Hanson Named Planning Board Chair
On Tuesday, the Montgomery County Council selected Royce Hanson as chairman of the Montgomery County Planning Board. The board advises the Council on critical issues of land use, planning, growth and transportation. As part of the bi-county Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, it also runs the county’s parks system.
Hanson, who lives in Montgomery Village, previously served as Planning Board chairman for 10 years, from 1972 to 1981, and was appointed to the Planning Board in 1971. He was chosen from a field of eight candidates interviewed by the Council for the job, which pays $150,000 a year.
The contract of current chairman Derick Berlage was not renewed in the aftermath of the controversy over Clarksburg Town Center. Clarksburg residents organized to investigate numerous building violations. Some developers had built houses too tall or too close to the street and did not follow through on promised retail, open space and recreational amenities.
During his previous tenure on the Planning Board, Hanson provided leadership for establishment of one of the nation’s most comprehensive and effective growth management systems, which included the area’s first adequate public facilities ordinance and the establishment of the County’s Agricultural Reserve.
Hanson has written widely on land use, sprawl and politics. He chairs the Maryland Environmental Trust and the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Legacy Open Space program.
Bill Includes $75.4 Million for Local Bases
On Friday, Senators Barbara A. Mikulski (D-Md.) and Paul S. Sarbanes (D-Md.) announced that the Senate version of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs 2007 spending bill includes $138 million for important projects at Maryland's military bases, including nearly $75.4 million for facilities in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
The legislation, which has passed the full Senate Appropriations
Committee, contains provisions providing military installations
nationwide with federal funding totaling nearly $94 billion to support new construction costs.
The spending bill includes $5.6 million for the Maryland Army National Guard Readiness Center in Gaithersburg; $29 million for the Strategic Planning & Development Facility at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George's County; $29 million for the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases at Fort Detrick in Frederick; and $11.8 million for the National Maritime Intelligence Center in Suitland.
Montgomery County Cable Fight Continues
On Thursday, Montgomery County took formal action in federal court in response to the lawsuit filed by Verizon. In the lawsuit, Verizon had alleged that the county’s cable franchise system violates federal communications antitrust law as well as the First Amendment. Verizon asked the court to issue an injunction invalidating the county’s cable franchising law and giving the parties 60 days to negotiate an agreement. In response, county officials said the suit is without merit and defended their cable franchising process as one that promotes competition and provides significant consumer protections. They argued that Verizon is trying to gain preferential treatment at the expense of cable customers.
Local Political Events
* Steve Silverman, a Democrat running for county executive, is hosting a meet-and-greet on Thursday, July 27, from 7:30-9 p.m. at the home of John Young in Potomac. The address is 10410 Willowbrook Drive. For more information or to RSVP, contact Rachel Ross at 301-984-0044 or rachelross89@gmail.com.
* Regina Oldak, a Democrat running for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 16, is planning a meet-and-greet for on July 30, from 6-7:30 p.m., at Chalfont Place in Bethesda. If interested in attending, e-mail Reggie@ReginaOldak.com.
* Nancy Floreen, an incumbent Democrat running for County Council at large, will speak to the Potomac Rotary on Wednesday, Aug. 2, from 12:30-1:30 p.m. The event will take place at Amanda Amante Italian restaurant at 9755 Traville Gateway Drive in Rockville.
Gala Casino Night Supports Canal Boat
The Toll Brothers and the Potomac Chamber of Commerce will host a Gala Casino Night and Charity Auction at Potomac View, 10600 Rivers Bend Lane, on Thursday, July 27, from 7-10 p.m. All proceeds from the event will go to the Canal Boat Fund, which will bring a double-decker 19th-century-style passenger boat to the C&O Canal at Great Falls in late August or early September.
See www.BuildACanalBoat.com.
Four Potomac Streams Among County's Dirtiest
Potomac-area streams Cabin John Creek, Little Falls and Minnehaha Branch, Muddy Branch, Watts Branch and Rock Run were all on a list of Montgomery County’s 10 dirtiest streams that was released by a coalition of environmental and community groups last week.
The Stormwater Partners Coalition called on the state of Maryland to set clear limits on how much pollution can be dumped into the county’s waterways, and said that the county’s increasingly polluted streams are a threat to citizens’ health and recreation, and contribute to the degradation of the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and the Chesapeake Bay.
"The rainstorms and floods of the past month only highlighted the fact that stormwater has been ruining our streams for years. It’s like someone drove a bulldozer through the stream banks and adjacent roads," said Bob Goldberg, president of the Greater Goshen Civic Association, near Gaithersburg.
