Watch the Wheaton Gateway May 13 Pre-submission Community Meeting

The Wheaton Gateway team held a community meeting on May 13 to review the revised Sketch Plan Amendment which is proposed in conjunction with the Preliminary Plan and Site Plan for the Wheaton Gateway project. You can view that meeting here. Due to technical difficulties the video begins after approximately five minutes into the review of the previously shared project history.

We encourage you to contact us directly with any questions you might have about the presentation.

Wheaton Gateway Virtual Meeting Link May 13, 2025

Click HERE to join the virtual meeting.

Wheaton Gateway Shares Sketch Plan Amendment Pre-Submission Presentation

Click here to review the presentation in advance of the upcoming pre-submission community meeting scheduled for May 13.

Wheaton Gateway Hosts Additional Pre-submission Sketch Plan Community Meeting

On May 13, at 7 p.m., the Wheaton Gateway team will host a pre-submission meeting at the MNCPPC Auditorium at 2425 Reedie Drive in Wheaton to review the revised Sketch Plan Amendment which is proposed in conjunction with the Preliminary Plan and Site Plan for the redevelopment of 5.16 acres of land near the intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton, Maryland. The meeting is being held both in person and with a virtual option. Go to the home page at wheatongateway.com for virtual attendance information and a link to join the meeting.

The Montgomery County Zoning Ordinance requires a pre-submission meeting to be held for a Sketch Plan or Sketch Plan Amendment application no more than 90 days before filing the application. In this case, because it has been more than 90 days since our last pre-submission meeting and because the Sketch Plan Amendment was not submitted with the pending Site Plan and Preliminary Plan applications, the County requires this additional meeting before we can proceed with filing the Sketch Plan Amendment and have it incorporated into the Montgomery County Planning Department review process.

We encourage you to contact us directly with any questions you might have about the upcoming meeting.

You can view the formal letter distributed to those registered parties, stakeholders and community members below: 

 Christopher M. Ruhlen

Attorney

301-841-3834

cmruhlen@lerchearly.com

 April 28, 2025

 RE:      Wheaton Gateway Sketch Plan Amendment Application No. 32021006A Pre-Submission Community Meeting

 Dear Neighbor:

 PS Ventures, LLC cordially invites you to attend a pre-submission meeting to review Sketch Plan Amendment No. 32021006A, which is proposed in conjunction with Site Plan 820240150 and Preliminary Plan No. 120240120 for the redevelopment of 5.16 acres of land near the intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton, Maryland. PS Ventures previously presentedplans for the Site Plan and Preliminary Plan components of the proposed redevelopment at a prior pre-submission meeting that occured on October 7, 2024.

Details for the upcoming in-person meeting are as follows:

Date:                     May 13, 2025

Time:                    7:00 PM

Location:              Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) Auditorium

2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 2090

The meeting also will be available for attendance virtually. Please visit www.wheatongateway.com,where virtual meeting log-in details will be posted. (Para conseguir información adicional sobre este proyecto y una futura reunión, visite nuestro sitio web: www.wheatongateway.com.)

At this meeting, representatives of the project team will discuss the proposal and answer any questionsabout the redevelopment of the overall site, which is currently home to the Lindsay Ford dealership, the former Mattress Firm (which has now been demolished), and the former Ambassador hotel (which has now been demolished). More specifically, the site includes the following properties in the Commercial Residential, Commercial Residential Neighborhood, and Residential-60 (R-60) zones:1

1.     11200 Veirs Mill Road (i.e., Lot P1, Block C, Triangle Park subdivision);

2.     11250 Veirs Mill Road (i.e., Parcel P282, Hermitage subdivision);

3.     11217 - 11227 East Avenue (i.e., Lots 7-13 , Block F, Kensington View subdivision);

4.     2715 University Boulevard (i.e., Lot 2, Block C, Triangle Park subdivision); and

5.     Lot 1 Upton Drive (i.e., Lot 1, Block J, Kensington View subdivision).

For these properties, Wheaton Gateway, LLC (the “Applicant”) is proposing a vibrant, new mixed- use development that will feature mixed-income, multi-family housing and new commercial spaces that incorporate the highest levels of sustainability. The project will be designed and eventually constructed in a number of phases over many years.

