The Gaithersburg Mayor and City Council voted Monday night to reopen the record for the proposed Rio Residential Project, a redevelopment plan that would bring up to 500 multi-family residential apartment units, 43,000 square feet of retail space and four new buildings to the Rio Washingtonian Center.
The project was submitted by Washingtonian Associates, LLC, the owner and developer of Rio Washingtonian Center, which requested additional time to revise the proposal in response to feedback from residents, city officials and the Planning Commission.
The project, which was submitted in May 2025, has already undergone several stages of review. A public hearing was held on Jan. 5, 2026, where 28 residents provided testimony. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposal on July 1, and more than 300 exhibits were entered into the public record, including more than 200 public comments.
During the January public hearing, residents and officials raised concerns about several aspects of the proposal, including traffic impacts, pedestrian safety, parking access, building design and the amount of open space included in the development.
Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman said reopening the record would allow the developer to refine the proposal and give residents another opportunity to weigh in before any final decision is made.
“I think it’s a good idea to offer this opportunity to reopen the record so that they can refine the plan, give the public a chance to see the refinements and comment on them during a new public hearing,” Ashman said.
Gaithersburg Councilmember Jim McNulty said he still has concerns about the project and believes additional questions need to be addressed.
“I do still think that there are questions that have not been answered,” McNulty said. “If the applicant wants an opportunity to answer some of these lingering questions that might actually get them across the finish line, then I think that is warranted.”
City Councilmember Robert T. Wu also supported reopening the record, noting that the project has both strengths and challenges.
“Back in January, we talked about a lot of the aspects of this project that look great, a lot of the aspects of the project that look challenging,” Wu said. “The applicant’s request to revisit a lot of what was said in January, I think is a great idea.”
The council voted 5-0 to reopen the record indefinitely, allowing Washingtonian Associates to revise the proposal before it returns for another round of public hearings, Planning Commission review and council consideration.
