Meeting to discuss new retail in Burtonsville Town Square

Last week the Coalition to Fix 198 received an invitation of a pre-filing community meeting for a proposed development in Burtonsville Town Square. The meeting will be held Tuesday evening, April 17, at the Praisner Library (more information at the bottom of this post).

Update: A facebook event has been created that can be shared with friends and neighbors.

The shopping center owner, Saul Centers, Inc., is currently working on three projects on their Burtonsville property:

  • A new drive-thru restaurant in the middle of the shopping center
  • Several new stores between the existing Petco and Dunkin Donuts
  • A nearly-complete drive-thru Starbucks, which will replace the one currently at the Burtonsville Crossing shopping center

It’s important to note that the proposed site plan amendment only applies to the small restaurant area in the middle of the shopping center. Therefore, the other two projects listed above will not be discussed at the community meeting. A meeting was already held for the new Starbucks last year.

Site plan of the proposed new developments (in orange) in Burtonsville Town Square. Image from Saul Centers, Inc.

The third project (the retail expansion) is not subject to a site plan amendment or a public hearing, due to a previous agreement with the Planning Department. The agreement dates back approximately ten years, when in response to pressure from the surrounding community, the original developer of Burtonsville Town Square, withdrew an ambitious proposal to build a compact, walkable, community-focused town square and changed the design to what we have today: a strip mall with an expansive parking lot and multiple drive-thrus.

More drive-thru dining options

The proposed drive-thru in the middle was initially proposed to be 4,000 sq ft, but it appears to have been scaled down to 2,100 sq ft with a drive-thru. The property owner is reportedly targeting a fast casual restaurant for this area.

Rendering of proposed drive-thru in Burtonsville
Rendering of the proposed drive-thru that will be discussed at the community meeting next week. The new retail, described below, are seen in the background. Image from Mushinsky Voelzke Associates CHTD.

Several new shops

Saul Centers is also planning an expansion just north of the Dunkin Donuts. The nearly 20,000 sq ft of new to build approximately eight new stores. The area next to the Dunkin Donuts is expected to match the existing design of the shopping center. A potential tenant for this area reportedly includes a doctor’s office, according to people familiar with the project.

Elevation of new in-line retail building.
It looks nice, but it’s still a strip mall. Notice how there are nearly 30 people in the architect’s rendering–seems somewhat optimistic, but let’s hope the new retail attracts more customers to Burtonsville. Image from Mushinsky Voelzke Associates CHTD.

What’s going on across the street?

The development of Burtonsville Town Square stands in stark contrast to the Burtonsville Crossing shopping center across the street, which has been struggling for several years since the relocation of Giant. Today the retail space is 93% vacant. With the relocation of the Starbucks within the next few days, Burtonsville Crossing will be left with only three tenants: Pepino’s  Italian Kitchen, Kim’s Hunan, and Burger King.

Front window of Pepino's Kitchen in Burtonsville
A loyal customer base and the “we’re still here!” sign keeps Pepino’s in business.
Starbucks in Burtonsville
Burtonsville Crossing’s loss is Burtonsville Town Square’s gain. The new Starbucks will open in the next few days. Image obtained from The MoCo Show; photo by Elanor Wainscott.

How you can get involved?

  • Attend the pre-filing meeting next week:

Tuesday, April 17, 2018
6:45-7:45 PM
Marilyn J. Praisner Library
14910 Old Columbia Pike
Burtonsville, MD 20866

  • Learn how to participate effectively in the development review process.
  • Share your questions, comments and concerns with the Casey Anderson, chair of the Planning Board, and the district council member, Tom Hucker.
  • Contact me if you are interested in getting more involved to advocate for revitalization of Burtonsville.

Burtonsville resident and County Council staffer Brian Anleu contributed much of the material for this post. Brian can be reached at  brian.anleu@montgomerycountymd.gov.

15 thoughts on “Meeting to discuss new retail in Burtonsville Town Square”

  1. dave and busters or a movie theater would be a start. book store would be great as well.

  2. I would like see ShareTea, as new addition of the new Stores.

    I hope that you bring quality merchandise, otherwise I will contine to shopping in Washington,DC and Virginia, where known I can get quality merchandise.

    Just because Giant continues to hang on to the lease doesn’t STOP people from shopping elsewhere. You can’t force people to shop in Giant.
    When the Armsih Market moved it was bad. But I regrouped and found their new location and still shop at the Armish Markert.

    People want FRESH MEATS, FRIUTS. and VEGETABLES, FRIUTS.
    No one can change that. I shopped their because I have high blood pressure. Giant Foods carry a a lot of PROCESSED FOODS. That cause your blood pressure to escalate.

  4. I agree with everyone but why not a gym ? Look how laurel fixed theirs they put a gym and a lot of stores like a book store or a movie. Or why not a entertainment center like David Busters?

    1. Wal-Mart will be real nice there’s no clothing store’s in burtonsville

  5. Please consider options for the empty stores across the street that is almost empty for years???? And we don’t need another drive thru for food. This parking a lot alone is a strange lay out..

    1. Hi Nora, thanks for commenting. We will be hosting a community meeting on June 11 to discuss. Expect more details soon!

      Community Meeting
      What’s happening at Burtonsville Crossing?
      Monday, June 11 at 7 PM – 9 PM EDT
      Burtonsville Elementary School

      Here is event information: https://www.facebook.com/events/2014708072079200/

  6. We don’t need more fast food. The design of the new shopping center is appalling. Giant destroyed our community. We need new retail stores, good restaurants, a book store, and stores that will attract business. I hope that when Burtonsville Crossing is redone, if it ever is, that more upscale places will move in. Burtonsville is being ruined by the trashy strip of 198, the new and inferior shopping center, the lack of development of Burtonsville Crossing, and the abundance of storage facilities.

  7. Does anyone know if it’s true that Giant Food maintains ownership of the old store at Burtonsville Crossing, and will not allow another supermarket chain to lease the property?

    1. Hi Richard, you are correct: essentially the owner of Burtonsville Crossing is not allowed to build a grocery store larger than 15,000 SF.

  8. I am so surprised the developer building flats w/storefronts along lower level that are now on the outside of Columbia mall has not bought the burtonsville crossing complex – with the park and ride in back those flats would go like hotcakes – just saying.

  9. Why not redevelope Burtonsville crossing instead of leaving it empty. Craming more stores into town square will make it an even more difficult to negotiate, enter and leave.

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