Like the associated Site Plan and Preliminary Plan applications that were previously reviewed with thecommunity on October 7, 2024, the proposed Sketch Plan Amendment has been updated since the original Sketch Plan approval to adjust the proposed minimum percentage of affordable housing units in the project from 30% to 40%. As a result, the proposed plan has been refined to adjust the maximum density that is proposed for the overall project, as well as the maximum building heights for the development phases that will front on Veirs Mill Road and University Boulevard. No change is being proposed to the height of the building fronting on East Avenue. Combined, the project now willencompass a mix of up to 952,222 square feet of total development with up to 55,000 square feet of commercial use and up to 897,222 square feet of residential use (with up to 800 dwelling units including a minimum of 40% affordable units).

After the meeting date, Wheaton Gateway, LLC will be filing the Sketch Plan Amendment applicationwith the Montgomery County Planning Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park andPlanning Commission. For more information about the development review process and opportunities to participate, please contact M-NCPPC at (301) 495-4610 or visit their website at www.montgomeryplanning.org.

We hope you can attend on May 13, and look forward to the opportunity to provide you with information about this project. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 301- 841-3834 or cmruhlen@lerchearly.com

Sincerely,

Christopher M. Ruhlen Attorney for the Applicant

1.     11200 Veirs Mill Road (i.e., Lot P1, Block C, Triangle Park subdivision);

Watch the October 7 Pre-Submission Meeting

The Wheaton Gateway Team hosted a Pre-submission meeting on October 7 to review the proposed Preliminary Plan and Site plan for the development. The meeting provided the community the opportunity to review the submission, ask questions and provide comment about the plans for the redevelopment of about 5 acres near the intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mills Road in Wheaton, MD.

If you were unable to attend the live event or join us virtually, we invite you to watch it online here.

We encourage you to contact us directly with any questions you might have about the presentation.

Watch the Wheaton Gateway Pre-submission Meeting

On March 11, more than 50 community members attended the Wheaton Gateway Pre-submission meeting to review the proposed Preliminary Plan and Site plan for the development. The meeting provided the community the opportunity to review the submission, ask questions and provide comment about the plans for the redevelopment of about 5 acres near the intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mills Road in Wheaton, MD.

If you were unable to attend the live event or join us virtually, we invite you to watch it online here.

We encourage you to contact us directly with any questions you might have about the presentation.

What Happens Next?

After making final adjustments to the submission, The Wheaton Gateway team expects to file a request for Preliminary Plan and Site Plan review with the Montgomery County Planning Department in about four weeks.

Thank you for your interest in Wheaton Gateway.

Sincerely,

The Wheaton Gateway Development Team

Wheaton Gateway Virtual Meeting Information

Please find below a Zoom link for tonight’s virtual meeting to discuss the proposed Wheaton Gateway project.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85603262468

Meeting ID:
856 0326 2468

Wheaton Gateway Releases Proposed Preliminary Plan and Site Plan Presentation

The Wheaton Gateway team invites you to preview the proposed Preliminary Plan and Site Plan presentation for the Wheaton Gateway development project in advance of the pre-submission meeting scheduled for March 11. The Wheaton Gateway team will share this presentation both in-person and via the virtual meeting link during the meeting. You can find that presentation here.

Wheaton Gateway LLC to Host Pre-Submission Public Meeting

 Christopher M. Ruhlen

Attorney

301-841-3834

cmruhlen@lerchearly.com

February 23, 2024

RE:      Wheaton Gateway

Preliminary Plan and Site Plan Applications

Pre-Submission Community Meeting

Dear Neighbor:

PS Ventures, LLC cordially invites you to attend a pre-submission meeting to review the proposed Preliminary Plan and Site Plan for the redevelopment of 5.16 acres of land near the intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton, Maryland.  Details for the in-person meeting are as follows: 

Date:                     Monday, March 11, 2024

Time:                    7:00 PM

Location:              Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) Auditorium

2425 Reedie Drive

Wheaton, MD 20902

The meeting also will be available for attendance virtually.  Please visit www.wheatongateway.com, where virtual meeting log-in details will be posted.

