Meeting on October 12, 2022 | College Gardens Civic Association

COLLEGE GARDENS CIVIC ASSOCIATION
Fall MEETING MINUTES
October 12, 2022

This was a hybrid meeting with 21 people attending in-person; and about 15 members participating via phone or video link.

The meeting was called to order at 7 p.m. by the President of the College Gardens Civic Association o(CGCA) John Mosely Hayes (JMH).

Introduction and Proposed Meeting Agenda (JMH):

JMH introduced the other CGCA officers: Chaula Butterworth (Vice President); Jennifer Weiland (JW, Treasurer); Gamal (Jimmy) El-Masry (Secretary); and Tom Miner (Immediate Past-President and Exofficial)

JMH then introduced the meetings speakers –

Ken Hoffman, primary CGCA City of Rockville’s Comprehensive Master Plan 2040 (CMP) point person; Akiva Liberman, secondary CGCA CMP point person
LT. Bill Nieberding – City of Rockville Police Report point person
Mark Pierzchala – City Council Representative, CG resident and former CGCA President – City update
James Hedrick of the Rockville Housing Enterprises (RHE), for update about the RHE purchase of the Scarborough Square Apartments
Christopher Meyers, Jane Lyons and Katie Gerbes City’s CMP team

Agenda:
– Treasurer Report

– Police Report

– City Updates – Discussion of RHE Acquisition of Scarborough Square Apartments and other info (e.g. Deer mitigation update)

– Directory info update

– City Comprehensive Master Plan (CMP) Project Prioritization Session

– New Business

It was proposed to use the second hour of the meeting for the CMP Project Prioritization discussion.

Treasurer’s Report (JW): JW reported that since the last meeting in May 2022, the CGCA had paid out expenses for paper copies used by block captains of $54.44; and collected dues for the electronic directory project (see agenda item No. 5) of about $2,150.00. As of October 12, 2022, the CGCA had a positive balance of $5,679.11 at hand.

Police Report (Lieutenant Bill Nieberding, Lt. (BN)): BN reported that he joined the Rockville Police in his current capacity as a member of the Command Staff in July 2022. There was not much in terms of crime to report in our area. There were some reports of suspicious cars parked around the Woodley Swimming Pool after dark, but they turned out to be harmless. There was a fire incident at the College Gardens Park Gazebo. The fire was quickly extinguished and blown into the pond; which made an investigation of the fire source and possible instigators very difficult. There was also a recent report of a naked person in the neighborhood, who was probably suffering from mental illness. He was taken by the police to a local hospital for evaluation.
In the ensuing questions and answers session (Q&A), Lt. BN explained that there had been a marked increase in incidents where guns were involved, rising from 7 per year in 2021 to more than 30 in the first 9 months of 2022. This probably reflected the new reality after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down New York’s restrictions on the carrying of concealed weapons, and Governor Hogan subsequent loosening of similar restrictions in Maryland. Other issues discussed were the need for adequate street lighting to avert crime in some areas; and increased occurrence of cars rolling through, and not respecting, STOP signs at key intersections.

City of Rockville Update (Mark Pierzchala, Member of the Rockville City Council):

On the widening of the I-270 with toll lanes, the Maryland chapter of the Sierra Club and three other environmental advocacy groups filed a federal lawsuit claiming deficiencies in the proposal’s environmental analysis. The City of Rockville has also put in a request for additional information and data. While these new initiatives may delay the project, in reality no one can really tell what its fate will be. Even though both gubernatorial candidates have stated on the record that they would consider significant changes to the project, the Maryland Board of Public Works may still approve parts of the project before Governor Hogan’s term ends in January 2023.
On the overpopulation of deer, there is no easy solution. This matter has been discussed at some 7-8 City Council meetings with no clear resolution in sight. Deer overpopulation is a problem across the Eastern Seaboard, and open culling is very difficult in Montgomery County and Rockville with such a high and dense human population.
During the Q&A session that ensued, one participant complained about large trucks parking on the College Plaza parking lot; and another inquired as to when the bumpy Nelson Street would be resurfaced, particularly from around College Parkway to West Montgomery Avenue.

