Sandy Spring-Ashton Rural Preservation Consortium

The SSARPC (PreserveAshton.net)

supports development in Ashton that conforms to the Master Plan.

We are pro-Master Plan, not anti-development.

Planning Board Postpones AMP Decision

The Planning Board decided to take under advisement the developer’s proposal, the Staff report, the Staff presentation, and the testimony of 36 people, including the SSARPC Steering Committee.  The Steering Committee written testimony can be read here.  Audio recordings of the meeting are also available (starts about 5 minutes into Part 4 and ends about 16 minutes into Part 9). 

The Board decided to postpone making a decision on the AMP proposal until another public meeting can be scheduled, probably in about a month.  At that meeting the Board will deliberate and make a decision.  There will be no further testimony. 

The Board has asked Staff to research a number of issues.  Some of the questions that Staff has been asked to address are:

• A clearer definition of a rural village center
• More information on the layout and design, including possible design changes
• The usage and aesthetics of the green space on the corner of Routes 108 and 650
• More information about the wetlands, buffers and the mitigation proposal   [There was some discussion about natural wetlands and why they are superior to man-made wetlands.]
• The relationship between AMP and the other corners of the crossroads
• More details about implementation of the drive aisle parallel to Route 650
• Description of parallel parking on Route 108 and safety issues

If you still wish to comment, the Planning Board will accept letters up to a week before the next meeting (date to be determined).  You might want to consider addressing some of the questions that were asked of Staff by the Planning Board.  Letters should be sent to:

Royce Hanson, Chairman

MNCPPC Planning Board

ATTN:  AMP Development

8787 Georgia Ave.

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Email:  mcp-chairman@mncppc-mc.org

We will keep you informed as more information becomes available.