Shady Grove Arena Faces Planning Obstacles

Plans to build an station are not without significant planning obstacles.

The arena, which could be built on eight acres of Metro-owned land currently used for parking, would require a master plan amendment before it could be built, according to a report by The Gazette.

Master plans are typically rewritten every 15 to 20 years, but the Shady Grove Sector Plan was approved in 2006, the report states. An amendment to the master plan is yet to be proposed.

The amendment can be submitted through what is called the minor master plan amendment process.

"The minor amendment process allows the planning board and county council to revisit certain aspects of a master plan and address current community priorities, changing circumstances or issues that were not considered in an existing master plan," the report states, according to information from Planning Department spokeswoman Valerie Berton.

Read the full story in The Gazette.

SPEAK OUT: What do you think of the plan to build an arena at the Shady Grove Metro station? Would a venue for graduations, sports, concerts and large community gatherings be welcomed? Would it add to concerns about traffic in and around Shady Grove? Is Shady Grove the right place for such an arena?