Today at 10:00 am, the Mayor and Council reviewed a Moderately Priced Dwelling Unit (MPDU) Rental Program Agreement for Phase 1 of the Twinbrook Quarter development as a simple Consent item as a virtual-only meeting. These agreements are one of Rockville’s major ways to provide affordable housing within the city (the other is Rockville Housing Enterprises).

But why the rush? Today’s morning meeting was conducted outside of the regular Mayor and Council bi-monthly evening schedule and posted with less than 24 hours’ notice. Maryland’s Open Meetings Act requires “reasonable advance notice” of its meetings and that agendas are available in advance except in cases of emergency, but what’s “reasonable” or “in advance” is not defined. Two days? Two hours? Perhaps that’s something that the Mayor and Council should define for itself in the spirit of transparency.

Twinbrook Quarter is Saul Centers’ transit-oriented, mixed-use 18-acre development located along Rockville Pike and adjacent to the Twinbrook Metrorail Station. The project will include a mix of uses, with a focus on residential development and retail, complemented by two trophy office buildings to create a complete live/work/play environment. Phase I is underway with 450 residential units, a Wegman’s grocery store, shops and office spaces, and an extension of Chapman Avenue and is planned for completion this fall. Nearly 150,000 people live within three miles of this supersized development.

Twinbrook Quarters joins Saul Centers’ portfolio of huge ambitious projects such as Park Van Ness and Waycroft, but it holds many more modest commercial properties, such as a CVS and PartyCity at 1500-1582 Rockville Pike and two bank sites fronting Montrose Crossing Shopping Center at 12095 Rockville Pike.

The 50-page agenda (missing pages 3-4) is available at https://www.rockvillemd.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05242024-7206