WECA January Meeting - Thurs, Jan 21st at 7pm (no December meeting)

With the busy holiday season now upon us, WECA will be taking a break and there will be no December meeting. The next WECA meeting is scheduled for Thursday, January 21, 2016 (yes, get used to writing 2016 already!) at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church. We will send details on the agenda as the date draws closer.

 

On behalf of the WECA officers, we wish you a joyous holiday season and good cheer for the New Year!

WECA Meeting Agenda for Thurs, Nov 19th at 7pm

Dear WECA Neighbors – A reminder that our November WECA meeting is tomorrow evening, Nov 19^th at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 West Montgomery Avenue). The agenda is provided below. Parking is available behind the church, off of Harrison Street. All are welcome to attend, so please come and join with your neighbors. We look forward to seeing you there.

Agenda for WECA Executive Board Meeting on Thursday, November 19, 2015

MEETING TIME:  7 pm

LOCATION:  Rockville Presbyterian Church

 

7:00pm     Welcome and Organizational/Business Items  

• Treasurer’s Report
• Approval of Minutes for September and October Meetings
• Report from City
• Report from Maj. Over
• Newsletters- should phone numbers of block captains be printed in newsletters?
• Vote on new Block Captains: Francesca Kim for Block 14A 

7:10pm     Confederate Statue

7:25pm     Master Plan and Neighborhood Plan - formation of committee     

7:40pm     Report on Bikeways Master Plan - motion to request notification of all homeowners who would be affected by bike paths

7:45pm     Report on Chestnut Lodge and WECA petition   

7:55pm     Report on Child Care Center Appeal to Court of Special Appeals

8:00pm     Rockville Villages - Aging in Place

9:00pm     Adjourn

WECA Items of Interest _ Notice of Nov 19th at 7pm Meeting

WECA Neighbors – There are updates below which will be of interest to many of you, including Mayor and Council election results. This is also an early reminder to mark your calendar for the November WECA meeting scheduled for Thursday, November 19^th at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church. We’ll send an agenda as the date draws closer. But in the meanwhile, please see the items below from WECA President Noreen Bryan.

 

Rockville Mayor and Council Election Results

The votes have been tallied, and Bridget Donnell Newton won re-election as Mayor (for a 4 year term) and the following four individuals were elected as Councilmembers (also 4 year terms): Beryl Feinberg, Julie Palakovich Carr, Mark Pierzchala, and Virginia Onley. This new Mayor and Council will begin its duties with its inauguration on November 15, 2015.  All citizens of Rockville are invited to attend the swearing-in ceremonies which will be held at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theater beginning at 1 pm.  A number of events and topics will proceed quickly once the Mayor and Council take their seats.   This message addresses issues of particular interest to the West End neighborhood.

 

Update of Rockville’s Master Plan

The Master Plan is of great important because it sets the vision and policy for the future of the City and our neighborhood.   The update of the Master Plan was initiated by the City in a Kick-off meeting in May 2015.   City staff has indicated that they will be looking for inputs from the neighborhoods by early in 2016.  As President of WECA, I am forming a committee to develop the West End’s position on the Master Plan, in particular how it affects our neighborhood. If you are interested in participating in this committee, please get in touch with me at noreen1945@yahoo.com or 301-762-1256.

 

Chestnut Lodge- Application to build Townhouses to replace the Main Building destroyed by fire

The Historic District Commission (HDC) will review the application again on November 19, 2015.   Changes that were provided to the Planning Commission, but never reviewed by the HDC, will be addressed at that meeting.  Thereafter, a presentation will be made to the Mayor and Council by the developer on Monday, November 23, 2015.  In an emergency meeting of the WECA Executive Board on September 3, 2015 a resolution was adopted in opposition to the proposed townhouses with a recommendation that other alternatives be investigated.  In addition, an on-line petition in concert with the WECA position was created by the WECA committee and approved by the Board.  The petition allows neighbors to weigh in.   Please go to: 

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/not-townhouses-at-chestnut-lodge.html

 