At this meeting, representatives of the project team will discuss the proposal and answer any questions about the redevelopment of the overall site, which is currently home to the Lindsay Ford dealership, the former Mattress Firm (which has now been demolished), and the former Ambassador hotel (which has now been demolished).  More specifically, the site includes the following properties in the Commercial Residential, Commercial Residential Neighborhood, and Residential-60 (R-60) zones:[1]

1.     11200 Veirs Mill Road (i.e., Lot P1, Block C, Triangle Park subdivision);

2.     11250 Veirs Mill Road (i.e., Parcel P282, Hermitage subdivision);

3.     11217 - 11227 East Avenue (i.e., Lots 7-13 , Block F, Kensington View subdivision);

4.     2715 University Boulevard (i.e., Lot 2, Block C, Triangle Park subdivision); and

5.     Lot 1 Upton Drive (i.e., Lot 1, Block J, Kensington View subdivision).   

For these properties, Wheaton Gateway, LLC is proposing a vibrant, new mixed-use development that will feature mixed-income, multi-family housing and new commercial spaces that incorporate the highest levels of sustainability.  The project will be designed and eventually constructed in a number of phases over many years.  All combined, the project will encompass a mix of up to 910,223 square feet of total development with up to 65,000 square feet of commercial use and up to 845,223 square feet of residential use (with up to 800 dwelling units consisting of 70% market rate and 30% Moderately Priced Dwelling Units).

After the meeting date, Wheaton Gateway, LLC will be filing concurrent Preliminary Plan and Site Plan applications with the Montgomery County Planning Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.  Once filed, the Planning Department will assign case numbers to the applications, which will allow for convenient tracking of the applications as they undergo Planning Department review.  For more information about the development review process and opportunities to participate, please contact M-NCPPC at (301) 495-4610 or visit their website at www.montgomeryplanning.org. 

We hope you can attend on March 11th and look forward to the opportunity to provide you with information about this project.   If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 301-841-3834 or cmruhlen@lerchearly.com

Sincerely,

Christopher M. Ruhlen

Attorney for the Applicant

[1] The specific zoning designations for the applicable Commercial Residential and Commercial Residential Neighborhood zones are: (i)  CR-3.0, C-2.5, R-2.5, H-10; (ii) CR-5.0, C-4.5, R-4.5, H-130; and (iii) CRN-1.5, C-0.25, R-1.5, H-45).

Wheaton Gateway Earns Sketch Plan Approval

July 19, 2022 - The Montgomery County Planning Board unanimously approved the Wheaton Gateway Sketch Plan at its July meeting after holding a public meeting on the sketch plan on May 26, 2022. 

A Sketch Plan is an early planning approval which establishes the maximum height, density and massing for a project.  You can review the planning board resolution here. 

This milestone approval marks an important step in the progress of Wheaton Gateway through the entitlement process.  The entitlement process for Wheaton Gateway has been ongoing since 2019.  The planning and construction of the project will take several more years to complete.  Prior to this Sketch Plan approval, the project team completed a voluntary concept plan review process.  At each stage of the entitlement process, there has been and there will continue to be community engagement and outreach activities, including the required pre-submission meetings and public hearings.

Highlights of the Sketch Plan resolution:

As approved, the Wheaton Gateway Sketch Pan:

·      Allows for the construction of up to 910,223 square feet of total development, comprised of up to 65,000 square feet of non-residential uses and up to 845,223 square feet of residential uses

·      Includes 30 percent Moderately Priced Dwelling Units

·      Includes a minimum of 12 percent public open space for use by the entire community

·      Maintains community compatibility by limiting the maximum building height for each portion of the project based the zoning (plus additional height in consideration of the inclusion of additional affordable housing)

What comes next?

The next planning milestone will be the submission of a Preliminary Plan of Subdivision, as well as a Site Plan. These plans will be submitted with the benefit of the feedback received on the Sketch Plan from both the Montgomery County Planning Department staff, the community, and the Planning Board. A mandatory public pre-submission meeting will again be held within 90 days prior to the initial application date of these future Site and Preliminary Subdivision Plan applications. We will announce these dates here and on the project website once they are known.

