staff recommendation...addition and stoney creek. staff finds the proposed amendment to modify...

STAFF RECOMMENDATION

Hinkle NCPC File No. MP059

NATIONAL NAVAL MEDICAL CENTER MASTER PLAN MODIFICATION FOR BUILDING 17

8901 Rockville Pike

Bethesda, Montgomery County, Maryland

Submitted by the Department of the Navy

January 28, 2010

Abstract The Department of the Navy has submitted an amendment to its Master Plan Update 2008 for the National Naval Medical Center. The proposed amendment will modify Figure 5.8, Development Phases, to reflect the proposed consolidation of administrative, parking, and fitness facilities into one building (Building 17). The master plan originally showed these uses in individual buildings on adjacent sites.

Commission Action Requested by Applicant

Approval of a master plan modification pursuant to 40 U.S.C. § 8722(b)(1).

Executive Director’s Recommendation The Commission: Approves the modification of Figure 5.8, Development Phases, of the Master Plan Update 2008 for the National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, as shown on NCPC Map File No. 3101.30(05.00)42931, to reflect the proposed consolidation of administrative, parking, and fitness facilities into one building (Building 17).

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PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Site

The National Naval Medical Center (NNMC) is located at 8901 Rockville Pike in Bethesda, Maryland, just northeast of the Bethesda Central Business District. The campus is approximately 245 acres in size and is bounded on the west by Rockville Pike, on the northeast

NCPC File No. MP 059

by I-495, and on the south by Jones Bridge Road. Land uses in the immediate area are the National Institutes of Health across Rockville Pike, Stoney Ridge School of the Sacred Heart and medium-density residential housing to the north, Rock Creek Park and North Chevy Chase Park to the east, and Columbia Country Club and medium-density residential housing to the south across Jones Bridge Road. The topography of the campus includes gently sloping areas where development is concentrated, and some areas of moderately steep terrain. The campus is divided into development clusters related to medical, administrative, permanent housing, temporary housing, community services, and education. Building One, the central tower block, is the prime landmark structure of the existing NNMC due to its architectural distinction and association with President Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as with achievements in the practice of military medicine. Buildings 3 and 5 are slightly later ancillary structures in a similar art deco architectural style, also designed under the supervision of the tower block’s architect, Paul Philippe Cret and drawing significance from the same contexts. Building One is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), while the other two buildings have been determined to be contributing elements of the surrounding historic district eligible for the NRHP. Building 17, the focus of this proposed amendment to the master plan, was constructed in 1942 and reflects the art deco architectural style of the primary campus structures. Building 17 has also been determined to be a contributing element to the historic district. Building 17 is located in the northeast quadrant of the NNMC campus, along Taylor Road, in a group of medical research facilities, many of which are currently vacant. The topography changes around Building 17 are significant. Along its front façade, or northwest side, the slope varies, being highest in the center of the building and sloping down in either direction. The grade on the southeast side of the building is approximately 20 feet lower than the front façade and the grade slopes down from the building toward the Stoney Creek ravine. Surface parking is located around much of Building 17, including a strip along Taylor Road at the front of the building, a parking lot on the southeast side of the building, and other parking areas on the southwest side of the building. Landscaping around the building is currently very minimal, with a few mature street trees along Taylor Road in front of the building and a few additional mature trees located on the southeast side of the building on the edge of the parking area.


Background As a result of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) recommendations, the existing Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) located in Washington, D.C. will be closed and military medical services in the National Capital Area (NCA) will be realigned between two primary facilities serving the northern and southern portions of the NCA. The southern NCA will be served by a new hospital at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia, and the existing National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland will be expanded and renovated to serve the northern NCA. All existing tertiary (sub-specialty and complex care) medical services currently provided at WRAMC will be relocated to Bethesda. At the time of the relocation, by September 15, 2011, the expanded NNMC will become a tri-service facility and will be renamed the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda (WRNMMC). The Commission approved the Master Plan Update 2008 for the Medical Center at its February 5, 2009 meeting. Five of the largest new construction projects included in the master plan have already been reviewed and approved by the Commission (due to the stringent BRAC implementation schedule). These are the Medical Facility Additions (NCPC Project 6759, approved June 5, 2008), the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NCPC Project 6849, June 5, 2008), the Patient Parking Garage (NCPC Project 6868, approved December 4, 2008), and the BEQ/Tranquility Hall (NCPC Project 7016, concept approved December 3, 2009), and the renovation and addition to Building 17 (NCPC Project 7028, concept approved January 7, 2010). Proposal The Department of the Navy has submitted an amendment to the National Naval Medical Center Master Plan Update 2008. The approved master plan update currently recommends that Building 17, which is vacant, be fully renovated for non-medical administration space and that new administration space be built on the site behind Building 17. The master plan also recommends a new physical fitness center to replace an existing center, which is not ADA compliant and is economically difficult to maintain due to its age. The master plan recommends the new physical fitness center be located immediately northeast of Building 17 to have a strong connection to the Stoney Creek natural areas and the outdoor fitness trails, recreation pavilions, and sports fields associated with these natural areas. A multi-use parking garage proposed to be located near Building 17 is also included in the master plan to serve NNMC’s administration functions, a new Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ/Tranquility Hall) to be constructed across Taylor Road, and the physical fitness center. The proposed structures are BRAC projects required to be complete by September 2011. At its January 7, 2010 meeting, the Commission reviewed the concept to consolidate into one building the three separate structures proposed within the master plan update. The project includes the renovation of Building 17 and the construction of an addition to the south. This new facility, which will be known as Building 17, will include a natatorium, gymnasium, offices, laboratories, and four levels of parking below the occupied spaces, and will support the Wounded Warrior program and other administrative functions at the NNMC. These uses were


identified in the three separate structures proposed within the master plan. The facility will occupy 215,000 gross square feet and contain 565 parking spaces. The proposed amendment will modify Figure 5.8, Development Phases, of the master plan update to reflect a proposed consolidation of the administrative, parking, and fitness facilities into an expanded Building 17.