Relocation of the Confederate Statue

In July, Montgomery County Executive, Ike Leggett, decided that the Confederate statue, which is currently located east of the historic Red Brick Courthouse, would be removed from County property. To enact this decision, the County filed a request to remove the statue with Rockville’s Historic District Commission (HDC).  The application was unanimously approved by the HDC in its meeting on September 17, 2015.  Subsequently, the County has asked the city of Rockville to accept ownership of the stature.  The previous Mayor and Council deferred the decision on ownership because the implications, including the financial responsibilities, were unknown.  It is likely that the new Mayor and Council will address the question of ownership of the Confederate statue in one of its first meetings.

 

In parallel, the County has filed an application with Rockville’s HDC to relocate the statue in Beall-Dawson Park, which is owned by the City of Rockville, including all the buildings in the Park.  Various County activities, including the Montgomery Historical Society, are tenants in buildings located in the park.   The application from the County recommends a specific location within the park near the intersection of East Middle Lane and N. Van Buren Street.  Signs are posted in the park announcing that the application for relocation in Beall-Dawson Park will be considered by the HDC at a public meeting on November 19, 2015.^.  Citizens will have the opportunity to share their views on the location of the statue at this meeting. Please check Rockville’s website for the HDC agenda and the estimated time for the review of the application.  Agendas are usually posted in the week preceding the meeting.  

Candidate Forum / WECA October General Membership Mtg: Thurs, Oct 15 at 7pm

WECA Neighbors – It’s that time of year! Fall has arrived, the latest WECA newsletter is landing on your doorstep, and the City of Rockville elections for Mayor and City Council are just around the corner.

 

We are hosting a special event – a Candidate Forum -- for our WECA General Membership Meeting being held on Thursday, October 15^th at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 West Montgomery Ave), and all are encourage to attend.  There are 11 candidates this year (2 for Mayor, and 9 vying for the four Councilmember seats) and we have confirmed that at least 10 of them – and hopefully we will soon be able to confirm the final candidate – will be participating.

 

Our City elections are always important, but this year brings a new and significant change, as the term of office for each individual will now be four years (rather than two years).

 

You can learn much more about these candidates by attending our October 15^th meeting, and hearing their views on the issues, watching them debate hot topics, and posing questions of importance to you. But if you can’t attend this meeting – or want to get a “sneak peek” – there are videos of all the candidates, describing their platform and explaining why they are asking for your vote, airing frequently on Rockville Channel 11. For more information, visit the City of Rockville website here: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1016

 

Following ours, two additional debates will also be held which are either live broadcast or recorded. They are on October 22^nd at 7pm (at F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre, 603 Edmonston Drive – live broadcast) and October 27^th (at King Farm Community Center, 300 Saddle Ridge Circle – recorded broadcast airing on October 29^th at 7pm). Again, more information is available here: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=1016

 

Remember, Election Day is Tuesday, November 3^rd and polls are open from 7am – 8pm. All the detail you need on voting locations, early voting, and everything else can be found here: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?NID=415 

 

We hope that you can join your neighbors for this important forum with the future leaders of Rockville City government! Again, the meeting is on Thursday, October 15^th starting promptly at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church, located at 215 West Montgomery Avenue. Parking is available in the lot behind the church, accessible from Harrison Street.

Reminder of Sept 24 WECA Meeting at 6:30pm + Chestnut Lodge Redevelopment Petition for Consideration

WECA Neighbors – Two important items for you, as you start the last weekend of summer: First, a final reminder that the WECA September meeting is taking place this Thursday, September 24^th at 6:30pm (note the earlier-than-normal start time) at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 West Montgomery Avenue). Information on discussion topics was circulated a few days ago, and is on the website www.weca.us . Second, the WECA position regarding the redevelopment of the Chestnut Lodge site is provided below, along with a petition you may choose to sign, if you support that position.

 

We look forward to seeing everyone for the WECA meeting on Thursday at 6:30pm!

