On June 18^th developers of the Downtown Silver Spring Shopping District will present to the Montgomery County Planning Board their requests for some major changes to the popular area.

The plans have been in the works for a while now, but the June 18 meeting will be one of the final steps before the shovel hits the ground and the current designs are gone forever. The fountain is the most popular and recognizable design element that will undergo changes.

The Downtown Silver Spring Project is owned by Rockville-based Foulger Pratt and Fairfax-based The Peterson Companies.

Officially known as Silver Creek by Deidre Saunder, the iconic fountain sometimes referred to as the Silver Fountain, has influenced several other mixed-use projects in the D.C. area including Rockville Town Center, Columbia Heights in D.C., and University Town Center in Hyattsville.

The Silver Creek mosaic tile fountain that has been used since 2004. Planning documents noted that the fountain was heavily used by the public throughout the years which required significant maintenance and replacement of mosaic tiles.

The dramatic changes to the Downtown Silver Spring project would extend from end-to-end of the portion of Ellsworth Drive where the project begins. Vehicular traffic would be denied access permanently and alterations to the gateway of the historic portion of the shopping center would also take place.

The planning board is recommending approval with conditions for the project.