Two developers are proposing massive projects in rural Clarksburg, sparking an uproar among Montgomery County environmentalists.
Peterson Cos., the company responsible for National Harbor and downtown Silver Spring, has been discussing with lawmakers plans for a hotel, premium retail outlets and some form of residences to the east of I-270 in Clarksburg, multiple county sources say.
Former Montgomery County Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson, who has been involved with Clarksburg development plans for years, said the plans include about 1,000 units of residential and roughly 500,000 square feet of commercial space, including the hotel, retail and possibly offices.
Peterson Cos. Senior Vice President of Retail Taylor Chess declined to reveal the details of the plans, saying only that the firm "has met with community leaders and organizations to seek their input on a variety of scenarios consistent with the Clarksburg Master Plan," and plans to release details in the coming months.
Pulte Homes Corp., meanwhile, hopes to develop roughly 538 acres on the west side of I-270, according to a recent memo from the developer's attorney to County Executive Ike Leggett.
A representative of Pulte Homes could not be reached for comment.
Both developments are proposed for the area around Ten Mile Creek, which connects to the county Agricultural Reserve and has been designated as a protected resource by the county. On Oct. 9, the County Council is expected to decide whether development can move forward with a relatively minor regulatory change that would allow a sewer system there or whether development would require a more lengthy approval process through the county Planning Board.
