Media Center

Montgomery County Planning Director to Headline Regional Design Conference

Valerie Berton — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:07:13 -0400

SILVER SPRING – Planning Director Rollin Stanley will deliver the keynote address at DesignDC, a three-day conference that draws regional architects, planners and urban designers.

Sponsored by the local chapters of the American Institute of Architects, the conference runs from July 14-16 at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Stanley will deliver his presentation on Tuesday. Discount registrations are available for the keynote speech.

During his talk, “We Can Do Better: A Frank Discussion about Design and Growth in the ’Burbs,” Stanley will discuss how changing demographics, community visions and environmental goals influence the design of communities. More specifically, Stanley will outline a new paradigm for design that incorporates elements such as local culture, nearby food sources, and infrastructure.

The suburban landscape, particularly the Washington area, is undergoing huge changes. Using comparisons to rapidly urbanizing areas around the world, Stanley will make the discussion relevant to our region by using current efforts to promote strategic growth in Montgomery County.

Stanley’s presentation comes as Montgomery County runs out of new land to develop – now just 4 percent of the county’s total land area – forcing planners to look at infill options in built areas. Montgomery planners drafting the 2009-2011 Growth Policy are trying to formalize that approach. The growth policy, a biennial initiative, has guided growth by matching development to the availability of roads and schools. Stanley is leading the effort to redirect the growth policy to create incentives for sustainable growth near transit rather than incentives that encourage building in rural areas.

Stanley has been director of the county Planning Department, one of the largest planning agencies in the country, since February 2008. Stanley has steered staff and the Planning Board toward new ways of thinking about growth that focuses on sustainability, diversity, design and the environment. Since his arrival, planning staff have incorporated that vision in five new master plans – for Germantown, Gaithersburg West, White Flint, Takoma and Kensington – to be delivered within a year.

Learn more about the AIA conference.

WHO:
Montgomery County Planning Director Rollin Stanley

WHAT:
Keynote address at DesignDC conference

WHEN:
10:15 a.m. Tuesday, July 14

WHERE:
Washington Convention Center
801 Mt. Vernon Place NW
Washington, D.C.

MEDIA ADVISORY: Sligo Creek Golf Course to be Discussed with Montgomery County Planning Board Thursday, July 16

Kelli Holsendolph — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:47:44 -0400

SILVER SPRING, MD—The Montgomery County Planning Board will discuss objectives, outreach and the schedule for the Sligo Creek Golf Course Re-use Master Plan on Thursday, July 16.

During this item on the Planning Board’s meeting agenda, parks staff will review several objectives for developing the master plan, outreach underway and the plan process and schedule. The requested Planning Board actions include: approval of the objectives, outreach strategy and plan schedule; re-affirm County Council decision to close Sligo Creek Golf Course on October 1, 2009; and develop the staff draft master plan with 4 alternative long term design themes based on community input, including golf as one theme. Parks staff has begun grouping community feedback into four thematic areas for the purposes of planning for the park site: natural play areas and environmental education, a sports complex, a recreational park for all ages and golf. These preliminary planning themes will be discussed in more detail during the meeting.

To submit written testimony, email MCP-Chair@MontgomeryPlanning.org or mail to Chairman Royce Hanson, 8787 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910. A total of 2 hours of oral testimony will be taken during the meeting. Due to the large number of potential speakers oral testimony will be limited to 3 minutes for both individuals and group representatives with no ceding of time permitted. To sign up to speak during the meeting, please call 301-495-4600 or visit www.daicsearch.org/planning_board/testify.asp.

On October 1, 2009, the Montgomery County Revenue Authority will return operational control and maintenance responsibility for Sligo Creek Golf Course back to the Montgomery County Department of Parks. To determine what to do with the 65-acre park site, the Department of Parks is developing a park master plan, which will identify interim and future long-term uses for the property. Parks staff will present its draft master plan, including several concepts for the park to the Montgomery County Planning Board on October 1.

