Sandy Spring-Ashton

Rural Preservation Consortium (SSARPC)

The SSARPC supports development in the area that conforms to the

Sandy Spring-Ashton Master Plan. We are pro-Master Plan, not anti-development.


Click for a larger picture Click for a larger picture Click for a larger picture Sandy Spring Museum, click for a larger picture Click for a larger picture Sandy Spring, click for a larger picture Click for a larger picture Friends Meeting House, 1817, click for a larger picture Click for a larger picture

Rural Ashton and Sandy Spring



[Click on any picture for a larger image]

The Preliminary Plan filed with Park and Planning

The Preliminary Plan filed with Park and Planning

The Gaithersburg facility, said by ezStorage to be similar to the facility planned for Sandy Spring

The Gaithersburg facility, said by ezStorage to be similar to the facility planned for Sandy Spring

The planned Burtonsville facility, scheduled to open in late 2009

The planned Burtonsville facility, scheduled to open in late 2009

Drive up units at a typical ezStorage facility

Drive up units at a typical ezStorage facility

Typical ezStorage facility at night

Typical ezStorage facility at night


Home

Ashton Meeting Place

Derrick's Addition (Northeast Corner)

Bentley Road Nursing Home

Thomas Building (Goddard School and Offices)

Resurrection

Baptist Church

Chevy Chase Bank


About SSARPC

Join Our Email List

Support Our Efforts

Let Your Voice

Be Heard!

Documents and

Announcements

ezStorage Sandy Spring

ezStorage Will Not Build in Sandy Spring

October 29, 2009

The passage of the Zoning Text Amendment ZTA 09-01 by the County Council means that Sienna Corporation will not be permitted to proceed with its plan to build an ezStorage facility in Sandy Spring.  The owner of the land is considering other possible uses for it.

ezStorage Preliminary Plan Hearing Results

The ezStorage Preliminary Plan hearing was held before the Planning Board on January 8.  The purpose of the hearing was to determine if the current ezStorage Preliminary Plan is consistent with the zoning laws for Sandy Spring.  The Site Plan process (which follows the Preliminary Plan approval) determines the compatibility of the then current plan to the Sandy Spring/Ashton Master Plan and the Rural Village Overlay Zone.

The final vote on the Preliminary Plan was three to two in support of the staff recommendation for approval.  The vote indicates only that the law says that a storage facility can be built in the designated area.  The vote is based on the zoning laws, not the important discussions that occurred during the deliberations.  Sound recordings of the five parts of the hearing are available.

The community, both Sandy Spring and Ashton, came forward with many reasons to oppose the Preliminary Plan.  There are 35 letters in opposition on our web site (the County may have received more), with no letters received by us in favor of the development.  There were 21 people in the community who gave testimony opposing the proposal and none in favor.   Some represented groups, such as SSARPC, the Sandy Spring Civic Association, the Auburn Village Home Owners Association and the Bentley Road Civic Association.  As written testimony is collected it will be added to our web site.  If you have testimony to submit, please send it to feedback@ssarpc.org.

More about the Preliminary Plan Hearing Results

ezStorage Documents

ezStorage Preliminary Plan Discussion

ezStorage is planning to construct a self-storage facility in Sandy Spring on the site of the old WH Rental Center on Route 108.  The Planning Staff Report on the Preliminary Plan can be read here.  It is not too late to make your voice heard by writing a letter or sending email.  The contacts at Park and Planning are listed here.  SSARPC would like to receive a copy of your correspondence.  Copies of letters we have received can be read here.

The SSARPC Steering Committee is opposed to the building any storage facility in the downtown Sandy Spring and Ashton areas.  There are eight ezStorage facilities located within 15 miles of Sandy Spring.  Such storage facilities are typically found in industrial and/or heavily retail areas, such as those where ezStorage has already located in Montgomery County:  Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, and Takoma Park. These images show something of the character of the areas as well as the proposed area in Sandy Spring.  In particular, constructing an ezStorage facility adjacent to homes, close to the entrance of the Sandy Spring village and across from the Sandy Spring Museum is not in keeping with the historic and rural nature of the area, as called for in the Sandy Spring-Ashton Master Plan.

More about the Preliminary Plan

ezStorage Documents

ezStorage Open Meeting Summary (May 6)

Siena Corporation held an open meeting on May 6 to present to the community their plans for an ezStorage self-storage facility in Sandy Spring.  It will replace the WH Rental building on Route 108, across from the Sandy Spring Museum.  There were over 50 community members in attendance.  Many of the attendees spoke very intensely against the idea of having a storage facility in the rural, residential area of Sandy Spring.  Towards the end of the meeting, one attendee summarized the feelings, telling the developer that the people have spoken out against this idea, and encouraged the developer to look at other areas nearby, such as the intersection of Route 32 and Route 108, which is more commercial and industrial.  The Gazette published an article with the title:  “Residents: ezStorage not compatible to downtown Sandy Spring”. 

Craig Pittinger, Vice President of Siena Corporation, gave an introduction to their plan for the ezStorage facility.  He showed a picture of a facility in Gaithersburg (807 South Frederick Avenue, Route 355) that has the appearance of an office building.  The proposed structure is smaller than the Gaithersburg facility (about 800 storage units, some under climate control) and the design can be changed to blend into the area.  The facility will be two stories above ground and one below ground.  The total floor area will be about 116,000 square feet.  The plan will include three or four retail stores in the front of the building (one selling packing supplies) and parallel parking on the street.  There is also a parking lot on the east side of the building.  The zoning of the area is C2, which permits commercial structures like the one being proposed.

More about the ezStorage Open Meeting

ezStorage Documents

Back to Home Page