Councilman Rice Hosts Forum on Clarksburg Development

Montgomery County Council Vice President Craig Rice will be in Clarksburg next week to talk about retail proposals in Clarksburg, a contentious topic drawing tension among residents, developers and environmentalists.

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 26, at Rocky Hill Middle School. Rice, county planning staff and developers are expected to give an update on the progress of Clarksburg Village and Clarksburg Town Center.

Part of the meeting in Clarksburg will also be devoted to explaining the processes involved with two proposals to build outlet malls on two different properties in Clarksburg.

Rice (D-Dist. 2, of Germantown) represents most of northern Montgomery County.

For years, Clarksburg residents have been bothered by its lack of a town center and dearth of mass-transit options.

Liveable Clarksburg Coalition was born from that frustration in early 2013.

But more recently, environmentalists and upcounty residents have banded to voice concerns over proposed development in the Ten Mile Creek watershed.

The Gazette reported last week on local environmentalists’ 26-page report urging a developer to scale back plans to build 1,000 homes in the creek’s watershed, which the Audbon Naturalist Society says would cause environmental harm.

The report suggested that Pulte Group either scale back or place most of the nearly 600-acre site into the agricultural reserve, The Gazette reports.

Charles Maier, a spokesman for Pulte, told the newspaper that the suggestions were unreasonable and described them as “apocalyptic.”

Lewis Birnbaum, president of Pulte’s Mid-Atlantic division, told The Gazette, that the company bought land in the Ten Mile Creek watershed because Clarksburg’s Master Plan permitted such development.

Read The Gazette’s account at Gazette.net.

In a press release issued by the county, Rice said that Northern Montgomery County was no longer being thought of as a “bedroom community” and said it was “exciting” that major developers were taking interest in Clarksburg, which only recently started construction its first grocery store.

“But in the same light,” Rice said in the press release, “we must move carefully to make sure we do this right, and as with other decisions we’ve made regarding Clarksburg, will do so with the collaboration of its residents.”

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If you go …

WHAT: Meeting on Clarksburg development, hosted by Montgomery County Council Vice President Craig Rice

WHERE: Rocky Hill Middle School, 22401 Brick Haven Way  Clarksburg, MD

WHEN:  7 p.m. Wednesday, June 26

MORE: For more information about the community meeting, call 240-777-7955 or email Councilmember Rice at:Councilmember.Rice@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.