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WECA Opposition to Proposed Townhouses at Chestnut Lodge - Petition for your consideration

 

Chestnut Lodge - Townhouses Proposed to Replace Main Building

Issue:  A developer has proposed 7 townhouses at 500 W. Montgomery Ave., the Chestnut Lodge site.  This requires an amendment to the approved Planned Residential Unit (PRU) for the Chestnut Lodge housing development.  The former Main building was one of the most significant historic structures in Rockville, providing an iconic view scape along West Montgomery Ave.  In the original plan, the Main Building was to have been restored as condominiums with underground parking.  To achieve that, significant development concessions were granted the original developer.  Increased density was granted for the new housing in the rear to enable the front 7 acres to be preserved as a Historic District.  The Main Building was to have been the centerpiece, giving historic context to the other buildings, including the Fromm-Reichmann Cottage, Little Lodge, the Ice House and the Stable.  Tragically, the Main building was allowed to deteriorate and was destroyed by fire on June 7, 2009.

 

The proposed amendment to the PRU is for a stick of townhouses that faces Thomas Street, not West Montgomery Avenue.  It would present the rear of the building with surface parking, garages, back porches, garbage cans etc. to the west, in clear view from West Montgomery Avenue and the surrounding houses, some in the Historic District.  Townhouses were not considered appropriate anywhere in the original development and there are none on West Montgomery Avenue.  So why would these now be desirable?  There is precedent for the re-building of historic structures on this site.  The Stable was demolished and a replica built.  The Ice House had deteriorated almost to rubble and was rebuilt, partially from the salvaged pieces.  It is possible that the Main building could be rebuilt as well.  There are likely other uses and/or buildings that could be go on this important historic site, but a sideways stick of townhouses is not appropriate. 

 

WECA Involvement:  A WECA committee chaired by Patricia Woodward was formed this summer to look at this issue.  They recommended denial of the amendment to allow townhouses.  This would give the neighborhood and City time to seriously consider what the most appropriate use would be for this site.  Both the history of Chestnut Lodge as well as the intent of the original approved development plan should be respected.  A petition is circulating stating the WECA position (see link below).

 

Status:  The Planning Commission was briefed in September on the proposal.  There will be additional briefings to the Mayor and Council and the Historic District Commission in November.  Thereafter, hearings will be held with the final decision to be made by the new Mayor and Council in 2016.  If you have thoughts about this issue, now would be the time to discuss them with the candidates for Rockville Mayor and Council. 

 

See the petition here:

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/not-townhouses-at-chestnut-lodge.html

 

See more information about Chestnut Lodge here:

http://www.peerlessrockville.org/historic-rockville/peerless-places-2/chestnut-lodge/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chestnut_Lodge

Change of WECA Meeting to Thursday, Sept 24 at 6:30pm + Master/Neighborhood/Bikeways Plans and City "Listening Meeting"

The regularly scheduled meeting of the WECA Board has been moved to September 24, 2015.  It will start at 6:30pm.  Topics will be discussed that have far reaching impact on our neighborhood.   The Board meeting will be followed by a “Listening Meeting” conducted by City staff at 7:30pm.  The meetings will be located in the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 West Montgomery Avnue).

 

Updating Rockville’s Master Plan and the Neighborhood Plans - The City is in the process of updating Rockville’s Comprehensive Master Plan including the Neighborhood Plans.  The West End neighborhood is included in Planning Area 4 that encompasses Woodley Gardens East/West as well as our neighborhood.  A Kickoff meeting was held this past May.  Recent developments have led to concerns about the way the city is communicating with the neighborhoods and the process that will be followed.

