On the Agenda: Planning Commission Hears Plans for Humane Society Headquarters

Potential plans for the Humane Society of the United States' future in Gaithersburg will go before the city's Planning Commission on Wednesday. 

The planning commission meets 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The Humane Society is considering whether to develop its current perch at Professional Drive into a new national headquarters or open the site up to redevelopment. The Humane Society employs 700 people and has offices in Gaithersburg and Washington, D.C. 

The nonprofit presented initial plans to the Gaithersburg City Council during a public hearing in August. What's expected to go before the commission Wednesday take into account suggestions made during the hearing. 

According to records submitted to the city, the Humane Society's plans for a headquarters would set aside 342,500 square feet of space for commercial use and could include an animal facility.

Here are some of the things Humane Society proposes for a corporate campus:

• An animal facility could be take up as much as 10,000 square feet of space—7,000 of which would be indoor space—and would be built out of the way of residences.
• There would be limited space for retail and restaurants
• Building heights could range between 1 and 12 stories.

The other option the Humane Society is considering—plans for redevelopment—would designate 75,000 to 300,000 square feet of space for commercial use with space for 300 residential units or have 342,000 square feet of space designated solely for commercial use, according to city records. 

The application is posted at the City’s website, GaithersburgMD.gov. The full agenda is also posted online.

The planning commission is expected to make a recommendation to the City Council. Planning staff supports the changes and has suggested the commission give a favorable recommendation.