PROJECT GOALS

HOK will lead the Kentlands Boulevard Commercial District planning effort to establish the vision and goals for the future of the area through the use of a highly participatory set of outreach activities to obtain stakeholder viewpoints on:
- Characteristics of the Kentlands Blvd Commercial District that are successful
- Characteristics of the KBCD that are NOT successful
- Alignment change to the proposed Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT)
- Future infill development potential

This highly participatory process will culminate in a design charrette. Prioritized goals and objectives will focus on short-term and long-term time horizons to establish a clear plan for the future of the community.

SITE CONTEXT

Located in the heart of Montgomery County, Maryland, the City of Gaithersburg occupies approximately 10 square miles only a short distance to the District of Columbia’s borders making it an ideal location in the Washington metropolitan region. The City is currently home to almost 59,000 residents and 24,000 dwelling units. The City of Gaithersburg is home to well known communities, including Kentlands and Lakelands. First designed during a charrette in 1988, the Kentlands has been a thriving and successful community for many years.

Adjacent to the Lakelands, Kentlands and Quince Orchard Park communities, the Kentlands Boulevard Commercial District (KBCD) is an 80 acre commercial area divided by a four lane boulevard. The district was identified in the City’s 2003 Master Plan Update as one of ten “Special Study” areas. These special areas within the City were identified as participants in planning processes that intensively review the existing conditions of the area while employing extensive community participation to assess the future development of the area.

STUDY AREA

The north side of Kentlands Boulevard is predominately retail, consisting of a 22-acre Kentlands Square Shopping Center with approximately 250,000 square feet of retail and Kentlands Place, a 15-acre area consisting of approximately 137,000 square feet of retail and 16,000 square feet of office. Several smaller parcels abut Kentlands Boulevard on the north side and are an infill mix of retail, office and restaurant uses.

The south side of Kentlands Boulevard is predominately retail, consisting of a 20-acre Market Square Shopping Center consisting of 252,000 square feet of retail. In addition to the retail center, more than 50 live-work units adjacent to the retail center which are included in the study area.

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