathering spaces will give Burtonsville a sense of community.

Recommendations for improving traffic and creating a more walkable community for Burtonsville are moving through Montgomery County's planning process.  Previously, Kristin O'Connor, senior planner with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, conducted a study of Burtonsville's commercial district and a rural area just north. O'Connor described the town's main drag, at Route 29 and Route 198, in the planning department's video as "a crossroads and a very vehicular dominated area."  "You've got no pedestrian infrastructure, no sidewalks," she continued. "There aren't any gathering spaces of note that you would want to sit down and have your ice cream and have your cup of coffee. "It just has the roads and the pass-through …

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Whitney Teal

2:01 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012

Hey, Diane! yep! zoning changes for the old shopping center are included in the plan -- read more about what we've written about the plans for the commercial district: http://colesville.patch.com/topics/plans-for-burtonsville-18367234   more ›

Petco, Roy Rogers Coming to Burtonsville Town Square

Remaining vacancies in Burtonsville Town Square to be filled soon, shopping center owner said.

Petco will be the newest retailer to open up shop in Burtonsville Town Square, owner Chris Jones told Patch Wednesday.  The national pet supply chain signed a lease with BMC Property Group, the company that manages the shopping center. Petco will occupy 9,300-square feet of the center, next door to Montgomery County Liquor and Wine. The store should be open sometime next year, Jones said. Native Marylanders will also be happy to know about another potential lessee--Frederick, MD-based fast food chain Roy Rogers.  The company will appeal to the county planning board on June 21 to allow for a drive-thru at Burtonsville Town Square, Jones said. If the special exception is granted, the company will build on space near Capital One Bank. As for …

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Burtonsville Re-Zoning, Revitalization Passes Planning Board

A neighborhood proposal to repurpose much of Burtonsville’s commercial area clears an important hurdle.

Plans to better utilize buildings, roadways and open space in Burtonsville’s commercial center moved a step closer to reality this week. The Montgomery County Planning Board approved the Burtonsville Crossroads Neighborhood Plan on Thursday, May 3. A public hearing with the planning board is scheduled for June 7 and the recommendations will head to the County Council, one of the final steps, in July. Burtonsville became the focus of Senior Planner Kristin O’Connor in November 2010, when she began work on a vision to bring a sense of community--and business--back to the intersection of Route 29 and Route 198. Neighbors told officials last year that they wanted to see more public spaces and streets that are safer for pedestrians. The county’…

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Visions for Vacancies

What Do You Want to See in the Old Burtonsville Giant Vacancy?

We're asking the community what businesses and services they would like to see move into vacancies around town.

Play community planner for a second: What do you want to see in East Montgomery County?  That's the idea behind our new column, "Visions for Vacancies." Whether it's a small space on a forgotten side street or a huge, commercial center near two major state roads.  Speaking of large spaces, the first vacancy spotlight is Giant's old building in Burtonsville Crossing. (There's a whole story behind this vacancy, also.)  Here are the stats: Old Giant building 15700 block of Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville  55,330 square feet Leased by Edens We've asked before, but we want everyone to chime in: What would you like to see in this vacancy? (If you have an idea for a future "Visions for Vacancies," just tell us in the comments.) 

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Proposal Makes Route 198 Burtonsville’s ‘Main Street’

A one-year study of the area concludes with a plan to bring a sense of community back to the neighborhood.

The central district of Burtonsville is, by definition, a crossroads. Heavily traveled state roads, Route 29 and Route 198, meet just feet from where the neighborhood conducts its business: eating, shopping, doctor’s appointments and re-fueling cars.  A new vision from Montgomery County’s planning department might enable residents to get out of their cars, enjoy the sights and make it easier for businesses to further develop the area.  “So much of Burtonsville has been highway,” said Kristin O’Connor, senior planner with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. “The vision here is turning a crossroads into a community.” O’Connor began work on a one-year study of the neighborhood in November 2010 at the behest of County …

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