Department of Parks staff hosted the first community meeting on the re-use of Sligo Creek Golf Course on Tuesday, May 26. Parks staff also attended a community meeting hosted by the North Hills Civic Association and Neighbors of Northwest Branch on Tuesday, June 23 to discuss the golf course.

For more on the planning process for Sligo Creek Golf Course, visit www.SligoCreekGolf.org or contact Department of Parks Project Manager Rachel Newhouse at Rachel.Newhouse@MontgomeryParks.org.

WHO:
Montgomery County Planning Board
Montgomery County Department of Parks

WHAT:
Sligo Creek Golf Course Re-Use Plan Objectives, Outreach Strategy and Plan Schedule

WHEN:
Thursday, July 16, 2009
7:00 pm

WHERE:
Park and Planning Headquarters
Montgomery Regional Office Auditorium
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

# # #

Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866

Planning Board to Hold Public Hearing on Town of Kensington Draft Sector Plan

Valerie Berton — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:38:36 -0400

SILVER SPRING – On Thursday, July 9, the Montgomery County Planning Board will hold a public hearing on a community plan for the Town of Kensington and Vicinity.

The draft sector plan provides a vision for the area and guides its physical development for the next 20 years. The sector plan area includes the incorporated Town of Kensington and three adjacent areas: the West Howard antiques district, the Ken-Gar community and the commercial district at the intersection of Connecticut Avenue and University Boulevard.

Among the planners’ recommendations are ways to redefine the town center as a mix of housing, businesses and activity spaces with pedestrian friendly connections to Kensington’s established neighborhoods.

Testimony from the public hearing will inform the Planning Board as it considers the draft plan. The board will transmit its version of the plan later this year to the County Council for consideration and eventual adoption. The new plan will serve as a guide for county and town policy-makers as they regulate growth in Kensington.

In concert with the plan, Planning Department and Town of Kensington staff are sponsoring a photo contest to encourage area residents to contribute images showing different aspects of their town.

Learn more about the plan and photo contest or to sign up to speak at the public hearing.

WHO:
Montgomery County Planning Board

WHAT:
Public hearing on Town of Kensington Sector Plan

WHEN:
7:30 p.m. Thursday, July 9

WHERE:
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring

Department of Parks Hosts First “Movies in the Park” at Historic Oakley Cabin

Kelli Holsendolph — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:56:18 -0400

BROOKEVILLE, MD—Saturday, July 11 the Montgomery County Department of Parks will host “Movies in the Park” at the historic Oakley Cabin African American Museum & Park, 3610 Brookeville Road, with its screening of the landmark American Civil War film Glory.

“We recently changed our operating hours at Oakley Cabin to increase our special program offerings, such as ‘Movies in the Park’,” said Department of Parks Museum Manager Shirl Spicer.

Glory—first released in 1989, 20 years ago this year—is the award-winning drama war film about the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, one of the first formal units of the U.S. Army to be made up entirely of African-American men, apart from the officers. The movie is rated “R” for violence and its mature themes.

Oakley Cabin will be open Saturday, July 11 from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm with guided tours of the historic site given by trained volunteer docents and 54th re-enactors, special for “Movies in the Park” day. The movie will be screened at 7:00 pm. Glory runs about 2 hours. Admission is FREE.

“Bring the kids early to soak up some history and come back in the evening with your lawn chairs, picnics and enjoy the show,” added Spicer.

Oakley Cabin is open every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 12:00 noon to 4:00 pm, now through the Maryland Emancipation Day Celebration, Saturday, November 7, which officially closes Oakley Cabin for the season. FREE guided tours and special programs are offered every Saturday the cabin is open. Guided tours are also offered during the week by special request. The following special programs are planned at Oakley Cabin for the rest of the 2009 season:

Theatre in the Park
July 25
Enjoy theatrical performances at Oakley Cabin by the Black Butterfly Production Company, featuring Ms. Margaret Locklear-Peck of Baltimore.

Music in the Park
August 8
Enjoy the soulful sounds of the Piedmont blues with musician Eleanor Ellis. Ellis is a longstanding member of the Archie Edwards Blues Heritage Foundation.

