The City is seeking a qualified consultant to assist staff in developing a Special Study Area (SSA) Master Plan for a redeveloped Lakeforest Mall that meets the overall goals and visions

of the City while simultaneously defining development options. The Lakeforest Mall Property (Property) is comprised of eight (8) parcels on 103.3 acres and represents a significant redevelopment opportunity for the City of Gaithersburg and its residents. The current zoning designation assigned to the property, General Commercial (C-2), is meant to include commercial uses serving the regional and local area, together with normal supplemental uses and other uses compatible with a cohesive and attractive shopping and office area. Residential uses are precluded in the current zoning. The Property was last reviewed as part of the City's 2009 Master Plan update and was identified as 2009 Land Use Element Map Designation 35, which recommended redevelopment of the Property with a Commercial-Office-Residential mixed-land use designation and Zoning change from C-2 to MXD.

Since the adoption of the 2009 Master Plan the importance of the Property and it's redevelopment to the growth of the City east of I-270 and the Frederick Avenue Corridor has been further documented through various post 2009 Land Use Element studies, reports and analyses. Recently three anchor tenants have either closed or announced their closing. The Mall core, purchased in 2017 by US Bank in a foreclosure auction, has been sold. With the status of future operations of the Property as a mall or commercial only center being uncertain, additional planning studies and evaluations of the 2009 Land Use Element provisions should be undertaken to further define and ensure the best possible mix, density, and configuration of uses that reflect the analyses and findings of the various City studies and reports completed since the 2009 Land Use Element.

The City is seeking a third party consultant to assist the City in developing a Special Study Area Master Plan (SSA) for the Property to be rezoned MXD (mixed-use development) from the current C-2 (general commercial) that meets the overall goals and visions of the City while simultaneously defining viable development options. The community and stakeholders will be engaged throughout the entire planning effort. The SSA will be a development framework the City can present to the public and development community. One of the City's objectives is that this SSA provide a reasonable expectation on the Property's future redevelopment (scale of development, general design, connectivity, etc.), while providing flexibility to respond to future market conditions. The ideal consultant candidate will have proven experience and understanding of commercial and residential development analysis and the financial aspects of major redevelopment; urban design concepts integrating commercial, civic/public, retail, and residential uses; basic understanding of local zoning and development laws and their relationship to design; public engagement facilitation; and strong writing, graphics and presentation skills. The entire SSA process, plan development through adoption, is to be completed within twelve (12) months.