Maryland Public Service Commission to Host Tuesday, Feb. 4 Public Hearing on Solar Plant Proposed for County

 

The Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) is hosting a public hearing at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4, to solicit comments on a proposal by Chaberton Solar Sugarloaf I, LLC to construct a 4.0 MW solar generating facility in Montgomery County. The hearing will be held at the Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department, located at 19801 Beallsville Road in Beallsville. The first public comment hearing in this case was held on July 10, 2024.  

In March 2024, Chaberton Solar Sugarloaf applied to the PSC for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), which grants an applicant the authority to construct an energy-generating station or high-voltage transmission line in Maryland. According to the application, the solar facility, intended as part of Maryland's community solar program, would be built on approximately 16 acres of a nearly 53-acre parcel at 20507 Darnestown Road, near the intersection of Darnestown Road and Dickerson Road, in Dickerson.

The hearing will include a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. To participate virtually, please sign up in advance to speak by sending an email to psc.pulj@gmail.com by noon on Monday, Feb. 3. Participants will receive an email with the link to join in on the virtual platform. Otherwise, a recording of the hearing will be available on the Public Utility Law Judge Division's YouTube channel. The hearing will include a presentation by the developer, followed by brief statements from the Power Plant Research Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Montgomery County Government, the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission' the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel and the Commission’s technical staff, followed by an opportunity for members of the public to comment on the proposed project. 

In addition to the hearing, written comments can be sent electronically Local residents and other interested members of the public are again invited to comment on a proposal by Chaberton Solar Sugarloaf I, LLC to construct a 4.0 MW solar generating facility in Montgomery County. The hearing will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 4 at 6:30 p.m. at the Upper Montgomery County Volunteer Fire Department, 19801 Beallsville Road in Beallsville. Public Utility Law Judge Jennifer J. Grace will preside. The first public comment hearing in this case was held on July 10, 2024.  

In March 2024, Chaberton Solar Sugarloaf applied to the Maryland Public Service Commission for what is known as a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), which grants an applicant the authority to construct an energy generating station or high-voltage transmission line in Maryland. According to the application, the solar facility, intended as part of Maryland's community solar program, would be built on approximately 16 acres of a nearly 53-acre parcel at 20507 Darnestown Road, near the intersection of Darnestown Road and Dickerson Road, in Dickerson.

The hearing will include a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. To participate virtually, please sign up in advance to speak by sending an email to psc.pulj@gmail.com by noon on Monday, Feb. 3. Participants will receive an email with the link to join in on the virtual platform. A recording of the hearing will be available on the Public Utility Law Judge Division's YouTube channel.

The hearing will include a presentation by the developer, followed by brief statements from the Power Plant Research Program of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources; Montgomery County; the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission; the Maryland Office of People’s Counsel and the Commission’s Technical Staff, followed by an opportunity for members of the public to comment on the proposed project. 

In addition to the hearing, written comments can be sent electronically by Friday, Feb. 7, through the Commission’s online portal at https://www.psc.state.md.us/make-a-public-comment/ or by mail. Comments sent by mail should be addressed to: Jamie Bergin, Chief Clerk, Maryland Public Service Commission, William Donald Schaefer Tower, 6 St. Paul Street, 16th floor, Baltimore, MD 21202. All comments should reference Case No. 9726. In addition to the online docket, the application is available for public review at the Poolesville Town Hall, located at 19721 Beall Street in Poolesville. 

Read the full news release on the Public Service Commission’s website.

Virtual Meeting on Bradley Boulevard (MD 191) at Wilson Lane (MD 188) Intersection Improvements in Bethesda, to be Held on Wednesday, Sept. 4

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a virtual public information meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4, to discuss the proposed Bradley Boulevard (MD 191) at Wilson Lane (MD 188) Intersection Improvements project in Bethesda. Residents will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions.

This project consists of widening both sides of Bradley Boulevard (MD 191) and Wilson Lane (MD 188) and constructing left-turn-only lanes for all approaches at the intersection. In addition, new drainage structures and culverts will be installed to improve drainage in the area. Stormwater management facilities will be constructed to treat stormwater runoff in accordance with State and County regulations. New concrete curb and gutter, sidewalk, pavement markings and landscaping will be installed. The traffic signal will be reconstructed.

At the meeting, MCDOT will present project details, costs and schedules. The department will be seeking comments and will answer questions. This project has been approved and construction is scheduled for fall 2024.

Online registration is required to attend. On the morning of the meeting, an invitation with a Zoom link will be sent via email to those who registered. All information provided will become a matter of public record.