Theatre in the Park
August 22
Enjoy theatrical performances at Oakley Cabin by the Black Butterfly Production Company, featuring Ms. Margaret Locklear-Peck of Baltimore.

Back in Grandma’s Day: Traditional Handicrafts
September 12
National Grandparents Day is Sunday, September 13. Get started early by treating grandma or granddad to a day at Oakley Cabin to meet master quilters, spinners, knitters and other crafters. Receive a FREE Park Pass, with special offers for other park facilities, when you bring your grandparent to this event!

Archaeology Day
September 26
Enjoy guest lecturer Jeff Nagy as he discusses local mining history. Explore an ongoing archaeology dig with parks archaeologists. Make your own set of marbles to take home.

19th Century Medical Practices
October 10
"Dr. Edward Stonestreet," reenacted by historic interpreter Charles Hickey, opens up his little black doctor’s back from the 1800s to talk about health and medicine during the 19th century.

Hoops and Crinolines, Bonnets and Snoods: Civil War Fashions
October 24
An old-school fashion show, literally! Explore the plain and fancy fashions of the 19th century with historian & reenactor Denise Benedetto of the African American Civil War Museum Group.

“We are always looking for good volunteers to help with special programs, such as these and to lead cabin tours,” added Spicer, “if you’re interested please contact us.”

For more information on volunteering at Oakley Cabin or these special programs, visit www.OakleyCabin.org or call 301-650-4373.

# # #

Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866

As Environmental Concerns Grow, Planners Advise Amendment to Clarksburg Master Plan to Protect Water Quality

MNCPPC — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 16:23:07 -0400

For immediate release:
July 1, 2009

For more information, contact:
Valerie Berton
Communications Manager
Montgomery County Planning Department
301/495-4600

SILVER SPRING – Montgomery County planners are seeking the go-ahead from the Planning Board and County Council to revise a piece of the 1994 blueprint guiding growth in Clarksburg to address environmental concerns.

The 1994 Clarksburg Master Plan specifies construction to occur in stages in the northern-most, last-to-be-developed corridor city in Montgomery County. The final phase to be developed was tied, among other things, to protecting water quality in Ten Mile Creek, a major tributary of the Little Seneca watershed. This area is part of the Clarksburg Special Protection Area (SPA). The county protects particularly sensitive, high-quality stream systems by designating an SPA requiring extra stormwater management and sometimes placing limits on impervious surfaces. Excess impervious surfaces such as paved areas and rooftops keep runoff from filtering through the soil, which can deteriorate water quality.

The planners’ foresight in the 1994 plan was warranted. Long term water quality monitoring by county environmental officials in the Clarksburg Special Protection Area found that the creeks are feeling the effects of development in their watersheds and that development in the Ten Mile Creek watershed – with all of the impervious surfaces that accompany it – would harm water quality.

Those findings prompted planners to write a report – to be presented July 9 to the Planning Board – recommending that development for Clarksburg stage four construction be held until they can revise the plan to better address water quality concerns in the Ten Mile Creek watershed.

While the Planning Board may decide to adopt the planners’ recommendations, ultimately the Council must approve any new master plan effort and add the task to the Planning Department’s work program along with the necessary resources. Planners note that the effort should include considerable public engagement as well as contracting with a national expert experienced in low impact development strategies such as rain gardens, impervious limitations, and increasing groundwater absorption.

The recommendation for a revised master plan only affects the Ten Mile Creek watershed, not the approved part of the Town Center and other areas now under construction or plan review.

Among their recommendations, planners advise finding a new location for a maintenance depot proposed for the area. The depot, which would repair and store buses and other county vehicles, would pose a risk to water quality, planners say.

Learn more.

# # #

Planners Recommend Bus Rapid Transit for Proposed Corridor Cities Transit Project; Planning Board Schedules Public Hearing July 6

Valerie Berton — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:27:41 -0400

SILVER SPRING – Montgomery County planners have recommended bus rapid transit, a system designed to move transit vehicles past traffic congestion on dedicated lanes, for the Corridor Cities Transitway (CCT), a planned public transportation project linking Shady Grove with Clarksburg.

