kville Rée April9, 2018 ‘Montgomery County Publi Schools c/o Gary Mosesman Division of Construction 45 West Gude Drive Rockville, MD 20850 Re: Mandatory Referral STP2018-00340 Julius West Middle Schoo! ~ Artifical Turf Fields and Lighting 6651 Great Falls Road Dear Mr. Mosesman, At its April 4, 2018 meating, the City of Rockville Planning Commission considered and voted to approve the referenced application, subject to certain conditions. The Commission approval allows for the installation of two (2) artificial turf soccer feiss with lighting on the site of Julius West Middle School at 651 Great Falls Road. The proposal ‘was submitted and processed in accordance with Sec. 3-205 ~ Land Use Article of the ‘anotated Code of Maryland, the applicable State law governing the construction of public buildings and stractures. In accordance with the information and testimony provided, it was the determination of ‘the Commission thatthe location, character, and extent of the proposal isconsistent with the Master Plan, as mandated by State code. Under the approval of this mandatory referral application, and in association with the planned site development, the Planning Commission approved the following conditions: 4} The proposed site improvements are to be constructed and implemented in accordance with ste development plans submitted a part of this application. 2} Allconstruction must meet requirements ofthe city's construction ie, and life safety codes, as well as Maryland State accessibility code, and Americans with Disabilties [Act [ADA) requirements. Myer ret Dome Newton |Coummebers Bay Liber Veg Onky ae Poh Car Hark Pera Cy Manager Rare DiSn| Cy ClrlDecror af Caunct Operon Kataan Canny | iy Aare Dara Yrg OniGary Mosesman STP201#-00340, .WMS Fields ‘Aprit9, 2018 Page2 53) The applicant (Montgomery County Publte Schools shall enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City ofRockville to moniterimpacts associated with traffic, parking, nise, and lighting, and to set the hours of operation. The MOU isto Include joint mitigation measures to address future impacts that may arise in any of ‘the above-referonced areas of possible impact. ‘The Planning Commission's approval decsion was based on the evidence of record and the following three referenced findings the Commission Is required to make In its {determination of consistency withthe City’s Master Pian (loction, character and extent). 41, Location: The existing Julius West Middle School has been at this location since 1961, ‘and is appropriately designated by the Land Usa Plan as “Public Buildings and Faclities” ‘An 18,000-squére foot addition to the school was approved In 2014 (STP2014-00221) \which showed the proposed locaton fortwo future soccer field. The proposed flelds do not alter or impact the location of any on-site buildings. As inleeted, the Master Plan references schools and other institutional uses in the discussion of Planning Area #4 (West End and Woodley Gardens East-West] recommending adequate butfers and addressing increased traffic imoacts, Vehicular access to the fields isthe same as that for the school, which is from Great Falls Road. Access tothe site leads to a surface fot with 132 parking spaces. Pedestrian access from the surface parking lotto the fields is sufficient. “The proposed flels are located on the south side ofthe visting building, adjacent to the 1-270 ramp and local lanes. They ore more than 200 feet from the closest residential ‘property. In addition, a landscape buffer with mature trees exists along the common property line with Rose Hill Falls. The location ofthe fields themsalvas ison the south side of the building, eway fron residential neighborhoods to the east and north, Staff finds that the proposal meets the location requirement for consistency with the ‘Comprehensive Plan 2. Character: The site has been a public-school property sinca the Initial evelopment of Julius West Middle School in 1961, which defines the character ofthe 20-acre property. “The proposed soccer fields are consistent with the types of faciltes normally associated \with schools, and are shown on the site plan approved as part ofthe 2014 addition tothe school. The aition ofan athletic field isin keeping with the character of the school site ‘and immediate area, The location of the proposed soccer felds Is currently an ‘unimproved grass recreational fieldGary Mosesman ‘s1P2018.00340, WMS Fields April 9, 2038 Page 3 “The site Is bounded o# the west side by the 1-270 Expressway and on the south side by Falls Road, 2 siclane road, and the fields are situated in such a manner as to minimize ‘overall impacts on surtounding neighborhoods. The adjacent residential neighborhood to the north, Rose Hill Fal, is buffered from the proposal by a wide tree stand, @ ark and the neighborhood temis courts, Noise generated from the proposed field will also be ‘minimized due to the location ofthese fields next to the F270 expressway. “The addition of exterior lighting (60 and 70-fot tall poles) to illuminate the proposed fields potentially could result in ight spillover into surrounding areas. The epplicant has made efforts to ensure that the lights are directed downwards as much as possible, and ‘the illumination summary and glare impact analysis provided show that the lighting impact will be immediately adjacent to the fields. Lighted fields on a public schoo! property isnot uncommon fora public school use, as there are lighted athletic fads close to residential neighborhoods In Rockville and throughout Montgomery County. However, staff recommends that the proposed lighting plan be reviewed by an expert third party prior to issuance of bellding permits for construction, in order forthe lighting design to be analyzed to ensure minimal adverse impacts on nearby residential neighborhoods from the field lights 3. Extent: The proposed lighting wil allow for an expanded use ofthe fields, both during ‘addtional times ofthe year and inthe evenings. As such, the effects of the expanded use ‘must be considered, including the potential for increased parking demand generated by the use a¢ well as the effects ofthe lights on nearby residential properties. Staff therefore recommends a conditon of approval to address the adequacy of parking and circulation, as well asthe effect ofthe light ficures on residential homes. Fit can be confirmed that the lights should pose no significant impact on the surrounding neighborhood, and that adequate parking and irculation isto be provided, then the proposal does not violate or adversaly affect the Pan, Sincerely, R. Newbee James Wasik, AIC? Acting Director, Community Planning and Development Services Department Ce: Seth Adams, MCPS, Division of Construction