Gaithersburg proposal would replace single family homes with 2 apartment buildings

A developer has proposed replacing single-family homes at 201 Brookes Avenue and 9, 11 and 15 Park Avenue in Gaithersburg with two apartment buildings. Four-story-tall Building 1 would be at the corner of Brookes and Park, and have 70 units and a surface parking lot. Five-story-tall Building 2 would be on Park Avenue, and hold 110 units. Building 2 will have a parking garage. The completed buildings would be adjacent to the remaining single-family homes in the neighborhood.

The Gaithersburg Historic District Commission had advised rejecting the proposal, recommending historic designation for the existing homes. That recommendation was rejected by the City Council on October 3, 2022. The Gaithersburg Planning Commission will now review the apartment buildings proposal at its December 7, 2022 meeting at 7:30 PM. Planning staff are recommending approval of the proposal with two conditions: 1) that the windows around the building entrances be changed to comply with Olde Towne District Design Guidelines, and 2) that the applicant successfully receive a waiver for the fifth story of Building 2 from the Mayor and Council, or else reduce that building to four stories.