Following recommendations rolled out in the draft Gaithersburg West Master Plan, planners have endorsed a route for the CCT that follows a long established alignment from the Shady Grove Metro Station through Gaithersburg, Middlebrook and Germantown on its way to Clarksburg. However, planners recommend a change to the previously planned route through the Life Sciences Center near Gaithersburg.

Responding to a Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) report, planners also addressed a proposed expansion of I-270 as another strategy to improve mobility in the heavily traveled corridor. The expansion could include preferential lanes for high occupancy vehicles and drivers willing to pay a toll. Both projects would try to alleviate chronic traffic concerns in the I-270 Corridor, the economic engine of Montgomery County.

Planners made their recommendations based on MDOT’s Alternatives Analysis/Environmental Assessment report. Their recommendations go to the Planning Board, which has scheduled a July 6 public hearing to allow residents and others to have their say.

The board’s recommendation will be considered by the County Council’s transportation committee on July 13. Once the Council has collected input, it will send the county’s collective position on the two transportation projects back to the state.

The CCT has long been proposed along I-270, and the Planning Board has featured the CCT as an integral part of master plans for Gaithersburg West and Germantown. The transit route would support a growing number of workers and proposed new residences in those areas. In the state report, transportation planners evaluated premium bus, light rail and bus rapid transit. By choosing bus rapid transit, county planners have endorsed an alternative that is estimated to cost around $450 million. The CCT is expected to carry up to 27,000 people daily by 2030.

Planners say bus rapid transit would link activity centers in the corridor, maximize connections to other transit routes such as Metro, and increase opportunities for funding and construction phasing that would allow it to be built quickly.

As part of their proposal, planners recommend adding a busway segment through the Life Sciences Center that creates a loop serving Shady Grove Adventist Hospital, the Universities at Shady Grove, the emerging Johns Hopkins University campus, a redeveloped county Public Safety Training Academy site and other businesses. That new route, which would support proposed residential development, existing and planned heath sciences and hospital facilities, and biomedical research initiatives, has been the subject of much discussion as the Planning Board prepares to finalize its draft of the Gaithersburg West Master Plan next month.

The state report combines the CCT with I-270 highway improvements. Planners recommend that the CCT go first to emphasize the most affordable, green solution by combining transit and mixed use development to support a community less dependent on auto travel.

Planners reviewed the highway alternatives presented by the state and recommended a combination of express toll lanes and high-occupancy vehicle lanes. Express toll lanes provide a speedy and reliable option by charging a toll that varies depending on the time and day of use. The I-270 improvements, extending well into Frederick County, may cost up to $3.9 billion and could displace up to 260 homes, although transportation officials believe that number can be reduced significantly by minimizing the width of roadway shoulders and constructing retaining walls.

Adding a combination of high-occupancy lanes and tolls also would encourage people to commute longer distances by bus or rail and use the highway for carpooling to transit stations, planners say.

Planners also recommended that the County Council establish a working group to pursue potential funding for the CCT in addition to existing public transportation like Metro and Ride On.

Learn more about the CCT. Sign up to testify at the July 6 hearing; scroll to July 6 at the “date” prompt. Submit written testimony.

# # #

First Ever Flea Market in the Park Huge Success! Parks Department Extends Operating Hours at Participants’ Requests

Kelli Holsendolph — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:14:56 -0400

WHEATON, MD—The first-ever Flea Market in the Park held at the Wheaton Outdoor Rink Saturday, June 13 attracted 50 area vendors and more than 400 shoppers, prompting the Montgomery County Department of Parks to extend the operating hours for upcoming flea markets and to add an additional date.

“In response to vendor feedback, we’re getting started an hour later for upcoming flea markets and running an hour longer,” said Wheaton Ice Arena Manager Diane Baker. “From this first one, vendors and shoppers let us know they weren’t ready to go home at noon, so we stayed open to accommodate them.”

