Future Public Service Training Academy site (Webb Tract)
Background information
- Privately-owned site.
- Zoned for industrial use, site is vacant land.
- East side contains wet soil that would require a period of aeration and drying before it could be developed.
- 129 acres of which 90 are useable.
- County plans to put MCPS Food Distribution and the Public Safety Training Academy (PSTA) with a gymnasium and shooting range on 29 acres of the Webb Tract.
- The current PSTA location is over 40 years old. The planned investment of $24 million to overhaul the existing, aged facility would be better put to creating a new PSTA at a different location that can be used for decades to come.
- Even with the significant investment of funds at the current location, all of the PSTA needs cannot be satisfied at the existing site, and the site has little or no expansion capability thereby limiting the ability of the site to fully support the County’s long-term needs for public safety training.
- We have created the beginnings of a higher education enclave adjacent to the Life Sciences Center with the location of Johns Hopkins University Belward to the north of the PSTA site and the University System of Maryland Shady Grove campus to the South of the PSTA.
- Johns Hopkins has been actively engaged in looking at the overall area to determine how to enable the higher education uses that have begun in that area to grow into a world class research and education center.
- The PSTA site is uniquely located to provide key uses to support the realization of a world class research and higher education campus and corridor in this area.
- Johns Hopkins Belward campus is subject to land use restrictions limiting the site to agricultural, academic, research and development, delivery of health and medical care and services, or related uses only.
- The PSTA site can be utilized to help create a world class research and higher education community in which researchers and students can live near where they work.
- Between 5:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. deliveries are made by local vendors to MCPS Food distribution.
- By 6:30 a.m., 17 MCPS trucks leave for schools deliveries.
- Between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tractor trailers scheduled for school deliveries (0-2 per day except July through September when 4-5 per day).
- Mid-July through September is the busiest time due to preparation for school opening.
- 130 total employees on site.
- There will be no noxious odors.
- The trash is contained within the building and taken by truck to be disposed.
- Trash and recycling trucks arrive up to two times per week.
- The tractor trailer trucks are 53 feet long.
- The delivery trucks are 28 feet long.
- Village warms to Webb Tract plan (View on-line article)
- Webb Tract Traffic Statement (see statement | 756 KB)
Commonly Asked Questions
- Why is the Poolesville property not an option? That property is a former sludge site. Fire and Rescue Services has indicated that the academic and hands-on training must be on the same campus and Poolesville is a great distance for many of the volunteer firefighters.
- If the current PSTA occupies 52 acres, how will you fit it on 29 acres? The present facility has added many additional buildings over the past 30 years which are scattered on the parcel. The future PSTA site will be constructed to accommodate all its necessary functions in a more efficient manner.
- Will they burn hazardous materials? Fire and Rescue has informed us that no hazardous materials will be burned. They use theatrical smoke in the burning buildings to simulate smoke from a fire.
- Where are the classes during the evening? All evening classes are in-doors except for the drivers.
- Will there be sirens at night? There will not be any sirens during the night.
- How long will it take for PSTA to move into their new facilities? It would take roughly between two and four years from the time of acquisition.
- How does public safety personnel commute to PSTA now? Would locating the PSTA near public transportation make more sense? They commute in either personal or assigned vehicles. There are minimal advantages in locating PSTA near public transportation.
- The County Smart Growth Study proposes building a stand-alone Travilah Fire Station on the current PSTA site. What modifications would have to be made to convert the existing fire station project to a stand-alone project? We are developing a PDF for a stand-alone Travilah Fire Station. The new fire station would be a free standing construction with living quarters above the two bays of the stand-alone station. The facility will be designed to have the ability to add an additional bay. Following budget approval, the new fire station could be completed within three years.
- How is the Burn Building used in day-to-day MCFRS training? The burn building is used daily and on weekends for a variety of purposes. Career and volunteer firefighter recruit classes, aerial operators’ class, firefighter safety and survival training, mandatory personal protective equipment classes, and in-service training programs all use the Burn Building.
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