Existing Figure 5.8 The proposed amendment to the Master Plan Update 2008 will modify this Figure 5.8 by consolidating the new administration, parking, and fitness facilities currently identified as separate facilities into an expanded Building 17.

Building 17 and area for expansion

Multi-use Parking Garage

Fitness Center

New Administration


PROJECT ANALYSIS At its January 7, 2010 meeting, the Commission commented favorably on the concept design for Building 17 that consolidates the administrative, parking, and fitness facilities identified within the approved National Naval Medical Center Master Plan Update 2008. Within this review, the Commission found that the proposed Building 17 concept is generally consistent with the locations and scopes of these uses, including the number of parking spaces, within the master plan update. The Commission also found within this review that the conceptual design for an expanded Building 17 is appropriate to meet the existing historic, landscape, and topographic constraints of the site; the Commission noted that the proposed addition complements the aesthetics, materials, scale, and height of the historic Building 17 and that the proposed site plan protects existing mature trees and preserves the natural slope and setting between the proposed addition and Stoney Creek. Staff finds the proposed amendment to modify Figure 5.8, Development Phases appropriately reflects the proposed consolidation of the administrative, parking, and fitness facilities reviewed by the Commission at its January 7, 2010 meeting. Therefore staff recommends that the Commission approve the modification of Figure 5.8, Development Phases, of the Master Plan Update 2008 for the National Naval Medical Center, to reflect the proposed consolidation of administrative, parking, and fitness facilities into one building (Building 17).

Perspective of the proposed Building 17 (looking west)

Historic Building 17

Physical Fitness Center / Administrative Center Addition

Parking Garage


CONFORMANCE

National Naval Medical Center Mater Plan Update

The Commission approved the Master Plan Update 2008 for the National Naval Medical Center at its February 5, 2009 meeting. The uses within the proposed structure (Physical Fitness Center/Administrative Facility/Parking Garage) were included in the master plan update within three separate but adjacent buildings and were identified as projects needed to meet the requirements of the 2005 BRAC Action. The proposed amendment consolidates the uses within a renovated and expanded Building 17; the sizes and scopes of these uses, including the number of parking spaces, are generally consistent with the master plan update. Land uses and transportation components in the general vicinity of the proposed consolidated structure do not change. Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital At its February 5, 2009 meeting, the Commission found that the Master Plan Update 2008 for the NNMC would not be inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan for the National Capital, and particularly that it conformed to the goals and policies of the Federal Workplace and Transportation Elements of the Plan. The land uses of this proposal were included in the master plan update in the same general location. National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) NCPC does not have an independent NEPA responsibility for federal projects outside the District of Columbia; however the Department of the Navy completed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which included the proposed rehabilitation of Building 17 and additional administration space, the new Physical Fitness Center, and a multi-use Parking Garage, for the Master Plan Update 2008. The EIS evaluated the facilities in the same general as the location of the proposed renovated and expanded Building 17. National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) NCPC does not have independent Section 106 responsibility for federal projects outside the District of Columbia. The Maryland Historic Trust (MHT), as the State Historic Preservation Office, determined that the combined undertaking of the Building 17 project along with the development of the nearby Bachelor Enlisted Quarters (BEQ/Tranquility Hall), which is not a part of this proposed master plan amendment, would have an adverse effect on the historic district at the NNMC. To resolve the adverse effect the MHT is developing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Navy identifying mitigation for the demolition of buildings associated with the Building 17 project.


CONSULTATION The proposed modification of the NNMC Master Plan Update 2008 to reflect the proposed consolidation of administrative, parking, and fitness facilities into one building (Building 17) was referred to affected agencies through the Maryland State Clearinghouse and to the Montgomery County BRAC Coordinator for review and comment. Montgomery County BRAC Coordinator The Montgomery County BRAC Coordinator stated that it has no comments on the modification. Maryland Department of the Environment The Maryland Department of the Environment found the project to be generally consistent with its plans, programs, and objectives. The department also noted that the Navy should coordinate further with state agencies on state recommended and required environmental mitigation measures described in the Maryland Department of Planning State Clearinghouse Recommendation letter dated January 19, 2010 (reference State Application Identifier: MD20091124-1511). Maryland Historic Trust The Maryland Historical Trust (MHT) stated that its finding of consistency with its plans, programs, and objectives is contingent upon the Navy coordinating further with state agencies on the state recommended and required environmental mitigation measures described in the Maryland Department of Planning State Clearinghouse Recommendation letter dated January 19, 2010 (reference State Application Identifier: MD20091124-1511). The MHT commented that currently it is working with the Navy to draft a Memorandum of Agreement to mitigate the adverse effect caused by the undertaking. Maryland Department of Transportation The Maryland Department of Transportation found the project to be generally consistent with its plans, programs, and objectives.

Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Montgomery County The Maryland Department of Business and Economic Development, Montgomery County found the project to be generally consistent with its plans, programs, and objectives.

Maryland Department of Planning The Maryland Department of Planning found the project to be generally consistent with its plans, programs, and objectives.

staff recommendation...addition and stoney creek. staff finds the proposed amendment to modify...

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