These future Site and Subdivision Plan applications will again go before the DRC and again before the Montgomery County Planning Board for a vote. Once the future Site Plan and Subdivision plans are approved and entitlements are received, the team will pursue building permits for a first phase of development, and upon their issuance, construction will commence. It is not anticipated that construction on the first phase will commence earlier than 2024.

Montgomery County Planning Board Announces Wheaton Gateway Sketch Plan Public Hearing

On May 26, the Montgomery County Planning Board will conduct an in-person and virtual public hearing on the Wheaton Gateway Sketch Plan. The public can submit written comments by noon on May 25 or sign up to testify through the planning commission website.

The Planning Board meetings will be live-streamed here.

Wheaton Gateway Sketch Plan Approval Extended to May

April 22, 2022: The Montgomery County Planning Commission approved a Wheaton Gateway request to extend the regulatory review period for the project’s sketch plan. That review period now expires on May 26, 2022.

Wheaton Gateway Team Presents to the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee

April 13, 2022: The Wheaton Gateway Team shared an update with the Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee during the committee’s March meeting. You can watch that presentation here.

Wheaton Gateway Sketch Plan Approval Extended

Feb. 10, 2022- The Montgomery County Planning Commission approved a Wheaton Gateway request to extend the regulatory review period for the project’s sketch plan at its Feb. 10 meeting. The review period was set to expire on Feb. 24 and will now expire on April 28, 2022. Read more.

Wheaton Gateway files Sketch Plan with M-NCPPC

January 19, 2022 - The Wheaton Gateway development team submitted a revised sketch plan to the Maryland-National Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) on December 24, 2021. You can review the sketch plan on the M-NCPPC website, HERE.

An initial sketch plan for this project was accepted by M-NCPPC earlier this year in March. After receiving comments on the initial Sketch Plan submission through the Development Review Committee process, the team worked to both address comments and evaluate the impact of the global pandemic. The current Sketch Plan is the result of productive feedback from both the community and Staff and reflects the team’s approach to addressing anticipated market conditions.

Following are the enhancements that are included in the revised Sketch Plan that was filed.

Improved Public Open Spaces

• The Community Use Urban Park/Urban Plaza was enhanced and is now more pedestrian centered.

• The central pick-up/drop-off/turnaround is reconfigured and relocated to within the parking structure.

Consolidation of Kensington Entrances

• The two garage entrances accessed from Kensington Boulevard are now consolidated into one.

Phasing and Sections

• The manner in which the project is described has been clarified to avoid confusion. Sections are now used to describe areas of land and phases are used to describe periods of development. The first phase is now anticipated to include the two northernmost buildings (Sections 1 & 2). The larger building at the intersection of Veirs Mill Road and University Boulevard is now anticipated in Section 3 in Phase 2.

The Wheaton Gateway team is confident that the improvements reflected on the updated sketch plan will further establish Wheaton Gateway as a dynamic new mixed-use, mixed-income community with inviting public use space available to residents, visitors, and the broader community.

What Happens Next
The Montgomery County Planning Department staff will now review this revised sketch plan as the project continues to move towards a hearing before the Planning Board. We will announce the Planning Board hearing date on the project website once it is known.

After ultimate approval of the Sketch Plan, the next planning milestone will be the submission of a Preliminary Plan of Subdivision, as well as a Site Plan. These plans will be submitted with the benefit of the feedback received on the Sketch Plan from both the Montgomery County Planning Department staff, the community (you), and the Planning Board. A mandatory public pre-submission meeting will again be held within 90 days prior to the initial application date of these future Site and Preliminary Subdivision Plan applications. We will announce these dates here and on the project website once they are known.

Learn more at wheatongateway.com.

Sincerely,
The Wheaton Gateway Development Team

Wheaton Gateway’s Role in Achieving Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan

The Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County (HOC), one of the three development partners of Wheaton Gateway, recently submitted a report on Wheaton Gateway’s role in achieving the goals of Montgomery County’s Climate Action Plan, released by County Executive Marc Elrich earlier this year.