• Communications from the City regarding the Master Plan Update - Last spring WECA representatives attended meetings of the Planning Commission, Judge Patrick Woodward briefed the Planning Commission on the process used to create the West End Neighborhood Plan in 1989 and WECA representatives attended the Kick-off meeting in May.  At all these meetings the City stressed that updating the Master Plan would be a collaborative effort wherein staff would work closely with citizens and neighborhood organizations.  So far, that has not happened.  The City unilaterally set up the “Listening Meeting” for September 24th without coordination with anyone in the neighborhood or WECA.  The WECA Executive Board will discuss how to improve this situation such that all future meetings and actions regarding the West End’s Neighborhood Plan and portions of the Master Plan that affect the West End be coordinated with WECA PRIOR to scheduling and setting the agendas for meetings.   This communication approach should be used with all neighborhood associations, not just WECA. The City’s excuse that oops it slipped through the cracks is not good enough.
• Process for Updating the Neighborhood Plan - At numerous Board meetings last spring and at the presentations given to the Planning Commission by WECA officers and Judge Woodward, it was made clear that WECA wanted to lead the effort to update our own Neighborhood Plan.  The Planning Commission heard these recommendations and agreed that neighborhoods could design their own approaches to conduct this process.  In parallel the City would design listening meetings if some neighborhoods preferred to have the City lead the discussions.  The City staff has ignored this agreement and gone forward with “Listening Meetings” of their own design that they are taking to all neighborhoods without any inputs from the neighborhoods.  The purpose of the meeting, as relayed by City staff, to collect information on what issues are of importance to the neighborhood, not to make decisions on how these issues would be resolved.  However, this approach precludes a discussion within the neighborhood to decide on the relative importance of issues.  Further, it limits the issues to those raised at the Listening Meeting and may exclude other significant issues.  Lastly, it is not clear how the City will use the information that they collect.  With that in mind, it is essential that a record be kept and that WECA have a copy of the record.   WECA will work with Woodley Gardens East/West to design a more comprehensive approach for updating the Area 4 Neighborhood Plan.

Bikeways Master Plan - The City continues to push for a Bikeways Master Plan.  A new version including some revisions by the Planning Commission is available on-line at www.rockvillemd.gov/bikewaymasterplan.  I was just advised of this development last week.   In the message from Resource Coordinator he states:

“Note that in the draft Bikeway Master Plan, bicycle projects are proposed in the West End neighborhood. Bike lanes are proposed in your neighborhood on the following streets:
* Martins Lane
* Mannakee Street
* N. Washington Street
* Dawson Avenue (extended)

   Maryland Avenue ????

 

While no detailed engineering analysis has been completed to determine how a bike lane would be placed on these streets, they were identified in the draft Bikeway Master Plan as useful connections to important destinations and existing bicycle infrastructure. W. Montgomery Avenue is also included in the Bikeway Master Plan as an area to continue to study for future bicycle improvements.”  (The bolded text was added by Noreen Bryan, President of West End Neighborhood Association for emphasis.)

 

The fact that the City wants to choose streets for bike paths without understanding the impact on the neighborhood is unreasonable and irresponsible.  Bike paths could mean the elimination of curbside trees, grassy areas between the street and the sidewalk, parking, or even reduction of front yards.  It has been my experience that once approved in the Master Plan, citizens will have little ability to prevent these detrimental impacts on the neighborhood, because the City will say that we agreed to the Master Plan.  This is what happened in front of the historic houses on Fleet Street.  The sidewalk was expanded for bicycles and the trees near the curb were destroyed.   A WECA committee to deal with the Bikeways Master Plan has been established.  Marian Hull will lead the Committee.  If you have interest in participating on this committee please contact Noreen Bryan at noreen1945@yahoo.com.  Because the impact on the neighborhood could be adverse and potentially degrade property values, the WECA committee will assess the material available from the City with an eye to testifying at the next public hearing before the Planning Commission on October 14^th. 

WECA Items of Interest + WECA Meeting Thurs, Sept 17 at 7pm

Hello WECA Neighbors – We hope that you are enjoying these fading days of summer, and looking forward to the return of autumn and all its activities.

There are four items below that we want to draw your attention to, ranging from development plans to community forums, to items for awareness. Please also mark your calendars -- the first WECA meeting of the fall will be held on Thursday, September 17^th at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 West Montgomery Ave.). An agenda will be distributed prior to the meeting. Please plan to join us!

