Updated June 20, 2010

The Hearing Examiner for the Board of Appeals released her report and recommendation on Suburban Hospital’s application for a special exception modification. Although we appreciate the Hearing Examiner’s recognition of the public interest in supporting an important health facility, we are disappointed that the Hearing Examiner has recommended remand for further proceedings. However, this is just a recommendation to the Board of Appeals, which will make the final decision. We hope that the Board will see this important issue differently once they have had the opportunity to review all of the facts.

A copy of the report can be read online at http://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/zah/pdf/s-274-dsuburban2010.pdf

Updated June 1, 2010

June 18, 2010: The Hearing Examiner for the Montgomery County Board of Appeals has extended the deadline to issue her official report and recommendation on our application for a special exception modification to Friday, June 18. After the report is issued, the Board of Appeals will schedule its review of the recommendation and vote on the request.

Updated May 4, 2010

June 11, 2010: The April 30 deadline for the Hearing Examiner for the Montgomery County Board of Appeals to issue her report and recommendation about the proposed Suburban Hospital building project came and went with another extension to June 11. The project consists of an addition to the Hospital with new operating rooms, private patient rooms and physician offices and a new parking structure. After the report is issued, the Board of Appeals will schedule its review of the recommendation and vote on the request. Closing one-block of Lincoln Street will require a separate action by the County Council.

Updated April 29, 2010

June 2010: The Hearing Examiner for the Board of Appeals has extended the deadline for the submission of her official Report and Recommendation on our application for a special exception modification by approximately four to six weeks. Therefore, we expect her Report and Recommendation will be issued in June. After its issuance, the Board of Appeals will schedule its review of the recommendation and vote on the modification request.

Updated Mar. 1, 2010

April 30, 2010: The Hearing Examiner for the Board of Appeals has extended the deadline for the submission of her official recommendation on our application for a modification to our special exception to April 30, 2010. Based on this new timeline, a vote on the recommendation by the Board of Appeals will likely not be scheduled until late spring 2010.

Updated Jan. 19, 2010

Late February: Following 34 days of hearings that ended on July 24, 2009, and formal closure of the record on November 20, 2009, the Hearing Examiner for the Montgomery County Board of Appeals is still in the process of reviewing the thousands of pages of documents and exhibits that form the hearing record. Her official recommendation on our special exception application is expected to be submitted in late February. After it has been submitted, we anticipate that the Board of Appeals will schedule a vote on her recommendation.

UPDATED NEWS: Three more dates have been added for our hearings with the Board of Appeals' hearing examiner:
• Monday, July 13 - all day
• Thursday, July 23 - all day
• Friday, July 24 - all day

September 25, 2008: Montgomery County Planning Board voted 4 to 1 in favor of closing one block of Lincoln Street. They also voted 3 to 2 in support of our campus enhancement project as a whole (the modification to our special exception), with suggested conditions. Since a majority vote is required, both motions passed. These votes are advisory, which means the hospital will proceed to the next steps in the process with favorable recommendations.

We have incorporated the changes suggested by the Planning Board into our plans for review by the Board of Appeals (BOA). The BOA has scheduled six days of hearings before its hearing examiner, who will make a recommendation to the BOA. These hearings are scheduled to end in mid-December. We expect that by early winter the BOA will make a final decision on the modification to the special exception.

In addition, the Montgomery County Council must vote on the closing of one block of Lincoln Street.

August 26, 2008: County Executive’s Hearing Examiner to hold hearing on Abandonment of Lincoln Street between Old Georgetown Road and Grant Street. The hearing will take place at 1 p.m. at the County Council Building: 100 Maryland Avenue, Room 217, Rockville, Maryland. All interested parties can attend and will have the opportunity to testify.

April 21, 2008: Suburban Hospital filed application with County Executive and Dept. of Public Works and Transportation for the abandonment of one block of Lincoln Street between Old Georgetown Road and Grant Street.

March 26, 2008: Suburban Hospital filed application with Board of Appeals for variance and major modification to the hospital’s special exception.

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