The new hours for the Flea Market in the Park at the Wheaton Outdoor Rink are 9:00 am – 2:00 pm, Saturdays, July 11, August 8 and the additional date added September 12. Wheaton Outdoor Rink is located at 11751 Orebaugh Avenue, next to the Wheaton Dog Park, just down the hill from the Wheaton Ice Arena in Wheaton Regional Park.

Admission and parking are free for shoppers. Vendors can rent a 10’ by 10’ space for just $20 to sell their wares. Vendors should bring their own tables and chairs and set-up begins at 7:00 am. To register as a vendor, sign-up at www.ParkPASS.org for course #76801 for July 11; #76802 for August 8; and #88449 for September 12—registration for the September 12 date opens July 1.

“The response to the flea market has been great,” added Baker. “We are looking forward to hosting even more vendors and shoppers during these upcoming opportunities.”

For more on the Flea Market in the Park at the Wheaton Outdoor Rink, visit www.WheatonIceArena.com.

# # #

Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866

Planning Department Launches Photo Contest in Kensington

Valerie Berton — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:36:09 -0400

SILVER SPRING – As part of their work on a new vision for the Town of Kensington, Montgomery County planners and Town officials have launched a photo contest asking residents to show what they like best about their community in pictures.

Planners have drafted a Kensington Sector Plan that recommends ways to redefine the Town Center as a mix of businesses and community facilities with pedestrian friendly connections to Kensington’s established neighborhoods.

Planners are encouraging residents to submit original, amateur photographs depicting scenes of town life, historic sites, events, neighborhoods and public spaces to demonstrate what’s great about the Town of Kensington. Some of those images will be included in the Planning Board draft of the Sector Plan, expected to be completed next fall.

The contest, co-sponsored by the Planning Department and the Town of Kensington, will highlight photographs taken in Kensington and environs between June 15 and September 15. A panel of judges will select winners and award prizes for adult and youth tracks. All prizes have been donated by 13 area businesses who have agreed to sponsor the contest.

All photos must be taken within the Town of Kensington and environs by Town residents.

Winners and honorable mentions will be displayed at a Town Hall exhibit later this year. Images also have the potential to become part of Department or Town documents, posters and websites.

Learn more and submit photos at www.kensingtonphotocontest.org.

Regional Transportation Director to Address Montgomery County Planning Board June 18

Valerie Berton — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:03:26 -0400

SILVER SPRING, MD – The regional transportation planning board’s chief transportation planner, who focuses on long-range planning for the Washington. D.C., region’s highway and public transportation systems, will address the Montgomery County Planning Board on Thursday, June 18 as part of its 2009 Growing Smarter Speaker Series.

Dr. Ronald F. Kirby, director of transportation planning for the National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG), will brief the Board, planners and members of the public about ongoing transportation projects as well as discuss land use and environmental implications of those projects. As part of his talk, Kirby will comment on the fiscal sustainability and environmental implications of current mass transit efforts, regional commuter assistance programs and other projects.

Before joining COG in 1987, Kirby directed the transportation program at the Urban Institute, a non-profit policy research organization in Washington, D.C., where he conducted several analyses of the performance of federal highway and public transportation programs. In addition, he worked on a series of policy studies and demonstration projects for the federal Urban Mass Transportation Administration.

With the Planning Board reviewing the state’s Environmental Impact Study for the proposed Corridor
Cities Transitway in early July, as well as a host of other transportation projects, Kirby’s talk is timely.

Kirby is the seventh of a series of speakers who will address the board this year. Continuing education credits have been approved for AICP members.

CM I 1.5 CM credits are
approved for this activity.

AICP members will earn
Certification Maintenance
credits for this activity.

Who:
Montgomery County Planning Department

What:
Ronald Kirby presenting “Analyzing Alternative Transportation, Land Use and Greenhouse Gas Scenarios for Greater Washington”

When:
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 18

Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters auditorium
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring

Planners to Explore What Makes a Well-Designed Community in June 15 Workshop

Valerie Berton — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 18:06:21 -0400

SILVER SPRING – To inspire planners, policy-makers and area builders with local examples of well-designed buildings, streets and public spaces, the Montgomery County Planning Board is hosting a design workshop on June 15.

