Gaithersburg’s Planning Commission on Wednesday night approved plans for a new 244-unit apartment building in the city’s Downtown Crown neighborhood.
The building, if approved, would sit at 333 Ellington Blvd., and be called “Fairfield at Crown.”
It would feature a mix of studio to three-bedroom units, and expand the adjacent parking garage to include about 300 new spaces, increasing the total to 429 spaces, according to a presentation at the Planning Commission meeting.
The parking garage will have five stories, with the first three dedicated to retail shoppers. There will be a security gate on the third level to separate residential and retail parking spaces.
The building will stand either five or six stories, according to planning documents.
The developer, FRH Realty LLC, has proposed 43 studio units, 147 one-bedroom units, 50 two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units. Twenty-seven units would be designated as affordable housing.
The site is currently undeveloped.
“It’s been a void forever and it’s painful every time I pass it,” commissioner Matt Hopkins said.
The trees along Diamondback Drive will remain. Nine willow oak trees are expected to be planted along Ellington Boulevard as part of the project.
There will be a large courtyard with seating and a lounge area with a fire pit, according to the project plans. There will also be a smaller courtyard with a central dining and cooking area.
One community member raised concerns during Wednesday night’s meeting about increased traffic and pedestrian safety problems as a result of the project.
The five-person commission approved the project in a unanimous vote.
Caitlynn Peetz can be reached at caitlynn.peetz@bethesdda-remix.newspackstaging.com