Bethesda’s Rugby Condominium Project Back on Track?

Last Fall, after months of discussion, the Montgomery County Planning Board denied the application submitted by developer 4851 Rugby Avenue LLC to build The Rugby Condominium, a 10-story, 71-unit building with 1,250 square feet of public art studio space planned for 4851 Rugby Avenue (on the north side of Rugby, at the intersection of Rugby and Auburn Avenues) in downtown Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle, saying that the planned building height of 101 feet would exceed the nine-story (90 feet) zoning limit. But now the developer is back with a revised application – to be considered by the Planning Board as early as May 3 - that has a lower height and larger public arts space. The Planning Board is expected to grant approval to this new application. The new application proposes 61 condo units (eight being affordable housing) and 2,000 sf for four art studio spaces (plus a 3,277-sf outdoor plaza) all in a nine-story building. There will also be three levels of underground parking. If approved, the developer hopes to begin construction in 2008.