Housing proposal near Hidden Lane Landfill stopped

Supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian) announced today that the organizations considering a housing development on the former Hidden Lane Landfill and Askegrens family properties in Algonkian District have opted not to file a formal land use application with the county.

After several meetings with the developers during which Supervisor Briskman raised community concerns and shared her vision of future land use development and revitalization in Algonkian District, the developers informed her office Monday that they will not move forward with the rezoning application process.

The pre-application called for 150 houses and townhomes, community trails and solar installation on the combined properties, which total about 235 acres. See illustrative plan at https://ibb.co/dLMhr2P.

“I strongly believe the county must increase the supply of attainable housing and I will support some additional in-fill development and revitalization in Algonkian District,” Briskman said. “However, I do not envision intense residential development between Algonkian Parkway and the Potomac River. Nor do I believe the community would support it. I appreciate the developers engaging in candid conversations about the project.” The properties still could be sold for “by right” development of one house per three acres (A-3) on the areas not impacted by the EPA Superfund designation and not in the flood plain. But developers have indicated that this would not be profitable. “I appreciate the community expressing its concerns about this potential development. I am glad that the developers have decided this is not their best option for this land,” Briskman added. “I look forward to working with developers on areas that are more appropriate for additional housing in Algonkian.”