The workshop will focus on case studies of area development to stimulate critical discussion about their relative merits. In the end, planners hope architects, landscape architects, urban designers, planners, government officials and the public will gain ideas about better design for Montgomery County. Those ideas will frame policies that guide the design of the built environment.

Urban design considers the arrangement and design of buildings, public spaces and streets to create unique character and a great sense of place.

Case studies will include:

Rosslyn/Ballston Corridor, Arlington, Va.

Carlyle Community, Alexandria, Va.

Fenton Street Village, Silver Spring, Md.

Woodmont Triangle, Bethesda, Md.

Anacostia Waterfront, Washington, D.C.

The workshop will be facilitated by Roger K. Lewis, FAIA, an architect, professor emeritus at the University of Maryland and Washington Post columnist.

Learn more at www.montgomeryplanning.org/urban_design/index.shtm

Who:
Montgomery County Planning Board

What:
Community Design Workshop

When:
7:30 p.m. Monday, June 15

Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring

# # #

Planning Board Places Moratorium on Development in Three School Clusters

Valerie Berton — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:59:51 -0400

SILVER SPRING – After receiving the results of the annual school test – which compares projected student enrollment against projected classroom capacity – the Planning Board yesterday established a development moratorium for three school clusters: Bethesda-Chevy Chase, Clarksburg and Seneca Valley.

The school test, created as part of the biennial Growth Policy and administered through the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO), is prepared by Montgomery County Public Schools staff. The school test compares projected 2014 enrollment figures against classroom capacity for each of the county’s 25 school clusters at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

The 2009 school test results show that number of students expected in 2014 in certain clusters would exceed a 120 percent cap specified in the 2007 APFO. The moratorium limits residential subdivision approvals in overcrowded clusters in an effort to ensure that students generated by newly approved housing units do not exceed the remaining school capacity for students at any grade level. Starting July 1, the Board will not approve residential subdivisions in those three areas unless they are communities for retirees or subdivisions of three or fewer units.

The school test also forecasts overcrowding in 2014 by more than 105 percent in nine school clusters. For those clusters – Walter Johnson, Northwest, Northwood, Paint Branch, Quince Orchard, Rockville, Wheaton, Whitman and Richard Montgomery – developers wishing to get subdivision approval would be required to pay a school facility fee.

Given that the school test is conducted annually, the moratorium is likely to be in place for the next fiscal year. To move out of moratorium, the cluster would need to show a projected drop in enrollment or a projected increase in capacity. Enrollment figures come from school data and projected birth rates. Capacity can increase through the county’s Capital Improvements Program (CIP), which funds public projects like school expansion.

The Montgomery County Council, which decides on the CIP each year, may consider school expansion projects this fall through MCPS recommendations.

The school test is part of the 2009-2011 Growth Policy that the Planning Board will consider this summer. The draft Growth Policy recommends only minimal changes to the school test.

# # #

Planners Release Recommendations to Better Manage Future Development as First Step to Producing Countywide Growth Policy

Valerie Berton — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:57:55 -0400

Public hearing scheduled for June 22

SILVER SPRING – Montgomery County’s future growth, with a population expected to increase by 195,000 by 2030, should occur near transit and on surface parking lots, planners say in a draft 2009-2011 Growth Policy report going to the Planning Board Thursday.

With less than 4 percent of the county left to develop, county planners have drafted a Growth Policy that sets forth more strategic and sustainable strategies to accommodate that growth.

While the draft Growth Policy, a biennial report, continues to weigh development proposals against school and road capacity, the proposed 2009-2011 edition also recommends how to build smarter. Its recommendations include encouraging mixed uses, using less energy and even generating energy on site. Smarter growth leads to better health as people walk and cycle to get around, less congestion and pollution thanks to fewer cars on the road, better use of existing infrastructure, and less land consumption, planners say.