“In the pursuit of a more equitable society, we, the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County, believe the principles of environmental and climate justice are among the top priorities,” the report’s cover letter begins. “As an organization located in Montgomery County, MD, which has been a national leader in response to the challenges imposed by climate change, imparts increased importance on the HOC’s focus on sustainable, resilient design.”

The report highlights the clarion call of the Montgomery County Council in 2017, declaring a climate emergency and demanding the focus of all available resources toward achieving zero carbon emissions by 2035. In response, the County’s Climate Action Plan outlines a strategy to cut greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 80 percent by 2027 and 100 percent by 2035. The Climate Action Plan details the effects of a changing climate on Montgomery County and includes strategies to reduce GHG emissions and climate-related risks to the County’s residents and businesses, as well as the built and natural environment.

Outlined within the Climate Action Plan is a “Vision for Building a Healthy, Equitable, Resilient Community.” This includes specific priorities of newly constructed buildings, including:

• High-performance buildings should be equitably available to all County residents.

• Increase energy conservation and efficiency and decrease fossil fuel use in all buildings, with the County leading by example with its own building portfolio.

• Support sustainable, carbon-neutral building design, improvements, and energy sources.

Building upon the same sustainability and resiliency efforts previously programmed into HOC’s proposed Hillandale Gateway development, the Wheaton Gateway project will strive to exemplify all these priorities, as well. The Wheaton Gateway development partnership’s goal is to leverage HOC’s well-located assemblage of properties to develop, in several phases, a vibrant, mixed-use, mixed-income community of modern, energy-efficient buildings that host a variety of uses and amenities that the marketplace demands. In addition, the development will be to a scale and of a character encouraged by the Wheaton Central Business District and Vicinity Sector Plan, which was adopted in 2012.

What’s Next in the Development Process

The Wheaton Gateway development team continues the project’s development process as it pursues its Sketch Plan and has requested an extension until February 2022 to continue refinements. Until then, the Sketch Plan is scheduled to go before the Development Review Committee on September 28, 2021.

As the Wheaton Gateway project continues to move through the development process, we invite you to learn more about the philosophies of our development partners, the project’s sustainability targets, the proposed building program, and to help us realize our innovative and forward-thinking, mixed-income and mixed-use development known as Wheaton Gateway, coming soon to Wheaton, MD.

About Wheaton Gateway

Wheaton Gateway is a proposed mixed-use residential and retail property in Wheaton, MD featuring mixed-income, multi-family housing, and exciting new commercial spaces. The proposed redevelopment project is located at the intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mills Road.

The project is led by a partnership formed by The Duffie Companies, a family-owned real estate company focused on highly sustainable building practices and headquartered in eastern Montgomery County; Willco, a leading developer, owner, investor, and manager of first-class commercial real estate based in the Washington, DC metropolitan areas; and the Housing Opportunities Commission (HOC) of Montgomery County, a quasi-governmental agency that provides affordable housing and supportive services to enhance the lives of the low- and moderate-income families and individuals in Montgomery County.

For the very latest information about Wheaton Gateway, please see our news and updates or the frequently asked questions on the project website. If you have any other questions or comments, you can contact us directly.

Sincerely,
The Wheaton Gateway Development Team

Wheaton Gateway Sketch Plans Available to View Now

Sketch Plans Available to View Now

The Wheaton Gateway Sketch plan application was formally accepted by the Maryland-National Park & Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) on March 15, 2021, and is available to view online now!

We want to share these Sketch plans with you directly so that you have an opportunity to review them and provide us with direct feedback here.

What Happens Next

Montgomery County Planning Department staff will now review the application, provide feedback to our development team, and schedule a meeting with the Development Review Committee (DRC). Following the DRC meeting, there will be a hearing before the Planning Board.

After ultimate approval of the Sketch Plan, the next planning milestone will be the submission of a Preliminary Plan of Subdivision, as well as a Site Plan. These plans will be submitted with the benefit of the feedback received on the Sketch Plan from both the Montgomery County Planning Department staff, the community (you), and the Planning Board. A mandatory public pre-submission meeting will again be held within 90 days prior to the initial application date of these future Site and Preliminary Subdivision Plan applications. We will announce these dates here and on the project website once they are known.