Scarborough Square Apartments (James Hedrick, JH): (Summary about the apartment acquisition was sent via the CGCA Google Group prior to the meeting) JH of the Rockville Housing Enterprises (RHE, which serves as the City of Rockville’s agency to acquire and manage affordable housing) explained that RHE will be purchasing, on behalf of the City of Rockville, the Scarborough Square’s 122 apartment units which are currently owned by a private investor. The deal is likely to be finalized in early December 2022, after which more details will be made public. RHE will continue to maintain the property as affordable housing for its current tenants, including for larger families. RHE is planning to upgrade the property in about 2-3 years (façade, landscaping, possibly new roofing, etc.), when the refinancing of the purchase is envisaged. A summary about the apartment acquisition was sent via the CGCA Google Group prior to the meeting.

Neighborhood directory update (Jennifer Weiland, JW): JW explained that about 90 percent of the names, addresses and household data had been entered into the updated electronic directory that will be made available to members in good standing (gave every two years CGCA dues – currently $10) as an electronic file. The electronic directory has the advantage that it can be updated on an ongoing basis. Only a few block captains have yet to hand in their collected data. For those who prefer a printed directory, a special CGCA work group led by CGCA member Karen Carp will be provided the electronic directory file so the work group can produce a printed version.

City of Rockville’s Comprehensive Master Plan 2040 (CMP). (Project list and previous CGCA member submission suggestion letter to city regarding CMP sent via the CGCA Google Group prior to the meeting) Christopher Meyers, Jane Lyons and Katie Gerbes from the CMP made a presentation about the CMP, emphasizing that this was an evolving and living document that was intended to guide City planners over the next decades. For Planning Area 5, which encompasses College Gardens and Woodley Gardens, the Plan currently includes five projects as described below and the meeting participants gave feedback about these projects. CGCA CMP point person Ken Hoffman gave additional background and a synthesis of CGCA feedback to the City regarding the CMP so far, including input about Area 7.

Project 1: Create a new vehicle entrance from West Gude Drive only to the Rockville Senior Center’s northern parking lot, without any drive-through access to the neighborhood. There was general support from attendants.
Project 2: Reopen pedestrian and bicycle connection from Princeton Place to the Montgomery College campus. There was firm opposition from immediate neighbors, but also general support from other members who welcomed the safer and quicker access that such an entrance would allow to the Montgomery College campus.
Project 3: Redesign and construct a safer bicycle and pedestrian access from Yale Place to the Millennium Trail along West Gude Drive. There was general support from attendants who emphasized the current dangerously steep and sharp turn onto the Trail with limited visibility.
Project 4. Explore the feasibility for one or more new bicycle and pedestrian paths across Upper Watts Branch Park to connect the College Gardens and Woodley Gardens neighborhoods. There was widespread opposition to any new paved paths that would change the character of the park. Some members were open to exploring one safe wooden bridge crossing or stepping stones over the creek at the head of an existing dirt path. Participants were opposed to any type of paved/developed trail and did not want trails to become bike trails, but rather left as natural and pedestrian oriented as possible.
Project 5: Explore the feasibility of a new bicycle and pedestrian path connecting the Upper Watts Branch Park to West Gude Drive, opposite Gaither Road. Most attendants were indifferent, but some more immediate neighbors opposed this project fearing that to do so could attract unwanted foot traffic. Participants were opposed to any type of paved/developed trail and did not want trails to become bike trails, but rather left as natural and pedestrian oriented as possible.

The CMP Team encouraged CGCA members to visit the City of Rockville webpage, fill out the survey, and provide any comments on the draft CMP by October 19, 2022. There will also be future opportunities to comment on subsequent drafts of the CMP. The CMP can be accessed and viewed at:
(https://www.rockvillemd.gov/203/Rockville-2040-Comprehensive-Plan-Update)

(Post meeting – The CGCA sent out a message from the City CMP Team with a link to the CMP project prioritization survey, an Area 5 project summary and links to the CMP).

The meeting ended at 9:15 pm