Steeplechase

02 multi tenant

Project Description

Client/Builder/Developer:  Atapco Ritchie Interchange, Inc.
LocationRitchie Marlboro Road, Prince George’s County, Maryland
MarketIndustrial
Size110.26 Acres
Zoning: I-1, Light Industrial, Retail
Density:  N/A

Recent Projects

The Challenge

Steeplechase is a 110-acre mixed-use (flex-office/warehouse and retail) development located on the Capital Beltway at the Ritchie Marlboro interchange. Prince George’s County awarded Steeplechase a Foreign Trade Zone status because of its excellent visibility along I-495 and because it offers 28 individual retail spaces of 50,000 to 500,000 square feet. Initial plan approvals permitted a retail component in the Industrial Zone provided that 10 retail parcels would be subject to Site Plan approval by the Planning Board. This would ensure design compatibility in architecture, building materials, signage, entry walls and landscaping between the various retail uses. The remaining industrial/warehouse parcels have owners/tenants with their own needs and specifications. The parcels are located around a stream and associated wooded areas, floodplains, steep slopes and wetlands.

The Solution

GLW was responsible for site planning, landscape architecture, civil engineering (site layout, site grading, storm drain/SWM design) and construction permitting for each of the parcels. Design requirements ranged from siting massive power requirements for a medical cannabis grower to stormwater storage in large underground pipes to allow siting our client’s building. On another parcel, GLW recommended a wetland consultant review an outdated wetland delineation. The updated wetland allowed for an improved site design that protected wetlands and increased the development envelope for our client. Throughout the development, parking areas and buildings were located to avoid sensitive environmental features and minimize the amount of earth moving required.

Westphalia Row

05 Phase 1 playground parcel G (1)

Project Description

Client/Builder/Developer:  Haverford Homes, Inc.
LocationRitchie Marlboro Road, Upper Marlboro, Prince George’s County, MD 20772
Market: Mixed Use – Townhouse and retail
Size20.67 Acres
Zoning: M-X-T
Density0.61 Floor Area Ratio overall, 275 townhouses, 10,000 Square Feet retail

Recent Projects

The Challenges

Westphalia Row is a GLW designed mixed-use residential and retail development that is located near the Capital Beltway and Ritchie Marlboro Road. Important design considerations were to reduce vehicular noise from the Beltway and a nearby exit ramp, provide road improvements along the adjacent Sansbury Road, maximize retail and housing density by adjusting the existing Fernwood Drive, and address “Gateway Entrance” requirements of the Westphalia Sector Plan. Further, our client wanted to develop the project in three phases to allow townhouse sales to stay even with land development construction.

The Solution

GLW provided planning, landscape architecture, engineering and surveying services throughout the entitlement, permit and construction processes.  The project layout is a high density, compact, urban design with a centrally located recreation center and numerous landscaped activity areas interconnected by sidewalks throughout the development.  A safe and efficient realignment of Fernwood Drive through the center of the property provided greater flexibility to lay out the residential, recreational and commercial blocks. Along the common property line to the Capital Beltway exit ramp a concrete noise wall was designed and constructed.  The noise wall was designed to look like brick and extensive landscaping was used to reduce the impact of the wall seen by homeowners and motorists. A special gateway sign and landscaping was designed to announce entry into the Westphalia Town Center area and to compliment the Westphalia Row project.

GLW created added value to the project by proposing to use an adjacent off-site surplus property owned by Maryland State Highway for a stormwater management pond.  A negotiated land swap between our client, an adjacent property owner and the Maryland State Highway Administration allowed a stormwater management pond to be built off-site but adjacent to the property resulting in a higher unit yield.  

Shelbourne Senior Living of Olney

Main Shelbourne Senior Living Olney

Project Description

Client/Builder/Developer:   Formation Development Group, LLC
LocationOlney, Montgomery County, MD
Market: Senior Living
Size4.96 acres
Zoning: RE-2/TDR – Special Exception
Density1 Bed per 1,200 SF / 174 Beds

Awards:
Leed Certification

Recent Projects

The Challenge

Shelbourne-Olney is a Senior Assisted Living Facility with one floor devoted specially for the care of Alzheimer’s patients.  The property was almost entirely forested with many large, mature trees and a vital stream and associated floodplain/buffer. The property lies within the Hawing River Watershed which required special treatment because it flows directly into the Patuxent River Watershed.  An important goal of the development was to preserve the existing mature forest, specimen trees, and stream buffers while providing a quiet, wooded setting appropriate for seniors, particularly the Alzheimer’s patients. Additionally, our client wanted LEED® certification for the project which required high standards of environmental conservation and green construction.