Interpreter services will be provided upon request with five business days advance notice. To request interpreter services, email Lori Main at lori.main@montgomerycountymd.gov or call 240-777-7271.

Learn more about MCDOT’s traffic engineering and construction projects by visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-traffic.

Community Input for Future New Mural on Glenmont Local Park Activity Building

Montgomery Parks and the Montgomery Parks Foundation, which will commission a mural for the park activity building at Glenmont Local Park, are seeking design ideas for the mural from community members to ensure it reflects the history, values, stories and aspirations of the diverse neighborhood. Community members can provide their input via an online survey open through Aug. 30.

The mural project is made possible by a grant from the Montgomery Parks Foundation.

“We are excited to support this project to bring art to this park while also showcasing the values and culture that are part of this community,” said Katie Rictor, executive director of the Montgomery Parks Foundation. “We are eager for input from the community so we can develop something everyone will love.”

Following analysis of the survey results, Montgomery Parks will issue a call to artists to submit proposals. More details will be available on the park project page.

The Glenmont Local Park activity building is one of 19 park activity buildings in the Montgomery Parks system. Park activity buildings offer convenient and affordable options for residents to host gatherings. The Glenmont Park building, a mid-20th Century modern design, was constructed in 1954 and renovated in 2018.

The mural will be visible from Randolph Road.

Town Hall Meeting on Wednesday, July 17, Will Provide Details on Police Department Expanding ‘Drone as a First Responder’ Program to Bethesda

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich and County Council President Andrew Friedson will join District 2 Police Commander Amy Daum and Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Director Peter Fosselman at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, July 17, for a town hall meeting about the upcoming implementation of the County’s “Drone as a First Responder Program” in Bethesda.

Residents can attend in-person or online to learn more about the value of the innovative public safety tool, ask questions and provide feedback.

The town hall will be held in the auditorium at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, which is located at 4301 East-West Highway in Bethesda.

The goal of Montgomery County Police Department’s (MCPD) Drone as First Responder (DFR) Program is to provide air support to 911 or police-generated calls for service in a safe, responsible and transparent manner.

The DFR program is designed to improve police response times, allow MCPD to be more efficient with police resources, provide real-time information to ground officers to allow for better decision-making, assist with de-escalation of incidents to enhance safety for both officers and our community and to assist with locating and apprehending criminal suspects.

The DFR program consists of prepositioning an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) on top of a building within an operational area. When a 911 or police-generated call for service occurs, the UAS will launch and fly to the scene of the call. If ground officers are still needed to respond, the UAS will stay over the scene until the call is stabilized. At that time, the UAS will return to the launch/landing location.

There likely will be times when the DFR may be able to discontinue a ground officer response to a call that would allow officers to divert to other emergency calls or law enforcement activities. The DFR program only will respond to 911 or police generated calls for service and will not be patrolling an area or proactively deployed for other reasons such as surveillance.

The DFR program started in Silver Spring in November 2023 and expanded to Wheaton in February.

Virtual Community Meeting About Plans for Future Bethesda Market Park Development to be Held on Tuesday, June 18

A virtual community meeting about the future of the Bethesda Market Park will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 18. The future park site is adjacent to the Montgomery Farm Women’s Cooperative Market in Downtown Bethesda.

When completed, Bethesda Market Park will become one of the signature urban parks in Montgomery County. It will fulfill the vision of the Bethesda Downtown Sector Plan, which was approved and adopted in 2017. It also will meet the social, active and environmental stewardship goals of Montgomery Parks addressed in the 2022 Park Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan.

The two existing parking lots near the market will be repurposed into a large urban green space, suitable for social gatherings and planned activities for people of all ages.

Montgomery Parks will host the meeting via Zoom at Mocoparks.org/BMPZoom.
Participants may register here for the meeting. Registration is recommended but not required.

During the online meeting, park designers will share a recommended concept plan based on input from community meetings and an online survey during spring 2023.

“We received a lot of great suggestions from the community about amenities for this park—including a stage, open spaces, a dog park, game area and water features,” said Miti Figueredo, director of Montgomery Parks. “We’re excited about creating an engaging, beautiful and active urban park that serves the Bethesda and Chevy Chase communities and park visitors from across the County.”

The Bethesda Market Park development is a public/private partnership between Montgomery Parks, the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, the Town of Chevy Chase and Wisconsin Columbia Venture LLC., owners of the Bethesda Market project. That project is being co-developed by Bernstein Development Corporation and EYA Multifamily.