Planners will present their recommendations to the Planning Board on June 11.The Board has scheduled a June 22 public hearing to solicit input on the report. The Board will review the Growth Policy draft in summer work sessions and then send it to the Montgomery County Council for consideration and eventual adoption. Once adopted, the Growth Policy is implemented through the county’s Adequate Public Facility Ordinance (APFO).

View the draft 2009-2011 Growth Policy.

Since 1990, the county grew by 195,000 residents, some of them children born to Montgomery County families. Most of that growth – housing, jobs and services – sprawled onto vacant or agricultural land. Planners estimate 40,000 acres of land were developed in the last 20 years.

Given the Agricultural Reserve, which protects 93,000 acres for farming, and 33,000 acres of parkland, Montgomery County’s development envelope has shrunk. Planners calculate there are just 29,000 acres in the county to develop, including some overlap between 14,000 acres of vacant land, 8,000 acres of surface parking, and 10,500 acres in and around transit and strip malls.

The draft Growth Policy guides development to where services – such public transportation, schools, stores, health clinics and more – are in place.

In a departure from previous Growth Policies, the 2009-2011 recommendations include replacing some of the commercial and office uses with housing, bringing people closer to jobs and reducing congestion. The majority of the new housing should be multi-family units in higher densities, planners say, given the need to consume less land.

Bringing people closer to where they work and shop generates fewer vehicle trips than commercial development and generates far fewer carbon emissions than the single-family home development pattern that has characterized growth in the county for decades. The average condominium or apartment uses about 40 percent of the energy of a typical single-family house.

In its “greenest” twist, the draft policy suggests reducing transportation improvements sometimes required of developers if they build smart – providing additional affordable housing, or within a half-mile of transit, or close to basic services, such as grocery stores, libraries, fire stations and parks. Providing incentives to builders to develop in urban areas preserves established neighborhoods while reducing sprawl and energy use.

The 2009-2011 Growth Policy does not recommend changes to the formulas planers use to evaluate the capacity of school districts to accommodate the students of new households. Current school capacity tests can place growth moratoriums if school populations are calculated to exceed 120 percent. The Planning Board is now assessing the moratorium areas.

The proposed Growth Policy is one of a number of planning strategies – including new community master plans and a major rewrite of the county Zoning Ordinance among them – to bring about more sustainable growth in Montgomery County.

Who:
Montgomery County Planning Board

What / When:
Growth Policy staff draft - approximately 1 p.m. June 11
Growth Policy public hearing - 7:30 p.m. June 22

Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring

Department of Recreation and Department of Parks to Host Two Community Meetings on County’s Recreational Services and Programs

Kelli Holsendolph — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:13:21 -0400

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MD—Montgomery County’s Department of Recreation and the Montgomery County Department of Parks, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, will co-host two community meetings to gather input from the public regarding the delivery of recreational services and programs being offered by both agencies. In April 2009, the County Council’s Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee requested that the two departments issue a report by October 1 with recommendations for improving the delivery of recreational programming to county residents.

The meetings are scheduled as follows:

Wednesday, June 17 at 7 p.m. – The Lodge at Little Seneca Creek, 14500-A Clopper Road, Boyds; and
Wednesday, June 24 at 7 p.m. – Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Center, 2450 Lyttonsville Road, Silver Spring.

Representatives of both departments will be on hand to review the Council’s directive, present a proposed schedule and workplan that meets the Council’s October 1 deadline and solicit feedback on the proposed approach. Participants will also have an opportunity to voice their opinions and ask questions.

For more information, call 240-777-6800.

# # #

Media Contacts:
Sue Tucker, 240-777-6507
Kelli Holsendolph, 301-650-2866

MEDIA ADVISORY: Department of Parks Dedicates Linda Weiner Memorial on the Capital Crescent Trail This Saturday

Kelli Holsendolph — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:53:57 -0400

BETHESDA, MD—On Saturday, June 6, the Weiner family and the Montgomery County Department of Parks will dedicate the new Linda Weiner Memorial on the Capital Crescent Trail.

