Amazon is pursuing plans to build a large new distribution center in Gaithersburg – but there’s no guarantee that city officials will approve that pitch.

The e-commerce giant is targeting a 44-acre property in the city that was once home to a Leidos corporate campus, not far from Lakeforest Mall, for a 200,000-square-foot “last-mile” distribution center.

The company has not formally declared its interest in the property, matching its propensity for secrecy in projects around the country, but documents provided to the Gaithersburg City Council by property owner Matan Cos. frequently cite Amazon by name. Bethesda Beat first reported on those plans.

“We have a policy of not commenting on our future roadmap and are not yet commenting on any specific operations plans in Maryland,” company spokeswoman Rachael Lighty wrote in an email.

The tech firm previously pursued a much larger, 4 million-square-foot fulfillment center in neighboring Prince George’s County, but dropped that…