Proposed Behavioral Health 'Diversion Center' in Rockville to Help Individuals in Crisis to Have Update on Tuesday, May 21

Montgomery County officials will host a project update on the planned "Diversion Center" at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, in the auditorium of the Executive Office Building (EOB) in Rockville. The meeting will also be accessible virtually via Microsoft TEAMS at Diversion Center Project Update. The center, which will be located on Seven Locks Road in Rockville, will treat individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis.

The EOB is located at 101 Monroe Street in Rockville.

County officials participating in the May 21 meeting will include:

• Earl Stoddard, assistant chief administrative officer
• Rolando Santiago, chief, Behavioral Health and Crisis Services, Department of Health and Human Services
• Hamid Omidvar, chief, Division of Building Design and Construction, Department of General Services

The County is opening the diversion center to help reduce the use of emergency rooms and jail. The center will be available to individuals in crisis who are dropped off by emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or police, persons transferred from hospitals, and health and human services Mobile Crisis & Outreach Teams. A team of multidisciplinary professionals will staff the center, including nurses, licensed mental health and addiction professionals, peer specialists and resource navigators.

The center will provide a variety of behavioral health services, including triage, crisis stabilization and warm hand-off referrals to appropriate services. These services are designed to stabilize individuals experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis during the first hours and up to three days. The center will operate 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

An initial public meeting was held in October 2022 to hear from City of Rockville officials and community members. A second meeting, in April 2023, provided an update on questions raised at the October 2022 meeting related to procedures for individuals brought to the diversion center.

At the most recent project update meeting held in July 2023, the community was advised there would be the creation of a Stakeholder Engagement team to incorporate community feedback in the design process, including elements that would improve the neighborhood experience with the site. The team would be made up of individuals from the neighboring community, recovery community, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of General Services and the Department of Correction and Rehabilitation.

Hybrid Informational Meeting on the Forest Glen Passageway Project in Silver Spring to be Held on Thursday, May 16

The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) will hold a hybrid (online and in-person) public information meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 16, to discuss the proposed Forest Glen Passageway project in Silver Spring. The project will provide a new grade-separated connection under Georgia Avenue to improve access to the Forest Glen Metro Station from neighborhoods and institutions located on the east side of Georgia Avenue.

Residents will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions.

The in-person meeting will be held at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission's Wheaton headquarters at 2425 Reedie Drive in Wheaton, Floor 2, Room 2-303.The virtual meeting will take place on Zoom. Registration for the virtual meeting is open. A Zoom link will be emailed to registrants the day of the meeting for participation.

There currently is an underground walkway from the parking and bus area on the northwest quadrant of the intersection to the southwest quadrant. A new connection would be made to the passageway connecting the southwest quadrant to the northeast quadrant. A ramp connection and elevators bring the underground connection to grade on the northeast corner of the intersection.

At the public information meeting, MCDOT will present project details, costs, schedules and obtain public comments and answer questions. Public input is encouraged and may influence the design of the project.

Residents are encouraged to visit the project website and provide feedback via the online comment form or via email to Project Manager Rebecca Park at Rebecca.Park@montgomerycountymd.gov. All information provided, including questions and comments, will become public record.

Interpreter services will be provided upon request with five business days advance notice by contacting Lori Main by email at lori.main@montgomerycountymd.gov or calling 240-777-7271.

Learn more about MCDOT’s engineering and construction projects by visiting montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-dte.

Resident Input Sought on Prioritizing Key Health Needs at Meetings Scheduled Throughout April

The Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) will hold in-person public meetings throughout April to seek resident input to prioritize the important health needs identified in the 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). During these events, attendees will receive a brief presentation on the identified needs and then participate in a paper voting process to prioritize them.

Registration is required to attend the meetings and can be completed online via Sign Up Genius or by calling 240-777-4385, Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Call to register if language interpretation or other assistance is needed.

“It is important for our residents to be actively involved in prioritizing the important health needs identified in the 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment, so that they can contribute their insights and shape the direction of our health initiatives,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “Through this collaborative process, we can ensure that our resources are allocated effectively to address the most pressing health concerns facing our community.”

The remaining meetings will take place at the following libraries:

• Aspen Hill Community Library, Medium Room. 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville. Monday, April 22. 6-7 p.m.
• Chevy Chase Community Library, Medium Room. 8005 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase. Wednesday, April 24. 6-7 p.m.
• Gaithersburg Regional Library, Medium Room 2. 18330 Montgomery Village Ave., Gaithersburg. Monday, April 29. 6-7 p.m.

