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Call to Order and Introductions

Tom Miner, President, called the meeting to order and introduced the guest speakers.

Treasurer’s Report

Bob Mills, Treasurer, reported that our current balance is $4,816.20. The only activity to the account is the addition of $.60 interest.

National Night Out recap

John Mosely Hayes, Vice President, shared the date for this year’s combined College Gardens and Woodley Gardens West Civic Associations’ National Night out (NNO). . It will take place on Tuesday, August 6th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Hamburgers (meat and vegetarian), hotdogs, Carmen’s Italian Ice, cold water, children’s activities, and live music from the Rockville German Band are provided. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share. A Manna food collection box will be there. City officials will be stopping by throughout the evening. NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes a strong police-community partnership and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live and work. As in previous years, we always need volunteers to help with grilling, setting up and cleaning up, taking the food donations, children’s activities, and serving the Italian Ice. After the event, any suitable left over food is taken to a homeless shelter.

Please let us know if you can volunteer to help, please drop John a note with your phone number. Thanks! johnmosely.hayes@gmail.com

Police Beat

Lt. Brian Paul of the Rockville Police Department says our crime stats are awesome due to being a ‘destination neighborhood’. College Gardens is not used as a cut through to get to other places.

The guardrail on Nelson Street has been evaluated for repair and the city is awaiting the final cost estimate. Repair should happen thereafter.

The house that had been burgled has had an arrest, and is pending trial.

A neighbor reported an incipient pothole that keeps appearing on College Parkway between Clemson Court and Yale Place.

Another neighbor inquired about removing Neighborhood watch signs that are no longer relevant or simply old.

Planning and Development

Deane Mellander, Nicole Walters, Ricky Berker, City of Rockville Planning Department – Gave an overview of the major proposed changes to the city standards for single family home accessory buildings and single family home accessory apartments.

A concern was raised about the neighborhood looking like a “shantytown” if everyone had accessory apartments and/or accessory buildings. Mr. Mulhander says there are provisions that will prevent such a thing from happening. A meeting on June 12 will allow testimony, as will the Council meeting in July. “Tiny Houses will be allowed – dwellings must be attached to the ground. Accessory buildings must have the same address as the main house.

The City does not have general right of entry to a single-family dwelling, but does for rental properties. “Air bnb” is driving some of the concern for the City. It’s important for rental properties to be safe, legal, and taxable. Accessory apartment has a stove/range, sanitary and sleeping arrangements. No stove or range means it’s not an accessory apartment. Proposed revision will allow you to have a walkway that’s covered and attaches to the backdoor of the house. Sheds are accessory buildings but are portable and usually don’t need a permit.

City guidelines do not allow Recreational Vehicles (RV) parked next to a single-family home (under the oversized vehicle regulations) to be used as residences in their own right. If people are visiting and staying overnight in the RV for a few nights that’s allowable.

Would an accessory building need its own sewer and water? No, it all is off the same water and sewer line as the main house.

Timeline for voting on this? Potentially enact something by the end of the year.

Planning Commission for 2040 plan’s last meeting is June 4, in the Council chambers.

Mark Pierzchala was association president when the last updates were made (2008). Accessory dwelling units are a way to address a big problem in Rockville, finding the right balance between alleviating the lack of affordable housing while also helping prevent situations that are unsafe and/or illegal when the standards for allowing more than one family to live in a single-family home are exceeded.

Miner’s Note: Click Here for A CITIZEN’S GUIDE to Zoning in Rockville

Public Works

Craig Simoneau, City of Rockville Public Works Department – Under the proposed state plan for expanding 270, the Gude bridge is under considerations to become a modified 270 highway interchange (exit going north on 270, enter going south) similar to how the Westlake Terrace bridge to Montgomery Mall is configured. Mr. Simoneau also described how an easy way to see what is being proposed as far as the “footprint” of to be modified 270 corridor, that the Option 2 vs. the Option 5 plans that are available on the internet is a method for seeing the extremes from a low amount of land being taking away to a larger amount of land being use respectively. As far as how Toll Lanes would be handled he explained that it has yet to be well defined.

