The Marketplace Shopping Center owners are pitching a new storage facility and car wash at a meeting on April 25, and while the city can suggest ideas, they can’t stop it since it’s allowed by-right. Residents can catch up on last October’s virtual meeting about this proposal on the city’s YouTube channel.

Here are the highlights:

  • The Bowie Planning Advisory Board will meet on April 25 at 7pm at City Hall.
  • The owners of the Marketplace Shopping Center are proposing a consolidated storage facility and car wash.
  • The site was originally planned for a 225-unit apartment building, which was abandoned due to public opposition.
  • The storage and car wash development is allowed by-right in the commercial shopping center.
  • The city’s input on the proposal is only a recommendation to the county and not binding.
  • Residents have the opportunity to make suggestions and hear from the shopping center owner during the review process.
  • A Virtual Stakeholders Meeting was held last October for residents to review the proposal and offer ideas.

Originally Published on April 17, 2023Last Modified on April 17, 2023

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Bowie Advisory Planning Board: Marketplace Public Hearing

The owners of the Marketplace Shopping Center will be coming before the Bowie Planning Advisory Board on April 25, at 7pm at City Hall.

They'll be undertaking the next step in the process of pursuing a consolidated storage facility and car wash behind Harris Teeter and Cheney Auto and Tire.

The five acre site was originally intended for a 225 unit apartment building at the time Marketplace was revitalized with new stores. Following intense public opposition, the housing proposal was abandoned.

The residential development required city approval, but the storage and car wash are allowed by-right in the commercial shopping center, meaning the city's input is only a recommendation to the county, and not binding.

The review process does give residents and the city the opportunity to make suggestions and hear directly from the shopping center owner.

A Virtual Stakeholders Meeting was held last October for residents to review the proposal offer ideas. That meeting can be viewed on the City's YouTube channel or at www.cityofbowie.org/marketplace.