Significant health needs identified in the CHNA are listed below in alphabetical order:

• Access to Behavioral Health and Substance Use Services
• Access to Human Services Needs, such as Education, Income, Housing, Employment, Food and Personal Social Services
• Access to Parks, Public Spaces, Wellness and Recreation
• Access to Quality Dental Health Services
• Access to Quality Primary Care Health Services
• Access to Specialty and Extended Care
• Access to Technology
• Access to Transportation
• Active Living and Healthy and Nutritious Eating
• Cultural and Language Competence
• Environmental Health
• Health and Human Services System Navigation
• Injury and Disease Prevention and Management
• Maternal and Early Childhood Health
• Pedestrian Safety
• Safe and Violence-Free Environment
• Social Associations and Community Connectedness
• Waste Management

Language and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be available at each meeting upon request and must be requested when people register. Requests for interpretation must be made five business days before the scheduled event.

A staffed children’s corner and light refreshments will be available at each meeting. Meetings have a registration limit of 50 participants, except for the event at the Maggie Nightingale Library, where the limit is 20 participants due to room capacity.

If people cannot attend in person, but want to vote on the significant health needs, they are encouraged to do so online via Survey Monkey through April 30. Surveys are available in six languages in addition to English and are available at the following links:

• Amharic: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Amharic
• Chinese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Chinese
• English: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HR35X8D
• French: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/frnch4
• Korean: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Krean
• Spanish: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Spnish1
• Vietnamese: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/Vietmese

For questions or comments, email Elizabeth Beck at Elizabeth.Beck@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Future improvements to Dalewood Drive Neighborhood Park in Wheaton to be Discussed at Virtual Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 13

A virtual community meeting to discuss proposed renovations at Dalewood Drive Neighborhood Park in Wheaton will be held from 7-8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13, by Montgomery Parks.

Dalewood Drive Neighborhood Park is located between Brightview Street and Veirs Mill Road on Dalewood Drive in Wheaton.

Approximately 1.5 acres, Dalewood Drive Neighborhood Park is surrounded by single-family residential homes and a Verizon switching station to the west. The park is owned by Montgomery County and includes a large storm sewer right-of-way within its borders. The popular existing playground is accessed off Dalewood Drive.

During the meeting, park designers will discuss plans to renovate the existing park to improve the playground and accessibility and add a picnic seating area.

Registration for the meeting is optional but encouraged so attendees can be updated on future developments in the project. Register by completing this form.

To join the meeting via Zoom, go to https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87809853141.

To learn more about the proposed improvements at Dalewood Drive Neighborhood Park, visit the project page.

Charter Review Commission Seeks Input of Residents on Possible Revisions to County Charter

The Montgomery County Charter Review Commission is soliciting public comments on what matters the commission should consider for possible revisions to the County’s Charter.

The County Charter is the constitutional framework for the County Government. The County Council, in coordination with the County Executive, appoints the 11-member, bi-partisan, Charter Review Commission to study the County Charter and recommend changes. The Council appointed new commission members in July 2023.

The commission is required to submit a report to the County Council on its activities in every even-numbered year, on or before May 1. The report must include the commission’s recommendations for possible Charter revisions, if any. Those recommendations can lead to proposed Charter amendments being adopted by the Council and submitted for voter approval at the next election.

The commission is seeking suggestions from the public on the topics it should study, with particular focus on matters that could be the subject of recommendations included in its report due by May 1.

The commission requests that those comments be submitted before its meeting scheduled for Jan. 10. Suggestions for other matters that might be appropriate for longer-term study and inclusion in its May 2026 report also are welcomed. Comments received after the Jan. 10 meeting will be considered in a subsequent report.

Public comments can be submitted by email to charterreview.commission@ montgomerycountymd.gov. Comments sent by postal mail should be addressed to Charter Review Commission / Council Office Building / 100 Maryland Ave., 6th Floor / Rockville, MD 20850

The commission also expects to hold public listening sessions early in 2024 to receive input on the possible charter revisions being considered by the commission.

Previous reports of the Charter Review Commission, the minutes and recordings of prior meetings and a link that can be used to access a copy of the County Charter can be viewed at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/crc/index.html.

Online ‘Listening Session’ to Receive Public Input on Capital Crescent Trail Improvements to be Held on Nov. 8

Montgomery Parks wants to hear from the community about future improvements to the Capital Crescent Trail. An online meeting will be held from noon-1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8, to provide an opportunity for trail users to share ideas for renovations to the 3.5-mile portion of the trail in Montgomery County from Downtown Bethesda south to the District of Columbia line.

