[RP TownTalk] M-UTC meeting on Wachovia tonight

[Rob Oppenheim]

Wachovia Bank Proposed for Route One and E-W Highway
 
M-UTC is to meet directly with Wachovia representatives and architects tonight, Jan. 25, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. regarding the Wachovia Bank proposed for the corner of Baltimore Avenue (Route One) and East–West Highway (Maryland Route 410). The meeting is open to all. (M-UTC is the Mixed-Use Town Center local zoning committee).
 
M-UTC's members support the “urban” style of development, with the building front along the sidewalk. Wachovia favors the “suburban” style, which would place the building in the middle of the lot to allow traffic to circle the building. Some at the meeting expressed concern over the number of drive-through bays Wachovia plans. Wachovia wants two bays with five lanes; one for an ATM. It was not clear whether the ATM would be for cars or pedestrian use.
 
You can see both development examples already in place at the intersection: The urban style is shown by Lynn Animal Hospital and the Calvert House Inn; while McDonald's and SunTrust Bank show the suburban style.
 
M-UTC members say their unwillingness to support the Potomac Development proposal comes from their desire to “stay true to the M-UTC vision.” Mr. Caputo says he has tried to persuade Wachovia's planners to build a street-front building, but they need the setback to allow room for drive-up banking and traffic flow. He also says he has been unable to find any tenant willing to place the building next to the sidewalk. 
 
Mr. Caputo expressed willingness to work with the town and M-UTC. He has attended several town meetings in the past months and quickly responded when the mayor and citizens complained about the appearance of the property last summer. (See “Town Talk,” page 15, October 2005 Town Crier , available at www.rptc.us). Other points were discussed at the Jan. 4 meeting. Wachovia wants more parking than M-UTC allows, but that in exchange for a larger lot, Wachovia might be willing to allow Calvert House patrons to park in its lot after bank business hours. 
 
Wachovia's standard building does not match the M-UTC vision for two-story development on the block. The use of a two-story façade on a single-level building has been suggested as a modification, as was a “faux-urban” streetscape to mask the parking lot. Another suggestion was to erect a canopy from the building entrance to the sidewalk to give some streetscape appearance.
 
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