June 14 is deadline to make comments via the web site. What does this mean for traffic on our local roads? What do the alternatives mean for our streets? Impacted noise area is the largest area on the map. Sound walls will be the likely solution to minimize the sound effects to properties.

Six build alternatives remaining on web site, and each alternative will show all possible impacts online. Currently no plans to take any residences or property with the alternatives.

Alternative #5 is the widest, while Alternative #2 is the narrowest of the options currently under consideration.

Timeline – after comments the deadline is currently deferred. Board of Public Works would need to authorize project. Reprieve in place but for how long?

The website that shows the proposed changes and where comments can be submitted is: https://495-270-p3.com

Mark Pierzchala, City of Rockville Councilmember

The current mayor and council authorized a pilot program for the culling of deer in select areas in the city. Staff are preparing a pilot archery deer hunt for the fall of 2020. Reviews are being made of what is needed to harvest deer within the confines of the city. Archery will allow culling the deer in a closer proximity to residential buildings as opposed to a hunt using rifles.

The pilot program will require 3 or 4 ordinance changes to enact, and consultations with state and county officials.

The city conducts a deer count every few years. We are extremely over the carrying capacity of what the deer population should be.

Can any citizen participation encourage quick movement? Per Mark, a lot of what remains is legal work, not will.

The City Council has passed a budget, but could not agree on 5th member to replace Julie Palakovich Carr. The next election is November, which will be the first vote-by-mail election for Rockville. Ballots mailed to voters in early October, and need to be received at City Hall by Election Day. A drop box will be at City Hall on Election Day.

Viability of Rockville Town Square and downtown area – slow development process, a need for more multifamily buildings to provide a base, and parking restrictions are some factors getting in the way of success.

Georgetown Hill and Woodley Gardens pool complex fire has approximately 2 months more before the investigation is complete. It is possible that Georgetown Hill would like to buy the property.

Adjournment at 8:49

Number of attendees: 27.

College Gardens Civic Association
Spring 2018 Meeting
Wednesday, May 16, 2018

(Spring 2018 Meeting Minutes – final)

Tom Miner, board president, called the meeting to order, and introduced the board members and guest speakers for the meeting. We show 67 attendees signed in.

Welcome and Board Updates

Brian Paul, lieutenant with Rockville Police Department (RPD): College Gardens (CG) is a neighborhood with a low-crime rate. One crime deterrent benefit to the neighborhood is that it is enclosed, meaning it isn’t used as a short cut to get to other places. To help minimize what petty crimes there are: lock your doors, leave porch lights on, call when something odd is seen, don’t wait! Leave nothing visible in cars. Report burned out streetlights to RPD via web site or phone call. A metal pole means the city oversees a streetlight, a light on a wooden pole should be reported to PEPCO.

President’s Note: Here’s an online form to report malfunctioning streetlights: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/formcenter/public-works-8/report-a-streetlight-outage-or-problem-52

Bob Mills, treasurer’s report: CGCA has a bank balance of $5340.39, which is $320.80 more than our balance at the date of our fall membership meeting. The increase is due mostly to the sale of additional directories.

John Mosely Hayes, vice president: National Night Out (NNO) is funded through the sale of directories. NNO builds community bonding between the neighborhood and police. Woodley Gardens West has joined us for the last two years. John issued a call for volunteers (clean up, activities, set up). This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, August 7. Please contact John or Tom if you can help.

Rockville 2040 Transportation Plan:

Rob DiSpirito, city manager: applauded CG for having a beautiful, well-kept neighborhood. He stated the purpose tonight is not to advocate for any one idea, but to gather feedback from the community.

