Dear Neighbors:
There’s a lot happening in the City, so I’m passing on some announcements and other updates separate from my regular blog.
COVID-19 Information. Some residents have doubtless already seen the Q & A about vaccine supplies and the vaccination process released yesterday by Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich. Given all the uncertainty and confusion about how and where to get vaccinated, I highly recommend reading through the document if you haven’t already done so: https://montgomerycomd.blogspot.com/2021/01/message-from-county-executive-marc_28.html
In addition, the City Manager included in her comments in this past week’s Council meeting (https://documents.takomaparkmd.gov/government/city-manager/city-manager-comments/2020/City%20Manager%20Comments%20_%2001.27.2021.pdf) a number of important updates on COVID, including some useful information on vaccinations.
Community Conversation on City Manager Search Process. With Suzanne Ludlow scheduled to retire on June 30, residents can participate in a discussion on the skills, experience, values, etc. we’re looking for as a community in our next City Manager on Thursday, February 4 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM: https://takomaparkmd.gov/news-alert/join-us-for-a-community-conversation-on-our-journey-for-the-next-city-manager-thursday-feb-4-at-600-pm/
Reimagining Public Safety Task Force Applications Open Until February 5. The deadline for submitting applications to serve on the Task Force has been extended to February 5. This past week there was an informational meeting with information about the Task Force and what would be involved in serving on it. The video of the informational session is now available to review along with other details on the Task Force: Reimagining Public Safety Task Force.
Montgomery County Zoning Proposal. My blog from last week (http://www.councilmemberkovar.com/blog/2021/1/26/january-27-2021-city-council-meeting-agenda-amp-more) includes a statement with my thoughts on the proposal put forward by County Councilmember Jawando to permit construction of duplexes, triplexes, and small apartments within a mile of Metro stations in areas throughout the County currently zoned for single family homes. The County Council is holding a hearing on this topic on February 11. For that hearing, all testimony slots are taken, and only the wait list is available: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/calendar.html?trumbaEmbed=view%3Devent%26eventid%3D150269797. The County Planning Board has scheduled a hearing for February 4: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/agenda-item/february-04-2021/. The Planning Board staff has just released its analysis of the proposal: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/ZTA-20-07_Final.pdf
Silver Spring Intermediate Park Construction. As residents may know, the County is planning a major renovation of SSI Park (which lies between Philadelphia and Boston Avenues across the street from Montgomery College at the City’s border with Silver Spring). An initial phase of the project -- involving lowering the retaining wall by the driveway of the private residence on Boston Ave. directly adjacent to the park, plus some re-grading of the park in that area -- will start in the first or second week of February. The work is expected to last about six weeks and will involve some restrictions on parking and use of the nearby sidewalk, at least during times when the work is being done.
For the larger renovation project, County staff are continuing to work on the design package with the expectation that the construction drawings will be done by early summer. Then it will take a couple months to finalize a contractor, with construction probably starting at the end of summer or early fall. You can see details about the project here: https://www.montgomeryparks.org/projects/directory/silver-spring-intermediate-neighborhood-park-improvement-plan/
Updated Takoma Junction Development Documents. As part of its ongoing design work, Junction developer NDC has submitted another round of documents to the County, which you can view through the links below. The most current documents are dated January 15 (there are several dozen) plus two dated January 19 and January 25. Many of the documents are technical drawings, but some are also full color renderings, height indicators, narrative descriptions, and staff comments, which may be of wider interest. I’ve flagged those below.
January 15, 2021 Documents
· Version 7 (pdf. 3): ground floor plan
· Version 3 (pdfs. 8, 9, 10, 12): front and rear view images
· Version 2 (pdf. 13): height
· Version 7 (pdf. 1): narrative Statement of Justification
· Version 1 (pdf. 16): traffic study responses
· January 19 -- County Dept. of Permitting Services comments
· January 15, 2021: Version 7, pdf. 1: State of Justification (similar to above justification)
· January 25, 2021: Letter from County Dept. of Transportation
Community Quality of Life Grants. The City is currently accepting applications for its Community Quality of Life Grants Program through Thursday, March 11. Projects are eligible for up to $10,000 in financial support, for projects taking place between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. For more information and to apply, go to: Community Grants.
Dance Exchange Classes for Older Adults. Join Takoma Park’s own Dance Exchange, in partnership with the City, for a FREE weekly online dance class for older adults. Led by Dance Exchange artists on Zoom, the Dance On creative aging class celebrates aging with dance, creativity, and connection. All abilities and experience welcome. Learn more and register at bit.ly/danceonclass. For questions, call 301-270-6700 or email mail@danceexchange.org.
WSSC North Takoma Surchage Study. If you live in and around North Takoma, you may have received a letter from WSSC asking you to identify if you have an “area way” drain on your property (typically a drain in your yard or a bulkhead area). You can see photos of what these drains look like in the City Manager comments link at the beginning of the COVID information above. The study is being conducted to help WSSC address back-up flooding (or “surcharges” into basements and toilets during rainstorms.
Letters were sent to many properties on the following streets: Piney Branch Road, Hodges Lane, and the following Avenues: Takoma, Chicago, Chestnut, Buffalo, Baltimore, Birch, Holly, Cedar, Maple, Hancock, Willow, Spruce, Eastern, Boston, Albany, New York, Grant, Park, Dogwood, Darwin, Sherman, Valley View, and Lee. WSSC is requesting your assistance in indicating whether you have one of these drains on your property. If you have an area way drain on your property, please take a picture of it and email it, along with your house address, to Zachary Tucker, of Brown and Caldwell (the WSSC contractor) at BCBeltsville@BrwnCald.com. If you do NOT have an area way drain on your property, please email that information as well.
Maple Avenue Complete Streets Redesign. The City received a grant from the Greater Washington Council of Governments to study redesigning Maple Avenue. This project is in the early stages, with two focus group meetings having been held. There will be initial opportunities for resident input. You can see background on the project here: https://takomaparkmd.gov/government/housing-and-community-development/planning-and-community-development/maple-avenue-complete-streets-redesign/
Peter Kovar, Takoma Park City Council, Ward One
240-319-6281; www.councilmemberkovar.com
(He, Him, His)
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