Developer to reveal plan for Viva White Oak at community meeting

This Tuesday night, the public will get a first look at the preliminary sketch plan for the much-anticipated Viva White Oak project before it is formally submitted to the Planning Department. The community meeting is open to the public and will be held at the White Oak Community Rec Center from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm.

 

On Tuesday morning the Montgomery County Council will receive an update from Executive staff about the project proposed by local developer Percontee/Global LifeSci Development Corporation. With the planned construction of the Route 29 Bus Rapid Transit, White Oak has the potential to be a hub for residential, retail, and high-tech industrial development. Due to its proximity to the FDA, it has been referred to as potentially becoming the “Silicon Valley of Healthcare“.

The Council requested this update earlier this year when they approved the land sale of the county-owned property next to the new Washington Adventist Hospital. This land sale cleared the way for the project, which has been in discussion for many years and was nearly derailed by decades-old covenants.

The project will be built in phases. While the exact details of the plan are not yet available, Phase One of the plan will be limited to no more than 1,000 residential units and up to 300,000 square feet of commercial development as required by the General Development Agreement between the County and Percontee.

Viva White Oak conceptual land use plan.
Outdated Viva White Oak conceptual land use plan. Image from the developer, Global LifeSci Development Corporation.

Phase One also calls for the County to spend $47 million to clear the county land and help build the three master-planned roads that are required for the development to occur. Note that the total costs of the three roads is approximately $95 million with the developer expected to contribute the remaining 60% of the costs.

Burtonsville resident and County Council staffer Brian Anleu contributed to this post. Brian can be reached at brian.anleu@montgomerycountymd.gov.

What can you do to get involved?

  • Watch the Council update live on Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at 11:30 am.
  • Attend the community meeting on July 18, 2017 at the White Oak Community Recreation Center, Large Social Hall, 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland 20904, from 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm. In order to appropriately accommodate all attendees, please call Scott Wallace at (301) 961-5124 by July 17, 2017 if you will be attending this meeting.
  • Follow White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan on Facebook or visit www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/wosg/ for updates.