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Below are items likely to be of interest to many of you, provided by the City of Rockville:

·         On the Sept. 21 Mayor & Council agenda there is a Public Hearing on Map Amendment MAP2016-00113, for the rezoning of 17 Martins Lane from R-60 to R-60 (HD) to designate the property as Historic.

·         Also on the Sept. 21 meeting there will be a presentation - Briefing on a Proposed Amendment to the Approved Planned Development for Chestnut Lodge at 500 West Montgomery Avenue; Project Plan Application PJT2015-00005.

·         The City is currently in the process of updating the Comprehensive Master Plan. A key part of the process is public involvement; for the balance of 2015 City staff will be visiting all parts of the City and conducting Listening Sessions to hear directly from citizens about their hopes and concerns for the future of both the City and their own neighborhoods.

A Listening Session for West End/Woodley Gardens East-West (Planning Area 4) will be held on Thursday September 24 at 7:00 p.m. at the Rockville Presbyterian Church, 215 West Montgomery Avenue.

 In advance of the Listening Session we are reaching out to you with the following links:

·         Comprehensive Master Plan update: www.rockvillemd.gov/masterplanupdate

·         Existing Comprehensive Master Plan documents:  2002 Comprehensive Master Plan: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?nid=200 scroll down to the “Adopted Comprehensive Master Plan”. Information on Planning Area 4 can be found in Chapter 11. Please scroll further down to the link to the 1989 Planning Area 4 plan referred to in the 2002 plan.

If you would prefer a hard copy of any of the documents please contact Ann Wallas at awallas@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8200.

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Interested in knowing about the Montgomery College Facilities Master Plan for 2014-2024?

Montgomery College will hold a community meeting on each campus to discuss the 2014-2024 Facilities Master Plan:

·         Rockville Campus – Tuesday, September 8, 2015 from 7-9 p.m. in Room SC152, the Science Center Building

·         Germantown Campus – Wednesday, September 9, 2015 from 7-9 p.m. in Globe Hall in the High Technology and Science Center Building

·         Takoma Park Campus – Thursday, September 10, 2015 from 7-9 p.m. in room CM211 in the Catherine F. Scott Commons Building

 Please contact Mr. Jamie Karn at 240-567-4288 if you have any questions.

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Sharing Information on Solicitors/Hawkers/Peddlers

From Major Over of the Rockville City Police Department: Recently there have questions from the community about Solicitors/Hawkers/ and Peddlers, and what does the City Ordinance allow and mandate.  For details, please visit the ordinance at https://www.municode.com/library/md/rockville/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeld=CICO_CH12LIPEMIBURE and Chapter 12 under Licenses, Permits and Miscellaneous Business Regulations

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Aging in Place Community Forum: You are Invited

You are invited to a free event: Aging in Place Community Forum

Saturday, October 17, 2015 from 10am – 12pm
Rockville Senior Center, Carnation Room
1150 Carnation Drive, Rockville, MD 20850

Have you heard about the Village Movement? The principle of the village movement is simple. Communities form inter-generational organizations to provide volunteer help and access to services that support neighbors’ choices to stay at home as long as possible.

Over 70 representatives of non-profits, local government, city residents and businesses have come together to develop a plan to strengthen our community and make Rockville a place to thrive for all ages.

To make this initiative a reality, we need to hear from you. Join us and bring a friend! Refreshments will be served!

Questions: rockvillevillages@gmail.com  (240) 314-8800

May WECA General Membership Meeting - Thurs, May 21st with 6:30pm Ice Cream Social and 7pm Meeting + Hometown Holidays Information

Hello, neighbors! It’s that time of year again – time for WECA newsletters to arrive at your doorstep, and time for our spring West End Citizen’s Association General Membership Meeting, scheduled for this Thursday, May 21^st. We invite everyone to join us at 6:30pm for an ice cream social (yes, bring the kids!) and a chance to catch-up with your neighbors and friends prior to the meeting starting at 7pm.

As we do annually at our spring meeting, there will be the Election of WECA Officers (slate below), and then two informative presentations (information below). Parking for the meeting is available in the lot off of Harrison Street. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Finally, Rockville’s Hometown Holidays celebration is just a few days away. For those of you who will be in town over the long holiday weekend, details on the activities can be found below.

