by Mandy Stussman ’14

Construction of the Olney Springs development began a few months ago, marking the official beginning of a large project that has generated significant debate among nearby residents. What makes this particular development unique is the fact that it will be a combination of Moderately Priced Dwelling Units (MPDUs), workforce housing and market-value housing.

“We feel that this community will be very beneficial to the Olney community because it will provide new, affordable and diverse housing options—both for existing and new residents,” said developer John Clarke. “This project will help struggling families by providing more affordable housing options than would normally be available in a new community.”

The housing development, currently being built off of Bowie Mill Road, will include 57 single family detached homes and 57 town homes, an active recreational area, an extensive walking trail system, and multiple seating and visiting areas. The new housing will additionally be interconnected with the existing neighborhoods by pathways extending through and near the project.

The new development will provide affordable housing in a safe neighborhood and excellent school district for families who would otherwise be excluded from these opportunities. Sixty percent of the housing will be sold at less than market value, with 30 percent being MPDUs and 30 percent workforce housing        values.

MPDUs will be sold to buyers with annual incomes between $35,000 and $81,000, depending on the size of the family. Workforce housing, units targeted towards teachers, police officers, fire-fighters and other public service workers, will be sold to those in the next income bracket; it is targeted for families earning between $83,000 and $128,500 annually.

Despite its appeal to wide swath of potential buyers, the new housing development worries some current residents in surrounding neighborhoods.

“My main concern is the zoning density calculation as it directly affects the number of homes and subsequently the amount of traffic,” said Mark Singer, who lives directly across the street from the new development.

Lisa Cox, another neighbor to the development, also wonders about the increased congestion. “One thing I’m concerned about is the traffic. It’s already hard enough to get out onto Bowie Mill. I would think overcrowding in schools would also be a problem,” said Cox. The children living in the new development will feed into Rosa Parks and then Sherwood, both of which will need to accommodate the additional students.

The construction itself has also been problematic for those in surrounding neighborhoods. “I live right near the construction,” said Cox. “The workers park on Thornhurst Drive, making it hard to leave the neighborhood. You can hear the trucks backing up in the morning.”

Though there are some residents that are still concerned, many of the problems surrounding the new development have been resolved in the past few years through abundant debate and compromise. The zoning density has been reduced significantly since the first housing plan, quenching the protests of residents who worried about over population and overcrowding.

“Although we had differences of opinion during the process with some existing and nearby residents, we do feel that we were able to have a respectful and productive dialogue with the existing community,” said Clarke. “We are appreciative of the many discussions that occurred. This resulted in several changes to the plan that I can honestly say improved the layout of the community.”