Linda Weiner, a former elementary and middle school teacher with the Montgomery County Public Schools system and Sidwell Friends School, passed away August 3, 2004 at age 46 after battling leukemia. In the aftermath of Linda's tragic death, the Weiner family received an outpouring of proposals and suggestions for honoring her life and memory—the most significant being the construction of this memorial on the Capital Crescent Trail. Linda Weiner and her family frequently used the trail for taking walks with friends, rollerblading and biking.

The memorial is an enhancement to the small existing trailhead plaza near Bethesda Avenue and Woodmont Avenue in downtown Bethesda. The new plaza includes a new water fountain, new park benches, granite pavers on the plaza floor, new landscaping and a new brick planter and capstone for additional seating.

At least 70 friends and family members, including several of Linda’s former students, are expected to attend the dedication ceremony Saturday, in addition to Delegate William Bronrott.

Additionally, the dedication date—June 6—is significant because it marks Linda Weiner’s birthday.

WHO:
The Weiner Family
Montgomery County Department of Parks
Delegate William Bronrott

WHAT:
Linda Weiner Memorial Dedication

WHEN:
Saturday, June 6, 2009
11:30 am – 12:30 pm

WHERE:
Capital Crescent Trail
On the corner of Woodmont and Bethesda avenues
Across from the Barnes & Noble in downtown Bethesda

Parking is available in the lot across from the Barnes & Noble and the Ourisman Honda dealership located at 4800 Bethesda Avenue.

# # #

Contact:
Kelli Holsendolph
Media Relations Manager
Montgomery County Department of Parks
301-650-2866

Planners Highlight Montgomery County’s Most Congested Roadways, Document Increased Transit Use in Traffic Trends Report

Valerie Berton — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 11:11:00 -0400

SILVER SPRING – In a report that provides a snapshot of just how long it takes commuters and others to traverse Montgomery County roadways, county transportation planners have ranked the top 10 most congested intersections and roads as the basis for improvements to the local network.

The Highway Mobility Report provides background to local policymakers like County Council members as they weigh funding priorities to improve area transportation networks. The Planning Board uses the report to make decisions about lane, intersection or crosswalk improvements while reviewing development applications.

It should come as no surprise to county motorists that most congestion occurs along busy north-south corridors Rockville Pike, Connecticut Avenue, Georgia Avenue and Colesville Road and east-west connectors like Veirs Mill Road and MD 28. Planners labeled the intersection of Shady Grove Road and Midcounty Highway as the most congested, followed closely by Rockville Pike at West Cedar Lane.

Transportation planners calculate congestion by counting cars and determining average traffic volume in each lane at peak morning and afternoon commuting periods.

View the 2009 Highway Mobility Report and the list of most congested intersections and corridors.

In a departure from previous studies, this year’s Highway Mobility Report, which goes to the Planning Board on Monday, analyzes transit use and pedestrian activity to provide a more holistic view of travel in the county. Reflecting national trends, planners found a 5 percent increase in Metrorail ridership between February 2006 and February 2009. Metrorail ridership was highest at those stations located amid a mix of houses and businesses, such as Silver Spring.

Residents also frequent the county Ride On buses, with heaviest ridership –about 8,000 bus passengers daily – on routes running from Silver Spring to Germantown along the I-270 corridor, and among down-county commercial centers. Ridership in 2008 exceeded the number of passengers – measured by daily average boardings – using Metrorail, demonstrating the importance of Ride On buses to how people get around.

For those who travel by car, the report offers some cause for hope. Two projects now under construction will improve highway mobility. The Intercounty Connector will relieve congestion along Norbeck Road, and extending Montrose Parkway across Rockville Pike will improve mobility in North Bethesda. Two of the top 10 intersections – Rockville Pike at West Cedar Lane and Connecticut Avenue at Jones Bridge Road are recommended for improvement associated with the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) project at Bethesda Naval Hospital.

Who:
Montgomery County Planning Board

What:
Review Highway Mobility Report and transmit to County Council

When:
Approximately 7:30 p.m. Monday, June 8

Where:
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring