The County Council will hold a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, to gather feedback on the recently approved “Great Seneca Plan: Connecting Life and Science.” This marks the next step in the review process, following the unanimous approval of the plan by the Montgomery County Planning Board on April 25.
Residents must sign up to testify at the hearing and can attend virtually via Zoom. The link to register can be found here.
The Great Seneca Plan seeks to transform the Life Science Center (LSC) into a vibrant hub of innovation accessible to anyone who lives or works in the area. The LSC is a part of the Great Seneca Science Corridor that occupies the city of Gaithersburg, and borders the city of Rockville and the town of Washington Grove.
A key aspect of the plan is reimagining roadways, transforming them from barriers into public spaces that connect neighborhoods and foster community interactions. Enhancements will be made to roadways and intersections to improve safety, including additional dedicated transit lanes as part of the Great Seneca Transit Network and the Corridor Connectors.
The plan also proposes transforming two lanes of Key West Avenue into a tree-lined promenade and repurposing part of the Great Seneca Highway right-of-way into green spaces or development areas.
Sustainable development is integral to the Great Seneca Plan, with initiatives to increase on-site clean energy generation, improve building energy efficiency, and incorporate environmentally sustainable practices. The plan supports the adaptive reuse of existing buildings to meet the growing demand for life sciences facilities, particularly lab spaces.
Additionally, properties in the Londonderry area will be rezoned to accommodate a mix of uses, including additional residential units and retail spaces.
The County Council will conduct work sessions with council committees and hold a full council session for further review after the June 12 hearing.
The hearing will only be held virtually on Zoom, not at The Universities at Shady Grove. For more information on the Great Seneca Plan, visit Montgomery Planning.
