The Germantown Board of Mayor and Aldermen has approved a development contract for phase one of the city’s first mixed-use development in the Western Gateway area.
The first phase of the TraVure development includes the construction of internal private streets, landscaping and the installation of water lines under and across property of the Norfolk Southern Railway Company.
The $90 million development will include hotel, office, restaurant and retail space. Board members unanimously approved the project in February and added conditions allowing the city to determine the location of a proposed traffic signal.
“The location of the proposed traffic light at the intersection of TraVure Drive and Poplar Ave. will be subject to authorization by the city administration and city engineer and revocable at any time,” said Cameron Ross, director of Economic and Community Development.
In the event that a traffic signal is located at that intersection, Ross said a “minimum of 60 percent occupancy is required in the third phase of the project prior to placing the signal in operation.”
The traffic signal became a contentious issue when a last minute amendment was made before February’s Planning Commission meeting to move the signal closer to Westminster Townhomes development, west of TraVure.
TraVure will consist of 34,100 square feet of office and retail space, a 220-room hotel and a 468-space parking structure.
Landscaping will also be monitored closely, as a vegetative buffer will be relied on to block light from the south side of the parking garage.
Ross said that if a determination is made by the city’s civil engineer that light is visible after the completion of the project then “corrective measures” will be installed at the developer’s expense.