We hope to see you at Thursday evening’s WECA meeting!

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AGENDA for WECA General Membership  Meeting on Thursday, May 21^st at the Rockville Presbyterian Church  215 West Montgomery Ave.

(Please park behind the church, via Harrison Street)

 6:30pm   Ice Cream Social (free ice cream!)

7:00pm   Welcome and Organizational/Business Items

Annual Election of Officers – the slate below was approved by the WECA Board in April:

·         President: Noreen Bryan

·         Recording Secretary: Jen Timmick

·         Corresponding Secretary: Jacques Gelin

·         Treasurer: Dennis Cain

·         Note that the Vice President position was not part of the previously approved slate. Since that time, the Nominating Committee has recommended Vicki McMullen for Vice President.

 Our Neighborhood Plan – What is it and Why it is Important – presented by Judge Patrick Woodward

·         Judge Patrick Woodward of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals will talk about the Neighborhood Plan for the West End.  He chaired the committee which developed the original Neighborhood Plan in 1989.  The City is undertaking an update of the whole of Rockville's Master Plan in the next couple years.  Our neighborhood plan is scheduled to be part of that update.  The plan sets the vision and direction for our neighborhood in the future.  Zoning, capital improvements and land use are laid out in the Plan. Learn about Neighborhood Plans and lend your voice to set the course for your neighborhood in the future.

 Proposal for Townhouses at Chestnut Lodge – presented by Owner/Developer

·         The owners /developers of Chestnut Lodge will discuss their proposal to build six townhomes on the former Main Lodge property site. More detail is available here: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?NID=1696

 No later than 9:00pm       Adjourn

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Hometown Holidays Festivities in Rockville Town Center over Memorial Day Weekend

Start your summer off with a Rockville tradition this Memorial Day weekend, as entertainers from around the country descend on Rockville for the city’s 27^th annual Hometown Holidays. The festival will feature performance by more than 30 groups on four stages, showcasing blues, rock, reggae, folk, Americana, Irish, pop and country music throughout the festival.

 Organizers are also preparing for The Taste of Rockville, featuring food from local restaurants, kids amusements (including return of “the beach” sand pile) and the 71^st annual Memorial Day Ceremony and Parade on Monday, May 25^th.

 Festivities are scheduled both Saturday and Sunday, May 23^rd and 24^th, from noon – 10:00pm (free, live music starts at 2:00pm). On Monday, May 25^th, the Memorial Day Ceremony starts at 9:30am in Rockville Town Square, followed by the Parade at 10:30am, proceeding from Martins Lane and North Washington Street, turning left on Beall Avenue, right on Maryland Avenue through Rockville Town Center, and left on East Montgomery Avenue.

 For all the details, please visit: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/index.aspx?NID=665

April WECA Meeting - Thurs, Apr 16 at 7pm + Chestnut Lodge Redevelopment Meeting

Happy spring, WECA neighbors! There are many activities happening in the West End and in Rockville generally; to stay current, we hope you will be able to join us for our monthly WECA Executive Board Meeting scheduled for this Thursday, April 16, 2015 at 7:00pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Avenue). The agenda is provided below. You will see several important agenda items listed, including a presentation from Federal Realty Investment Trust (FRIT) regarding the health of Rockville Town Center; Nominating Committee recommendations for WECA officers for the next year; and a farewell to Rose Sharkey who is moving to California. Parking for the meeting is available in the lot off of Harrison Street. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

Many of you will also be interested in the last item, which details a Community Area Meeting on April 21^st regarding the redevelopment of the former Chestnut Lodge Main Lodge Building site into six proposed townhomes.

We hope to see you at Thursday evening’s WECA meeting!