The Capital Crescent Trail 2.0 project will reimagine the trail by evaluating features such as width, signage, access, trail connectivity and amenities. Parks planners will consider public input and best practices in trail design to produce a long-term vision for the trail.

The meeting will be a listening session where parks staff describe the intent of the project and collect ideas and information from the public about the future trail renovations. 

To join the meeting via Zoom, go to mocoparks.org/CCTZoom.

Registration for the meeting is optional, but encouraged, so attendees can receive updates on future developments in the project. Register by filling out this form.

“These listening sessions are just the beginning of this project,” said Montgomery Parks Trails Planner Kyle Lukacs. “They are a great opportunity for the thousands of people who use this portion of the trail every year to weigh in with their preferences for the trail design. Once we hear from them, we will develop concepts and go back for more input.”

The Capital Crescent Trail follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way and extends 11 miles from Georgetown in Washington to Silver Spring. Approximately 3.5 miles of the trail in Montgomery County. That portion is managed by Montgomery Parks. It is the most popular and heavily used paved trail in Montgomery County with 650,000 users each year.

The portion of the trail between Downtown Bethesda and Silver Spring is currently closed and detoured due to the construction of the Purple Line light rail system. That portion of the trail is managed by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. It is expected to reopen in 2027.

Lighting Athletic Fields at Damascus Recreational Park Will Be Focus of Meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 24

Whether to provide lights on two ballpark diamond fields and a future rectangular field at Damascus Regional Park will be the focus of a meeting Montgomery Parks will be holding at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 24, at Hallie Wells Middle School in Clarksburg. The meeting also will be available virtually.

Hallie Wells Middle School is located at 11701 Little Seneca Parkway in Clarksburg. To join the meeting virtually, go to MoCoParks.org/DRPLights.

Anyone who may be attending in person or virtually is asked to register in advance at mocoparks.org/DRPMeeting. Registration is optional.

Montgomery Parks states that planning guidance, minimal lighted field supply in parks system and community group requests indicate the need for lighted fields, especially in Upcounty areas. Parks staff will share details at the meeting, while also gathering input from residents.

County Executive Elrich’s Next ‘Community Conversation’ on Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget on Monday, Oct. 16, Will Focus on Priorities for PTA Organizations

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich, along with the County’s regional services offices and community partners, is hosting a series of 10 “Community Conversations” from September through December to seek input on the Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget. The next conversation, from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 16, at the County Executive Office Building in Rockville and viewable online, will focus on priority issues for Parent-Teacher Associations.

The Executive Office Building is located at 101 Monroe St. in Rockville. To view the meeting online, click here.

Seven of the 10 conversations will be conducted in English, including one focusing on issues for older residents and the one focusing on issues of importance to PTA organizations. For a County first, one of the forums will be conducted in Amharic (Oct. 18). Two other non-English language forums were on the schedule. The Sept. 21 forum was conducted in Spanish and the Nov. 27 forum will be in Chinese. A select number of Community Conversations will be held online so that residents have the option to participate remotely.

The County is in the early stages of formulating the FY25 operating budget. County Executive Elrich is required to submit a recommended budget to the County Council by March 15, 2024. The Council then will have two months to review the budget. It must adopt a final budget no later than June 1. The FY25 operating budget will go into effect on July 1.

“This year, we have increased the number of budget forums from eight to 10 to be even more inclusive,” said County Executive Elrich. “We hold these community conversations to give people a chance to be heard because their voice matters. Their insight helps drive our decisions and our priorities for the next fiscal year. The budget not only reflects the County’s needs and concerns, but our community’s values and goals. I encourage every resident to participate in these conversations because their voice shapes our path forward.”

• PTA Community Conversation. Monday, Oct. 16. 7-8:30 p.m. Executive Office Building auditorium, 101 Monroe St., Rockville. Click here to view online.
• Amharic Language Community Conversation. Wednesday, Oct. 18. 7-8:30 p.m. Montgomery College – Takoma Park/Silver Spring Campus, 7600 Takoma Ave., Takoma Park.
• Silver Spring Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 13. 7:30-9 p.m. Silver Spring Civic Center Building, 1 Veterans Place, Spring Room, Silver Spring.
• East County Community Conversation. Wednesday, Nov. 15. 7-8:30 p.m. White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane, Social Hall, Silver Spring. Click here to view online.
• Chinese Language Community Conversation. Monday, Nov. 27. 7-8:30 p.m. Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, 9318 Gaither Road, Suite 215, Art Gallery, Gaithersburg. Hybrid (link to view online to be announced).
• Seniors Community Conversation. Monday, Dec. 11. 2-3:30 p.m. Leisure World, Clubhouse 1, Crystal Ballroom, 3701 Rossmore Blvd., Silver Spring. Only Leisure World residents may participate in person. Click here to view online.