The Solution

Site grading, buildings, driveways, and stormwater management facilities were designed to avoid impacting surrounding specimen trees, wetland and stream valley buffers.   The entrance road alignment and grading saved two massive trees, a White Oak and Ash, which served to screen the building from nearby road traffic and to emphasize the forest setting.  The rear of the building faced a mature forest requiring a retaining wall up to 13’ high to create a terrace for an Alzheimer’s garden with a wide open view out over the wall. The garden was planted with distinctive, colorful plants intended to stimulate the mind and create a memorable experience.

To gain LEED® certification the structure was built with a green roof that covers more than 50% of the roof area. The green roof was designed with a rubber membrane below a soil layer planted with succulent plants that are able to retain water in especially dry conditions.   All downspout and parking lot runoff is piped to bio-retention facilities so that no net additional untreated drainage leaves the developed area. A path runs around the building along the woodland edge and past ornamental landscaped areas provides an attractive route for seniors to exercise.  Other stormwater facilities including grass channels, sand filters and micro-bioretention ponds were located and landscaped to minimize their visual impact.

Brightview Senior Living – Rockville

Main Image_Brightview

Project Description

Client/Builder/Developer:  Shelter Group
Location9200 Darnestown Rd., Rockville, MD 20850
Market: Senior Living
Size3.69 Acres
Zoning: R-90, Special Exception
Density:  N/A

Awards:
Leed certification
MBIA Environmental Award, Category:  Land Development

Recent Projects

The Challenge

Brightview at Rockville is a senior Assisted Living Facility specializing in the care of Alzheimer’s patients.  The current zoning is R-90 which is a residential zone that allows a special exception (subject to specific minimum requirements) for housing for senior adults or persons with disabilities.  Challenges centered around saving existing mature trees and designing for new environmentally sensitive stormwater management design requirements.

The Solution

From the outset GLW identified an existing double row of mature white pine trees located on the western and southern property lines and a majestic, mature 45” dbh American Elm tree located at the center of the property.  Careful site grading allowed the elm tree to not only be saved but become a focal point around which the building, parking and seating area were sited. The existing double row of mature pines and other existing mature vegetation was saved to buffer the proposed building from the surrounding neighbors while providing a quiet, secure sense of place that is appropriate for seniors, particularly Alzheimer’s patients.  Remarkably, 105 of the 160 mature trees which existed on site were retained.

At the time, new stormwater management regulations were met using innovative environmentally sensitive design that utilized many small bio-retention facilities scattered around the property and landscaped with ornamental wetland plants.  All roof and parking lot runoff was piped to the bio-retention facilities or dry-wells for no net additional untreated drainage leaving the developed area. Parking spaces and sidewalk around the building was constructed using permeable pavement allowing rainwater to drain directly into the soil rather than having to be collected and managed in a stormwater facility.  Additionally, a garden/seating area was designed for Alzheimer’s patients with distinctive, colorful plants and flowers intended to stimulate the mind and create a memorable experience for residents.

Trotters Glen

20180601_151449

Project Description

Client/Builder/Developer:   Toll Brothers
LocationBatchellors Forest Road, Olney, Montgomery County, Maryland
MarketResidential – Single-Family Detached
Size175.80 acres
Zoning: RNC – Optional Method with MPDU Density Bonus
Density:  69 half acre lots (avg.), including (1) 15 acre farm lot

Recent Projects

The Challenges

This project was a redevelopment of an 18 hole golf course into a cluster subdivision of 68 half-acre lots.  The property, located along a designated “rustic road” required special treatment to maintain its rural character.  A large pond that served as a golf course hazard became a liability when developing a single-family neighborhood. Detailed analysis of existing grades early in the process revealed the need for grinder pumps for a group of houses on a cul-de-sac.

The property owner wanted to continue living in her home on the property that included horses, barns, fenced areas and outbuildings.

The Solution

GLW provided planning, landscape architecture and engineering services to cluster private lots around a 15-acre lot set aside for the owner. This allowed vegetative screening of the existing home and outbuildings and provided large areas of homeowner-owned open space to create privacy and passive recreational opportunities for residents.  The existing pond was evaluated and restored to its former condition as a stream. The stream became an amenity for homeowners, visible from existing golf cart paths and bridges that were repurposed along with new paths that connect to a public hiker/biker trail.  The paths took advantage of other existing environmental features such as scenic overlooks, specimen trees and undulating terrain. Additionally, a centrally located “village commons” provided seating areas and informal recreational space. Creative use of the roadside ditches for stormwater bio-swales resulted in a reduction of storm drain piping and elimination of large stormwater ponds.