New Ashton Meeting Place Design Unveiled continued, page 2

In the interior of the shopping area there will be a two-level parking area.  There is a major slope of the land that makes the design challenging.  The parking area has a flat top level and an underground parking garage.  People can walk directly, on level pavement, into the stores that have entrances on the parking area, including the grocery store.  There will be elevator access to most of the stores from the underground parking garage.  Landscaping for the area has yet to be determined.  There are two entrances and exits for the parking areas.  This design also meets the ADA criteria for handicapped access.

At the rear of the shopping area will be a road that circles between New Hampshire Avenue and Route 108.  Because of the elevation considerations, there will be a stone wall on one side of the road.  On the other side of the road there will be three single family homes near New Hampshire Avenue and another three near Route 108.  The homes will have detached garages, and will be different sizes (although the site plan shows the homes as all one size).  In between the homes are the wetlands and wetlands buffer and the stormwater management system.  There will be no encroachment on the wetlands and wetlands buffer.  The six homes are allowed on the R60-zoned land; the denied plan had commercial parking on the R60-zoned land, which is not allowed.

There will be pedestrian access from the streets and sidewalks throughout the development.

Mr. Ted Connor, from Chesapeake Watershed Solutions, plans to improve the wetlands area by planting a variety of seedlings and grasses to create what he hopes will be vibrant wetlands.  He plans on removing some of the invasive species and to make the area more pleasing to the eye.  The water quality will be maintained.  Mr. Connor will be maintaining the area.  He lives a few doors away from the development, has lived in Ashton for a long time, and looks at this project as a centerpiece for the development.

A variety of materials will be used in the buildings.  There will a lot of brick, but the brick will be different colors in different buildings, ranging from white to maroon to red brick.  Some of the buildings will also have stucco and stone.  Roofs will use a variety of materials, including tin and slate-like shingles.

Awnings will be used where appropriate.  There will be an awning on the restaurant next to the green space and on the coffee shop, providing space for people to sit outside.

The back of the grocery store will face the houses, with the front of the grocery store facing the parking area.  There will be curved coverings over a place to walk.

Questions and Answers

Q:     What is the size in comparison to the AMP plan that was denied by the Planning Board?

A:     The June 28 design was nearly 100,000 square feet.  The new design is 74,000 square feet of commercial space.  This does not include the residential homes, which will each have a footprint of no larger than 2,000 square feet.

Q:     How many cars will be able to park in the parking area?

A;     There will 80 to 90 parking places above ground, and 250 parking places underground.

Q:     Does the design meet the minimum parking requirements, even if some or all of the parallel parking is not allowed by the State Highway Administration?

A:     Yes.

Q:     Will there be a queuing problem in the parking area?

A:     The plan includes two places to enter and exit, so it is anticipated that there will not be a problem.

Q:     Underground parking can be dangerous.  Will there be a way to get into the buildings from the parking lot?

A:     All buildings will be accessible from the above ground parking lot.  The parking lots will be well lit.  You will also be able to get into a number of the buildings, including the grocery store, from the underground parking area.

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