The Community Conversations will be televised live on the following cable channels:

• County Cable Montgomery (CCM): Comcast channel 6 HD 996, RCN channel 6 and HD 1056 and Verizon channel 30
• Montgomery College Television (MCTV): Comcast channels 998 & 10, Verizon 10 and RCN 1059 & 10 (Sept. 14 only)
• Montgomery County Public School (MCPS TV): Comcast 34, Comcast HD 998, Verizon 36, RCN 89, RCN HD 1071
• Montgomery Community Media (MCM): Comcast channel 21, HD 995, RCN 21 HD 1055, and Verizon 21
• Montgomery Municipal Channel (MMC): Comcast channel 16 HD 997, RCN 16, Verizon 16
• Takoma Park City TV: Comcast channel 13, RCN channel 13 HD 1060, and Verizon 28 (Sept. 21 and Nov. 13 only)

Montgomery County will provide sign language interpreters and other auxiliary aids or services upon request -- with as much advance notice as possible, preferably at least three business days before the event. For more information, contact Karen Falcon at 240-777-6522 or send a request to Karen.Falcon@montgomerycountymd.gov .

In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.

TTY users can use Maryland Relay 711.

Montgomery Parks Seeks Input for Its Fiscal Years 2025-30 Capital Improvements Program, with Public Forum to be Held Thursday, Sept. 7, in Wheaton

Montgomery Parks is seeking input on its Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for Fiscal Years 2025-30 (FY25-30). Community suggestions for the upcoming CIP can be submitted online, via email, U.S. mail or in person at a public forum that will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, at the Wheaton Headquarters of The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC).

The M-NCPPC headquarters are located at 2425 Reedie Dr. in Wheaton.

The CIP is prepared every two years to cover a six-year cycle and funds new parks and park amenities, environmental restoration, and rehabilitation projects that increase the life of assets.

FY25-30 Capital Improvement Program priorities may include:

• Implementing the updated Wheaton Regional Park Master Plan and rehabilitating aging facilities.
• Constructing the Lyttonsville Neighborhood Green, a new park along the new Capital Crescent Trail to Silver Spring in Lyttonsville that includes the Talbot Street Bridge memorial.
• Increased funding for electrification and solar power generation.
• Increased funding to rehabilitate and modernize aging infrastructure and park amenities.
• Increased funding to restore Stream Valley Parks degraded by untreated impervious areas draining onto parkland.
• Increased Vision Zero funding to provide safer trail intersections and traffic calming along parkways, specifically focusing on Matthew Henson Trail, Sligo Creek Trail and connections to Wheaton Regional Park. The funding also will be used as matching funds for Federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) and RAISE grants.
• Increased funding to renovate existing trails and improve community connections, specifically focusing on Sligo Creek Trail and Northwest Branch Trail. The funding also will be used as matching funds for Federal Safe Streets for All (SS4A) and RAISE grants.

The projects would improve existing parks, restore environmental resources and enhance service delivery to communities most in need. The projects highlighted for increases will be coordinated with our existing Level of Effort programs. This ensures safe, inviting, accessible park amenities are available throughout Montgomery County.

To share ideas and feedback about these projects and other parks, amenities and improvements to consider funding in the CIP:

• Sign up to speak at the public forum (limit of 35 speakers) online at the Montgomery Planning Board website at this link. If you need assistance completing the online form, email staff in the Planning Board Chair’s Office at mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org or call 301-495-4605.
• Written Comments should be received by Sept. 11 via
• E-mail to mcp-chair@mncppc-mc.org
• Fax to Chair Artie Harris at 301-495-1320
• U.S. mail addressed to: Artie Harris, Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board, 2425 Reedie Drive, 14th Floor, Wheaton, MD 20902.
• Online comments can be submitted through Sept. 11 via Montgomery Parks Open Town Hall.

Montgomery Parks manages more than 37,000 acres of parkland, consisting of 420 parks. Montgomery Parks is a department of M-NCPPC, a bi-county agency established in 1927 to steward public land.

