Montgomery County’s Planning Board on Thursday approved a memorandum of understanding for a massive mixed-use development project at the Silver Spring Metro station, but not before squabbles for more than an hourover whether the county executive should preapprove supplementary funds in case of cost overruns.
Thursday’s vote was the last hurdle before bids can go out on the project.
Board member John Robinson was especially vocal in his criticisms of County Executive Ike Leggett, who has expressed support for the three-story Silver Spring Transit Center initiative yet won’t commit now to covering potential overruns.
Board members said they hoped Leggett would firmly state that if funding is needed for aesthetic elements of the station — including glass elevator covers and other architectural elements — he’ll request it from the council.
But Art Holmes, director of the county’s Public Works and Transportation Department, conveyed Leggett’s desire to wait on any commitments.
“He doesn’t want to be bound in any way right now,” Holmes said.
Robinson, however, said the lack of support was “mind-boggling,” particularly considering the Planning Board has made concessions on park space in order to move the project forward. A deal struck between county leaders and the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority allows Metro to build over an existing 35,000-square-foot urban park. In return, the Planning Board will set aside two green space areas of approximately 11,600 square feet each near the heavily used Metro station.
Board members have said the arrangement is less than ideal, considering the end result is two-thirds of the park space divided into two spots — at the Metro entrance and across the street on Wayne Avenue.
The $75 million Silver Spring Transit Center, once finished in 2009, will house 469 high-rise apartment units, a 196-room hotel and a bus station with Kiss and Ride drop-off area.
