Jefferson Place "Coming Together"
Distribution warehouse and Hilton Hotel in the works at former Jefferson Tech Park
A change to what can be built on land that is zoned mixed use in the county may be coming soon, according to Council President Bud Otis. An amendment to the zoning ordinance would allow Jefferson Place, previously known as Jefferson Tech Park, have a distribution warehouse, according to project developer Brad Kline of Potomac, MD, part of Jefferson Place, LLC.
The 173-acre mixed use development near the U.S. 15/340 interchange has been a sore spot for current County Executive Gardner, who called it the “the worst financial deal and biggest taxpayer giveaway in the history of Frederick County.” Brokered by the last Board of County Commissioners, the deal dropped the initial proffer of an $8 million elementary school, and added more residential units.
But according to Kline, things are starting to come together for the beleaguered development. A proposed distribution warehouse for an e-commerce company is likely allowed under the current mixed-use zoning, he said, but developers want to clarify the terms in an amendment.
“Three companies are interested in the site, and we are working on a contract with one of them,” Kline said. “It’s serious. The exciting part is that it will create jobs.”
A hotel has been in the planning stages for several years, too, and will be breaking ground in about nine months, Kline said. “We have an agreement with Hilton Hotels."
“We’re very excited about this,” Kline said.
Otis’ Executive Assistant, Diana Modelski said several weeks ago that Otis planned to finish the text amendment within a month.
