Business leaders and developers are fuming over Rockville Mayor Larry Giammo's plan that could essentially stall most development projects in the city.
Giammo is moving to have the City Council adopt a new Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance that may lead to a moratorium on development projects proposed to be more than three-fourths of a mile from the city's two Metro stops.
At least a dozen currently planned projects could be affected.
"We're just trying to make sure that we have some common-sense limits on growth when our roads are jammed and our schools are overcrowded," Giammo said.
But developers, business leaders, and many city residents bristle at such a notion, arguing, for instance, that slowing or halting development will have no effect on traffic because several major regional roadways run through the city.
"This moratorium won't help a bit with traffic, because it's regional in nature," said Richard Parsons, chief executive officer of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. He blamed overcrowding in the city's schools on turnover in houses among the city's elderly population.
Parsons, along with several other business advocates and residents, is preparing to fight Giammo at a special public hearing in front of the City Council at a yet-unscheduled hearing in September.
"What developer will want to build her now?" asked Margaret Welsh May, a real estate agent and city resident.
Giammo is resolute.
"The goal here is to keep development in line with what the city can handle," he said. "Right now, I don't think we need or want to see more growth outside of projects near" Metro stops.
Stay tuned.
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