These future Site and Subdivision Plan applications will again go before the DRC and again before the Montgomery County Planning Board for a vote. Once the future Site Plan and Subdivision plans are approved and entitlements are received, the team will pursue building permits for a first phase of development, and upon their issuance, construction will commence. It is not anticipated that construction on the first phase will commence earlier than 2023.

Watch Our Sketch Plan Presentation

In December, nearly 100 members of the community, elected and appointed officials, civic associations, and other prominent leaders from throughout the broader Wheaton area came together for a virtual Sketch Plan pre-submission community meeting with the Wheaton Gateway development team. If you missed the presentation, you can watch it now below.

See Our Updated Frequently Asked Questions

Since the Sketch Plan pre-submission community meeting for Wheaton Gateway was held in December, the development team has received several inquiries related to design, programming, public amenities, parking, traffic, and much more. We have updated our Frequently Asked Questions page, and we invite you to get answers to the very latest questions you’ve asked.

Have another question? We encourage you to share your feedback by contacting us directly. We will endeavor to respond to all of the questions and comments we receive, and while we cannot guarantee to accommodate all public feedback, we can assure you that our development team is listening and will carefully consider all the suggestions we receive.

We thank you for your continued interest in Wheaton Gateway. For the very latest information, please see our news and updates or the frequently asked questions on our website. If you have any other questions or comments, we always invite you to contact us directly.

Sincerely,
The Wheaton Gateway Development Team

Watch the Wheaton Gateway Sketch Plan presentation now

Last Thursday, nearly 100 members of the community, elected and appointed officials, civic associations, and other prominent leaders from throughout the broader Wheaton area joined a virtual Sketch Plan pre-submission community meeting for Wheaton Gateway with the project’s development team.

The virtual community meeting provided an opportunity for the public to review the plans for the redevelopment of about 5 acres near the intersection of University Boulevard and Veirs Mill Road in Wheaton, MD. At this meeting, representatives of the project team discussed the proposal and answered questions about the redevelopment.

Watch the Presentation and Submit Feedback

If you were able to attend the live event, or if you want to see the Sketch Plan presentation again, we invite you to watch it online now.

We also encourage you to share your feedback by contacting us directly. We will endeavor to respond to all of the questions and comments we receive, and while we cannot guarantee to accommodate all public feedback, we can assure you that our development team is listening and will carefully consider all the suggestions we receive.

What Happens Next?

Wheaton Gateway, LLC will file a Sketch Plan application with the Montgomery County Planning Department of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

Once entitlements are received, the team will pursue building permits for a first phase of development and upon their issuance, construction will commence. It is not anticipated that construction will commence earlier than 2023.

We thank you for your interest in Wheaton Gateway. For the very latest information, please see the latest news and updates on our website. If you have any questions or comments, we invite you to contact us directly.

Sincerely,
The Wheaton Gateway Development Team

Urban Turf: 800 Units and Possibly Coliving + a Food Hall: The Pitch for a Prominent Wheaton Intersection

By Nena Perry-Brown, Urban Turf

New details are emerging for a multi-phase development slated for one of Wheaton's most prominent corners. 

The Duffie Companies, Willco, and the Housing Opportunities Commission are preparing to file a sketch plan application proposing three buildings on the 5.16-acre site on the west corner of University Boulevard W and Veirs Mill Road. Upon completion, the "Wheaton Gateway" development would have roughly 800 rental units and 75,000 square feet of commercial or retail space.

Read more at Urban Turf >

Bisnow: Duffie, Willco Propose 800-Unit Project In Wheaton

By Jon Banister, Bisnow

A major new residential project is slated for the Wheaton area in eastern Montgomery County. 

A joint venture of The Duffie Cos., Willco and the Housing Opportunities Commission of Montgomery County is scheduled to present Wheaton Gateway, an 800-unit project, to the community Thursday evening, Bethesda Magazine reports. 

Read more at Bisnow >