NCPC approves comments on Navy’s Olney Support Center draft plan, supports compact development

NCPC staff presented the US Navy’s draft area development plan for the Olney Support Center (part of Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division) in Montgomery County, Maryland, and the commission adopted staff comments on March 5.

Jamie Herr described the site’s federal-use history and constraints (80 acres, stream corridor with water-quality restrictions) and reviewed three courses of action; stakeholders favored COA‑1, the ‘‘known requirements’’ option that includes a battery testing facility and limited new infrastructure. Staff recommended the commission commend the Navy for initiating the master-planning process, support the compact preferred alternative, encourage reuse of existing parking and transportation demand management strategies, and ask for an area-wide stormwater management approach.

Commissioners asked about site context and parking assumptions; staff said the plan anticipates roughly 125 employees over five years and proposes reusing the site’s 121 spaces, with TDM measures triggered as employment grows. After discussion Commissioner Dixon moved and the commission voted to approve staff comments.

Staff also encouraged design guidance consistent with Navy/DOD standards and additional tree plantings to screen new development. The action was a recommendation on draft comments, not final construction authorization.