Montgomery council gives the go-ahead to 'science city' plan

The council also agreed to maintain tougher standards for measuring traffic congestion and increased to 40 percent, from 30 percent, the amount of space that must be devoted to life sciences.

Council member Marc Elrich (D-At Large) said that despite voting for the plan, he was skeptical that it would deliver all that is promised. "It will do something," he said. "How much it does remains to be seen."

On Tuesday, County Executive Isiah Leggett (D) traveled to Chicago to encourage leaders of the bioscience industry, who were meeting there, to consider locating in Montgomery.

"This action is a huge boost for the county's ongoing effort to maintain and expand the critical biotechnology work in the county that is saving lives, creating good jobs and strengthening our tax base," he said in a statement.

Peter Greenleaf, president of MedImmune, told the gathering that Montgomery's proximity to federal agencies gives his company a strategic advantage. "It is one of the fastest growing areas in the biosciences sector," he said.

Council member Michael Knapp (D-Upcounty), who chairs the committee that oversees development, said: "This was a lengthy effort and a very good outcome. The vote helps the county attract research and educational institutions and commercial biosciences companies in a highly competitive industry. We had to do something to really up the ante."