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AGENDA for WECA Executive Board Meeting on Thursday, April 16^th at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church  215 West Montgomery Ave.
(Please park behind the church, via Harrison Street)

7:00pm   Welcome and Organizational/Business Items

o   Treasurer’s Report
o   Approval of Minutes for March 2015
o   Report from City
o   Report from Maj. Over
o   Farewell to Rose Sharkey and recognition of her efforts for our neighborhood
o   Announcements – A law suit has been filed by EZ Storage in opposition to the text amendment which would prevent

7:10pm  Recommendations from Nominating committee for WECA officers for 2015/2016

7:15pm  Topics for May General Meeting - potluck desserts and Neighborhood Plan
7:25pm  WECA position on sparrow markings on Nelson, Anderson and Harrison Streets
7:30pm   Status Report for on-going Projects
·         Appeal on Child Care Center  (Gelin)
·         Cell Tower at Julius West  (Azumi)
·         Bus Depot on Avery  (Woodward)
·         628 Great Falls Road  (Sharkey)
·         Process for updating Master Plan  (Bryan)
·         Sidewalks on Maryland Ave  (Bryan)
·         Sound Wall along Nelson Street  (Bryan)
·         Grey house across from Three Little Pigs  (Wagman)
·         Condition of Fleet Street historic houses  (Vitol)

7:45pm   FRIT presentation on health of Town Center

8:30pm   Pike Plan: new issues, potential clarification of WECA position
8:40pm   Future directions for WECA
9:00pm   Adjourn
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Community Area Meeting regarding development of former Chestnut Lodge Site on Tuesday, April 21^st at 7pm at City Hall

As received in a recent letter from law firm Miller, Miller & Canby, an Application for Pre-Application Meeting (PAM) has been submitted to the City of Rockville that seeks to amend the original Project Plan for the Chestnut Lodge development to allow construction of six townhouses on the former site of the historic Main Lodge building.

 
In compliance with the City’s Zoning Ordinance, a Community Area Meeting will be held in advance of the PAM, to provide the community the opportunity to become fully aware of development intentions and to allow the opportunity to comment on the proposal. The Community Area Meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 21, 2915 at 7:00pm in the Mayor and Council Chambers at City Hall, 111 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850.

March WECA Meeting - Thurs, March 19th at 7pm

Hello WECA Neighbors – With longer days and better weather finally upon us, now is a great time to get out and reconnect with others in the community! This is a friendly reminder that our monthly WECA Executive Board Meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, March 19^th, 2015 at 7:00pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church (215 W. Montgomery Avenue). The agenda is provided below. Parking is available in the lot off of Harrison Street. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend; we hope that you can join us!

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AGENDA for WECA Executive Board Meeting on Thursday, March 19^th at 7pm at the Rockville Presbyterian Church  215 West Montgomery Ave.
(Please park behind the church, via Harrison Street)

7:00pm   Welcome and Organizational/Business Items

o   Approval of Minutes for November 2014 and January 2015

o   Treasurer’s Report

o   Report from City

o   Report from Maj. Over

o   Announcements – Principal of Richie Park Elementary School announces that class sizes will go to 30 and that three teaching positions will be eliminated because of school budget cuts.

7:10pm   Status Report for on-going Projects

·         Appeal on Child Care Center  (Gelin)

·         Cell Tower at Julius West  (Azumi)

·         628 Great Falls Road  (Sharkey)

·         March 7^th County Meeting re: school overcrowding  (Hull, McMullen, Prince)

·         Process for updating Master Plan  (Bryan)

·         Sidewalks on Maryland Ave  (Bryan)

·         Sound Wall along Nelson Street  (Bryan)

7:30pm   Return of Paper Voting Record to Maryland: demo for May General Meeting

7:35pm   Nominating Committee for WECA officers for 2015/2016            

7:35pm   Pike Plan: new issues, potential clarification of WECA position

7:55pm   Bus depot on Avery – Demolition of Blair Ewing  (Woodward)

8:05pm   Condition of Fleet Street historic houses  (Vitol)  

8:15pm   Zoning Text Amendment to control the size and density of new institutions in the West End and all neighborhoods  (Bryan)

8:20pm   Loss of businesses in Town Square  (Prince)

8:30pm   Future directions for WECA

9:00pm   Adjourn