Notes from the March 16, 2011 WRAC meeting. There was a large turnout for the WRAC meeting.˙ B.F. Saul Updates Bob Wulff ˙gave an update on the presentation B.F. Saul gave to the public partners (Montgomery County, SHA, WMATA) last Friday.˙ Bob noted that the concept plan presented was feasible from B.F. Saul s perceptive; they can get financing and tenants.˙ The Public Partners, however, have not yet approved the Plan. Bob repeated his statement that the WMATA site is very complicated from a redevelopment prospective.˙ ˙B.F. Saul has been reviewing cost issues with Clark Construction Company.˙ B.F. Saul is continuing to fine tune their plan, which as noted above, are not yet approved. ˙ The next important step is to present the plan to stakeholders so that a land value can be set.˙ Once the land value is set, the County can transfer the property to B.F. Saul.˙ Once the land has been transferred, B.F. Saul will start its serious redevelopment efforts (act like a real redeveloper.)˙ Bob noted that there will still be changes on the WMATA site as they work to get tenants (tenants will drive the redevelopment at the WMATA site.) Bob described the program requirements, which are driven by their market stakeholders. ˙ ˙ These program requirements currently include 550,000 to 600,000 sq ft. in office space, 825 parking spaces, and 125 key hotel spaces.˙ There will also be Retail/Flex space (could be switched to office space.)˙ Bob also addressed the high rise residential section of the site, which is on hold.˙˙ Bob referred to a concept called land banking in which this section of the site will be set aside for later development.˙˙ B.F.Saul has determined that at this time the anticipated rents are not high enough to justify building residential units at the WMATA site.˙ Bob noted that B.F. Saul was not prepared to discuss the Town Square at the Parking Lot 13 site.˙ They will present their concept after meeting with the stakeholder Ad Hoc Advisory Group (Green Wheaton, WRAC, LEDC, Chamber of Commerce are represented).˙ The first stakeholder meeting will be on March 17.˙ Bob did note that the Parking Lot 13 site concept includes 200 residential units over retail/ restaurant space.˙ Parking will be underground (2 or 3 levels). Bob talked at length about parking and the WMATA bus bays.˙ Bob noted that there is no alternative site for the bus bays.˙ They will have to build an expensive podium over the bus bays.˙ The bus bays will also have to be expanded to meet new WMATA requirements.˙ While the work at the WMATA site is occurring, the bus bays will have to be moved to a temporary nearby space (like Silver Spring).˙ This will impact the Parking Lot 13 redevelopment since this will be the most likely location.˙ With ADA requirements, this will all be complicated, but Bob feels that it will be do able. Bob provided cross sections of the redevelopment site.˙ He noted that the plan shows 17 floors for the office towers including 5 levels of parking.˙ The Hotel will have 5 to 7 floors and the residential tower will have 18 to 19 floors. ˙ Bob noted that the 5 levels of parking under the office towers is too much.˙ First problem is how to camouflage the ugly park levels.˙ The B.F. Saul team has been working on this, but was not yet ready to present to the WRAC their strategies.˙ Bob also noted that potential tenants did not want their employees spending a lot of time going up many levels of parking looking for parking.˙ Three levels was the maximum that B.F. Saul would like to provide, but the site foot print is too small to reduce the parking levels to 3 while providing 825 parking spots. The big WMATA parking garage across Veirs Mill could be the answer.˙ If B.F. Saul could add more levels to the existing WMATA parking garage, they could reduce their parking down t o 3 levels.˙ The all important GSA leasing staff is ok with this.˙ There are legal issues though.˙ The cross section diagrams were informative.˙ The podium will be at the Georgia Ave level.˙ There will be approximately 20 feet under the podium to accommodate the bus bay and an entrance on Veirs Mill. The residential tower is now shown at the Veirs Mill/Georgia Ave tip. One interesting aspect was that the podium will be at the same level as the existing pedestrian bridge over Veirs Mill.˙ Access can be provided to the tower upper floor to allow pedestrians to exit directly to the ground level of the office complex. Bob described issues related to obtaining a left hand turn on Georgia Ave so vehicles can turn into the new garage under the office building.˙ This will require working with the SHA which can be difficult since there are many rules. Though a left hand turn is not required, it will make the site more appealing to prospective tenants. Bob provided some vision on the Parking Lot 13 site. Bob noted that the B.F. Saul team would like to see both sides of Grandview and Triangle lane more attractive with street-scaping.˙ Bob noted that 40 feet of the parking is owned by storeowners along Triangle Lane.˙ The B.F. Saul team would like to remove the angle parking along Triangle Lane in front of the stores and create a 2 lane road and expand the sidewalk.˙ In return for losing parking spaces, the store owners would get parking in the underground parking lot and a nice street-scaped location with trees and seating. Bob noted that the size of the town square was still not set.˙ He noted that form would follow function. ˙ Once the functions are determined, the size will be set.˙ Bob noted that a town square that is too big would feel empty and not inviting.˙ Alternatively, a town square that is too small would not accommodate functions like Taste of Wheaton. ˙ Bob noted that it was important to get the right size. ˙ Much of the meeting was turned over to Rob Klein who led the WRAC in discussing general principles and specific activities the WRAC members would like for the town square.˙ WRAC representatives would share this information with the B.F. Saul team on March 17 Town Square visioning meeting.˙ Many, many principles and activities were noted.˙ New WRAC members needed Because of term limits, the WRAC will be looking for new committee members in the next few months. The WRAC would like to include members with a wide representation for the Wheaton community. . Upcoming Meetings˙ March 21 - Public meeting with representatives for Washington Property, developers of the First Baptist Church of Wheaton property. 7 p.m. at the Mid-County Services Center. Plan calls for 230 units. March 23 County Executive Leggett will hold the next in his series of Town Hall meetings in the Kensington-Wheaton area. ˙These meetings provide a forum for residents to share their ideas or concerns (good time to voice support for the Wheaton Redevelopment). ˙The Town Hall meeting will be held in the Crossway Community center, 3015 Upton Drive, and begin at 7:30 p.m. March 30 - Public meeting with representatives for the BB&T project (on University Blvd.), 7 p.m, Mid-County Services Center. Wheaton Sector Plan Updates:˙ The Sector Plan will be submitted to the Planning Board on March 31 (this is a postponement).˙ ˙This is the last chance for the Planning Board to make changes.˙ Next step; April 15 the Sector Plan goes to the County Council and the County Executive.˙ Public Hearings will be set. The Sector Plan will be online by March 24.˙ Safeway Site Updates Ground breaking in the summer.˙ Construction completed by 2012.˙ Bob Wulff noted that this redevelopment project is important for their redevelopment plans.˙