Residents Can Testify at Final Virtual Development Review Process Workgroup Listening Session on Wednesday, Aug. 2

Montgomery County’s process for reviewing and approving development projects during the Development Review Process Workgroup listening sessions will provide one more opportunity for residents to provide input. Residents can sign up to provide feedback during the workgroup’s third and final listening session that will be held virtually from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 2.

The second listening session was held at the Wheaton Headquarters of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) on July 18.

The Maryland General Assembly’s Montgomery County delegation created the workgroup, which is chaired by State Delegate Lesley Lopez (D-District 39). It is examining the County’s development review process, with a special focus on finding opportunities to improve the County’s economic competitiveness. The workgroup’s July 18 listening session followed a June 22 listening session and three livestreamed workgroup work sessions June 9, June 27 and July 12.

State law established the M-NCPPC and Montgomery County Planning Board, whose members are appointed by the Montgomery County Council and approved by County Executive Marc Elrich. The County Council adopts the zoning code. Under County law, any subdivision, sketch plan and site plan must be approved by the Planning Board and must substantially conform to adopted master plans as well as comply with County codes.  Each project is reviewed by the Montgomery County Planning Department and the Montgomery County Planning Board, both part of The M-NCPPC, and by a Development Review Committee, which under County law is comprised of planners, county agencies, state agencies and utilities.



View a graphic explaining the development review process.

Community input will inform the workgroup’s report on its findings and recommendations for the development review process. The report must be delivered to the Montgomery County Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly by Oct. 15. Community members who want to testify at the Aug. 2 listening session must complete and submit the Sign Up to Testify form by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 1. A Microsoft Teams link will be sent ahead of the meeting.

Live language translation or ASL requests for the listening session must be made five days ahead of the event. To make a request, please contact staff in the Planning Board Chair’s Office via email at MCP-Chair@mncppc-mc.org or call 301-495-4605. The community is welcome to watch the meetings through a livestream (also available on demand under the “Speakers and Special Events” tab).

Participants will have two minutes to speak. The workgroup members are interested in:

• Specific experiences with the development review process.
• Suggestions for improving the development review process.
• Experiences with the development review process in other jurisdictions.

Community members are also invited to submit written comments to the Development Review Process Workgroup. Email development@montgomeryplanning.org and Meredith Wellington at meredith.wellington@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Learn more about the development review process in Montgomery County.

County Executive Elrich to Hold Virtual ‘Community Conversation’ to Talk About Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvements Budget on Monday, May 1

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will hold his final “community conversation” to talk about long-term priorities and how he will address the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget in a virtual event from 7-8:30 p.m. on Monday, May 1.

The May 1 conversation will be the sixth in the series. The virtual event will have five online discussions. One is the main discussion on the FY25 Capital Budget. The other four will be specific breakout discussions on education, environment and parks, transportation and recreation/libraries/general services.

Breakout discussions can be accessed here.

A capital budget plan that states how much money is needed for major construction projects and for purchase and maintenance of the assets. It also determines the amount of time that will be used for the planning and design of the project. The CIP refers to items such as land, buildings, equipment and other investments in the County.

The capital budget addresses planning for long-term major projects. It differs from the County operating budget, which funds spending needs for a one-year period.

The community conversation events address how the County Government will make decisions on major projects such as the construction of public schools, building swimming pools, transportation improvements, improvements to sidewalks, improvements to local parks, building parking garages and establishing childcare centers.

Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project Work Session by Planning Board Rescheduled to Thursday, April 27

The Montgomery County Planning Board will hold a work session about the Little Falls Parkway pilot project on Thursday, April 27, during its morning session. The actual time for the session has yet to be set, but will eventually be available at Planning Board agenda. At the work session, the Planning Board will hear Montgomery Parks’ response to public testimony and determine whether to retain the current two-lane configuration between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue and make additional improvements to the roadway.

During a March 30 public hearing on the project, Montgomery Parks presented details about traffic counts on the parkway and made a recommendation to make the pilot project permanent. The presentation was followed by public testimony.

The Planning Board work session on April 27 will take place in person in the second floor auditorium of at the Planning Board’s Wheaton Headquarters building
at 2425 Reedie Dr. in Wheaton.

To view the work session online, visit www.MontgomeryPlanningBoard.org and click the “watch” link on the homepage banner.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project was initiated in June 2022 to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway for the Open Parkways Program, while retaining space for recreation on the parkway.