David Levy, long-range planner, said the last update to the city’s comprehensive plan was done in 2002. A master plan is required for zoning, land use, transportation, community facilities, environment, preservation elements, etc. Open houses and listening sessions for the master plan started in 2015. Feedback included: we love our neighborhoods, it’s peaceful; I wish we had better north/south or east/west movement, King Farm wanted access to CGES; others wanted easier access to the senior center. Planning and Public Works started looking at options. The study is looking at which connections to discuss with the planning commission, which connections are worthy of considering. The study will come out in June. The question we ask is, “Do we believe the benefits of connectivity outweigh the costs”?

The following discussion references the image below. The full document can be found at this link. http://www.rockvillemd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21729

1.4 Connecting Rutgers to Montgomery College via North Campus Dr. has been ruled out. The college doesn’t want that access to its campus for security reasons.

1.3 Study potential benefits and impacts of connecting Yale Place to West Gude Drive. A lively discussion took place concerning this possibility.

• Tom Murphy (owner since 1979) shared that a fight took place in 1980 to open Yale Place to West Gude, which was being built at that time. The neighborhood was assured by the mayor, Bill Hanna, that this connection would be a non-starter. He had it included as an ordinance in the master plan. Today, King Farm is interested in having this access to CGES.

It was noted that the master plan in 1982 said no access would be given to Yale Place via Gude Dr. In 2002 that ordinance wasn’t included in the master plan. Mayor and council can override ordinances if they feel it’s necessary.

• Huei—Fung Tsai asked the speakers how connecting Yale and Gude is a good idea. No real benefit to the neighborhood was stated.
• Scott Butterworth asked if the current council feels committed to Bill Hanna’s decision? Bridget Newton, mayor, issued an emphatic yes.

Rob DiSpirito, city manager, said option 1.3 will come off the table for future planning sessions to much applause and appreciation.

A potential connection from Piccard Drive into the Senior Center will help people north of the center to access the Senior Services. To eliminate the through traffic concerns of Woodley Gardens residents, it was noted it would be accessible only to the back-parking lot and through traffic would not be allowed. A barrier could be installed, and it could be opened only by emergency vehicles.

3.2 Gude + 355 intersection: this is not a city-maintained road. Improvements to this intersection have been in the works since 2002, and are making their way up the list of improvements. The commission can advocate for that improvement but suggests we contact MDOT to request these changes, which will let those in charge know the community is asking for the change or improvements.

3.1 intersection of 270 and Gude – a lot of unsolicited support from businesses and outer neighborhoods (like those along East Gude Dr.) to have easier access to 270. The possibility of a limited interchange without full service was noted as an option that is under consideration.

Environmental documentation is being conducted concerning Gov. Hogan’s plan to widen 270. There is room in the medians and breakdown lanes to accommodate and/or increase the capacity of 270. Mayor and council sent strongly worded letter against any widening in our area.

Other planning questions not related directly to the Rockville 2040 Transportation Plan

Is there an obligation to build ES in King Farm? MCPS is in charge of building, not neighborhoods or city. Send comments or suggestions to MCPS administration.

The planning commission is meeting on Wednesday, May 23. Mark added that the ultimate arbiter are the mayor and council. The neighborhood must remain vigilant in representing our interests.

Rob DiSpirito said a summer council meeting will include a discussion of the deer population in Rockville. All are welcome!

Could Anderson Park be made into a dog park? Rec and Parks is going to look at various parks for their usage.

Keep alleviating traffic by emphasizing walking and biking.

Kudos were given to the speakers about the improvements to the woods. It looks beautiful, and has created a better flow for the stream.

A question was asked about a bridge to connect the woods by CG to Woodley Gardens. Pedestrian bridges are not outrageously expensive, and possible. But many neighbors voiced concern that the woods and Upper Watts Branch be left in a natural state. Send a marked-up map to Parks & Recs if you have any suggestions.

Tom Miner closed the meeting by reminding everyone that Rockville’s Hometown Holidays Music Festival is coming up over the Memorial Day weekend. The Digits, a local CG rock band, is playing there on Sunday, May 27th at 2 PM.

The meeting ended at 8:43 p.m.