A master plan has been drafted for the Lakeforest Mall property in Gaithersburg, and the Mayor and City Council will review that and public feedback at their regular meeting tonight, in a joint session with the city's Planning Commission. 739 people out of 8120 city and county residents who were mailed or invited to take a survey on the potential redevelopment returned their surveys. 28 people participated in public forums or focus groups on the matter.
City planning staff characterizes the majority opinion from this feedback as favoring mixed-use development, housing at a variety of price points, job opportunities for "various career levels," and a variety of transportation modes. Other familiar buzzwords include creation of a "sense of place," and addition of "maker spaces."
Staff is also recommending circulation patterns that promote pedestrian and cycling safety. Housing should be "higher density," despite the mall's substantial distance from the nearest Metro station. Retail should be downplayed, staff argues, because there is already too much retail in the area.
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