Traffic counts were conducted on Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue during May, July, September and December of 2022. During its presentation on March 30, Montgomery Parks showed how the parkway functions with two lanes of traffic and how the “road diet” improves safety for all road users, including pedestrians and cyclists.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project currently provides an open parkway for pedestrians and bicyclists for two of the four lanes between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue. This section was previously part of Montgomery Parks’ Open Parkways program between River Road and Arlington Road (1.3 miles).

The Open Parkways program launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis to provide more outdoor space for recreation and exercise by closing portions of three parkways to vehicles on weekends. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of visitors have used the Open Parkways. The other two Open Parkways, Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive, will not be affected by the Little Falls Parkway pilot program.

Learn more about the pilot project online.

County Executive Elrich to Hold Six ‘Community Conversations’ to Talk About Long-term Priorities and the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvements Budget

Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich will hold six “community conversations” at sites around the County in April and May to talk about long-term priorities and how he will address the Fiscal Year 2025 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget. The first event will be from 7-8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12, at the White Oak Community Recreation Center in Silver Spring.

Five of the community conversations will be in-person events. On May 1, the community conversation will be a virtual only event.

A capital budget plan that states how much money is needed for major construction projects and for purchase and maintenance of the assets. It also determines the amount of time that will be used for the planning and design of the project. The CIP refers to items such as land, buildings, equipment and other investments in the County.

The capital budget addresses planning for long-term major projects. It differs from the County operating budget, which funds spending needs for a one-year period.

The community conversation events will address how the County Government will make decisions on major projects such as the construction of public schools, building swimming pools, transportation improvements, improvements to sidewalks, improvements to local parks, building parking garages and establishing childcare centers.

The schedule and sites for the FY25 Capital Budget community conversations:

• Wednesday, April 12. 7-8:30 p.m. In-person event. Conversation for the Eastern County. White Oak Community Recreation Center. 1700 April Lane, Silver Spring.
• Monday, April 17. 7-8:30 p.m. In-person event. Conversation for Silver Spring Region. Silver Spring Civic Building (Spring Room). 1 Veterans Pl., Silver Spring.
• Wednesday, April 19. 7-8:30 p.m. In-person event. Conversation for Bethesda-Chevy Chase Region. Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center (East-West Room). 4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda.
• Monday, April 24. 7-8:30 p.m. In-person event. Conversation for the UpCounty Region. Sidney Kramer UpCounty Regional Services, 12900 Middlebrook Rd, Suite 1000, Germantown.
• Wednesday, April 26. 7-8:30 p.m. In-person event. Conversation for the Mid-County Region. Wheaton Community Recreation Center. 11701 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring,
• Monday, May 1. 7-8:30 p.m. Virtual event. Details to be announced.

Traffic Data on Little Falls Parkway Pilot Project to be Presented to Planning Board on Thursday, March 30, with Public Hearing to Follow Presentation

Information, including traffic data and a recommendation, related to the Little Falls Parkway pilot project, will be presented by Montgomery Parks to the County Planning Board at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 30. After the briefing, the Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the project.

Details on how to sign up to testify, provide advance testimony and the procedures for testifying are outlined on the Planning Board “Sign Up to Testify” webpage. The deadline to sign up to testify or submit written testimony is noon on Wednesday, March 29.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project was initiated in June 2022 to address concerns with cut-through traffic in adjacent neighborhoods associated with the weekend closures of Little Falls Parkway for the Open Parkways Program, while retaining space for recreation on the parkway. Traffic counts were conducted on Little Falls Parkway between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue during May, July, September and December of 2022

The in-person presentation and following public hearing will take place at the Wheaton Headquarters of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission headquarters at 2425 Reedie Dr. in Wheaton.

The presentation and public hearing also can be viewed online via Microsoft Teams.

The public may testify in person or online during the Planning Board hearing.

After the public hearing, the Planning Board will conduct a work session and consider action on the staff recommendation on April 13. The time will be posted on the Planning Board agenda closer to the date of the meeting.

The Little Falls Parkway pilot project currently provides an open parkway for pedestrians and bicyclists for two of the four lanes between Arlington Road and Dorset Avenue. This section was previously part of Montgomery Parks’ Open Parkways program between River Road and Arlington Road (1.3 miles).

The Open Parkways program launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis to provide more outdoor space for recreation and exercise by closing portions of three parkways to vehicles on weekends. Since its inception, hundreds of thousands of visitors have used the Open Parkways.

The other two Open Parkways, Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive, will not be affected by the Little Falls Parkway pilot program.

Learn more about the program at pilot project online.