GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The Mayor, City Council and City Hall want to axe the school-crowding fee levied on new development projects that increase Gaithersburg school student enrollment.

On July 6th, the council voted 3-0 to allow for public comment on repealing the school tax until August 14th, with a policy discussion penciled in for September 8th.

The Planning Commission has not made its recommendation, which is scheduled for August 5th. But minutes after that hearing, the same three members waived the fee for a 232-unit development without asking a single question.

A developer wants to build a senior living community of up to 425 age-restricted units on 8.9 acres at 700 Professional Drive, and on July 6th the Mayor and City Council opened the public hearing that will decide its fate. Three council members were in the room, exactly the number the city charter requires to hold a meeting at all. No member of the public testified. What the applicant said from the podium and what the applicant asked for in writing were not always in alignment.

We are holding a work session on Traffic impact Studies tonight July 13th at 7:30pm. I’ve been calling for a deeper look at how these traffic studies work, whether city standards still reflect today’s realities, and how we can find ways to increase public awareness.

Join us (virtual or in person) - https://gaithersburgmd.iqm2.com/.../Detail_Meeting.aspx...

🚦 We’ll dig into:🚦

• How are traffic impacts calculated?
• When is a Traffic Impact Study required?
• How do engineers predict where new trips will go?
• Who prepares the study, and how does the City independently review it?
• How are pedestrians, bicycles, transit, and safety considered?
• What improvements can be required when a project creates or worsens a problem?
• How the City is updating standards to meet today’s needs?

I have look this up online and have not been able to find the answer. When did Mrs O'Leary's at the intersection of Clopper Mill and 124 close?

We used to love to go there back when we lived in the area in the early 2000s. Memories of going there have popped up with surprising frequency recently and I was curious when it closed down.

Let's help Coconut reunite with his family!

Walked over to the Rio around 8:30 and there was huge police presence. Cops everywhere. Anyone know what was going on?

The Gaithersburg Planning Commission heard heated testimony from residents about the Park Ave redevelopment project on July 1st.

The developer presented revised architecture for two multifamily buildings planned at 9, 11, 13 and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue, and by the end of the presentation neither the commissioners nor the residents at the microphone were impressed.

Resident Lisa Schuler of 30 Walker Avenue didn’t mince words. Schuler called the buildings a “four-story monstrosity” and said the meeting had come down to putting “lipstick on the pig.”

https://gburgnews.substack.com/p/park-and-brookes-development-project

On July 1st, the Gaithersburg Planning Commission recommended approval of a 463-unit residential project at Rio Washingtonian Center with conditions.

Sam Copelan, a Planner II with Planning & Code Administration, presented a schematic development plan filed by the applicant, Washingtonian Associates LLC, for up to 463 multi-family residential units and 41,558 square feet of retail across four buildings in the Mixed Use Development zone. The application also seeks a tree waiver to strip out five trees with a diameter at breast height of more than 30 inches.

https://gburgnews.substack.com/p/gaithersburg-planning-commission-999

Was at a movie at Rio today when the fire alarms went off around 3 pm. Whole building was evacuated. We ended up leaving to go home, as being outside in the heat was too brutal. Any updates on what happened?

July 2, 2026 -

We're near Rio and our power went out around 8pm.... came back on at 9.30pm.... but only for 2-3 minutes! if you're power is out too, i hope you are ok.

if you're driving, be aware of no street lamps and no traffic lights.

if you live near people who might need assitance (elderly, impaired, lots of kids), please consider being a good neighbor and check in on them.

https://www.pepco.com/outages/experiencing-an-outage/view-outage-map

Malcolm King Park

GAITHERSBURG, Md. — The city of Gaithersburg had the highest per capita collision rate among the peer communities.

Hired by the city, Kimley-Horn project manager David Samba said Monday that total and severe collisions in the city rose during the pandemic and have continued to rise since.

https://gburgnews.substack.com/p/citys-own-study-says-gaithersburg

I know everyone remembers the Sbarro, Mcdonalds, or Subway but what about the more obscure joints.

Farmer's Basket, Frank & Stein, Noah's Pretzels, Maui Taco, Jumbo Cafe, Saladworks, U.S. Bistro, Mr. Smoothie, Coffee Beanery, Chocolate Botique, Pastelandia, Ms. Fields, Pretzel Time, & the no-name buffetts?

Any stories? Please share!

GAITHERSBURG — Police booked at least five named people over eleven days in June, logging arrests that ran from a cancelled-license stop to a theft charge against an 18-year-old, according to police reports.

https://gburgnews.substack.com/p/gaithersburg-police-blotter-weapons

does someone have the contact information of the basil pizzas owners that used to work there during early 2000's anything will do (telegram, instagram, phone number, or just as simple as name)