Stormwater runoff, besides exerting powerful erosive action, carries dirt, garbage, oil, grease, and other pollutants from hard surfaces such as roads, driveways and parking lots into storm sewers that empty into nearby streams. Raw sewage is added to the mix when stormwater combines with sewage in cracked sewer pipes, causing a sewage overflow.
The state of Maryland earlier this year listed two-thirds of Montgomery County’s streams as too polluted to support fishing, boating or supply a safe, clean source of drinking water.
Development-linked sediment pollution of Watts Branch has prompted the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to propose a $15 million intake pipe project further out in the Potomac River to get cleaner drinking water for county residents.
"This is the cost of not preventing stormwater pollution," said Ginny Barnes, who lives along Watts Branch and is president of the West Montgomery County Citizens Association.
Police Investigate Bethesda Armed Robbery
Detectives from the Montgomery County Police 2nd District Investigative Section are investigating the armed robbery of a man in a parking garage in Bethesda last week.
On Sunday, July 16, at approximately 1:30 a.m., a 24-year-old man from Bethesda had just parked his car in the parking garage located behind the Chelsea Towers at 7401 Westlake Terrace in Bethesda and got out of his car, when he was approached by an unknown male. The suspect displayed a gun and demanded money. The victim gave the suspect some money, but was then forced at gunpoint to drive to an ATM in the Rockville area where he was made to withdraw additional money. He was then told to drive to the Seven-Eleven store at 11530 Rockville Pike in Rockville, which is across from the White Flint Metro station. There, a second attempt to withdraw money from an ATM was unsuccessful. The subject then fled on foot in an unknown direction, but investigators believe he may have escaped by catching a Metro train.
The suspect is described as a black male, in his late 20s to early 30s, with a round face and a large build, without being considered overweight. He was wearing gloves with the fingers cut out. He had facial hair described as a "patchy" beard.
Detectives believe that this armed robbery and the armed robbery/shooting that occurred in the Air Rights parking garage at 7315 Wisconsin Avenue on June 25, may be related.
Anyone who may have information about this robbery or the suspect is asked to call the Montgomery County Police 2nd District’s Criminal Investigations Division at 301-657-0112. Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers of Montgomery County toll-free at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477). Crime Solvers will pay a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information provided to them.
County Expands Property Tax Program
Montgomery County Council President George Leventhal and County Finance Department Director Tim Firestine joined forces today to highlight the expanded Property Tax Credit program designed to help county residents who are caught between modest incomes and rising property tax assessments.
The Homeowners Property Tax Credit Program was recently expanded by the County Council. Eligible households who can earn up to $60,000 — and who have assets of less than $200,000, not including their home or retirement accounts — can apply for a tax credit that averaged nearly $900 last year.
Rockwood Manor to Host Women’s Retreat
Montgomery County Parks is hosting an outdoor Weekend Retreat for Women,
Friday, Sept. through Sunday, Sept. 10 at Rockwood Manor Park located at 11001 MacArthur Boulevard, near Great Falls in Potomac.
Retreat participants will enjoy catered meals, overnight accommodations, and a variety of seminars and outdoor activities. During the weekend, women can select from the following activities: kayaking on the C&O Canal, bird watching, nature photography, nature journaling, meditation, yoga, fishing, introduction to archeology, nature hikes, and a potted plant workshop.
For instruction, program materials, meals, lodging, and evening campfires featuring guest speakers, the all-inclusive retreat fee is $200 per person for shared cabins or $250 for semi-private guest rooms. Advance registration and payment are required, and space is limited. Registration forms, activity descriptions, and more information on Rockwood Manor are available online at www.WeHaveTheWhere.com or by calling Helen Aument at 301-299-5026.
New Parks Department Info Line
The Montgomery County Department of Parks announces its new general information telephone line. Residents and visitors may access the general information line by dialing 301-495-2595.
Residents and visitors can choose to be connected to the Parks Permits Office to reserve shelters and ballfields or to the ParkPASS help desk to get information on classes and programs offered through the department of parks. The line also provides callers with other important contact information, including which number they should call to report maintenance problems in the parks.
Residents may also apply for a park permit, register for a class or program offered through the Department of Parks online at www.MontgomeryParks.com.
Triathletes Make Wishes Come True
The Make-A-Wish Triathlon at Sea Colony is a swim-bike-run competition for up to 1,000 athletes at Sea Colony Resort, Bethany Beach, Del. on Sunday, Sept. 24. This USA Triathlon-sanctioned event features an ocean swim, scenic bike ride and exciting along the beach. The event concludes with a family-style picnic and awards ceremony at the waterfront in Bethany Beach.
For more information, please visit midatlantic.wish.org or call Stephanie Holland at 301-962-9474.