gaithersblog.net

For some reason the Gazette didn’t have the Gaithersburg stories up all day; they finally were posted around 7:30 pm. Here are links to a few I found interesting:

• Chris Robinson writes, Budget strife raises specter of veto:
  

  As tensions heated at a city work session Monday night and it appeared the council would vote 3-2 in favor of the funding, Katz said he would consider vetoing the budget.

  However, he also said, ‘‘It’ll be my sincerest desire to avoid that.”

  Councilman John B. Schlichting said he didn’t understand why the proposal could stall a $50.4 million budget, especially with the $5.3 million slated in fiscal 2008 to support development of the $25 million Aquatic and Recreation Center.

  ‘‘I would just like to put this in perspective here,” Schlichting said. ‘‘… The mayor is threatening to veto the budget over a $250,000 line item.”

• Sebastian Montes writes, Airgun crimes on the rise in upcounty“:
  

  Montgomery County’s 6th District police station, which includes Gaithersburg and the Village, has reported 18 airgun incidents so far this year — 14 in the last two months — a 50 percent increase over the same time last year, according to data from Montgomery County Police. The 18 incidents more than doubles the total number reported so far this year in the county’s five other districts combined.

• Chris Robinson writes, Weekend sees spate of Olde Towne robberies:
  

  Five robberies occurred near Olde Towne Gaithersburg over the weekend, but city police say it’s too early to determine if this is a trend.

  Times when there are multiple robberies don’t necessarily indicate a crime wave, said Gaithersburg police spokesman Sgt. Rudy Wagner.

  ‘‘If we had several weekends going on where this occurs, that might be different,” he said.

• Chris Robinson writes, 7-Eleven again denied alcohol license:
  

  Thursday’s ruling follows what neighbors describe as years of efforts by community and city leaders to stem the tide of alcohol-related nuisances, such as public urination and littering by vagrants they say were attracted to the 7-Eleven’s early morning alcohol sales, which began at 6 a.m.

• Janel Davis writes, Casa gets $50,000 for Derwood day-laborer center:
  

  Norman M. Dreyfuss, an executive with the company that developed Leisure World in Silver Spring, said he is impressed with Casa’s work in securing employment for immigrants and the English language classes it hosts.

  ‘‘If I make a contribution, I like to have it targeted at something that I feel actually gets done,” said Dreyfuss, whose parents immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1937.

• Chris Robinson writes, Lakelands skateboard park sparks concerns:
  

  A plan to develop Gaithersburg’s second skateboard facility has drawn ire from some neighbors who worry the park will bring noise and safety issues to the proposed site at Lakelands Park.

Today, the City put up a web page with links to PDFs of two powerpoint presentations that were shown at the workshop the other night. One is a overview of the project prepared by City staff, while the other is a “concept plan” giving a more visual context, and was prepared by architects hired by the City. The first slide below is from the former, the other three are from the latter.

From the City’s website:

City of Gaithersburg
31 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20877

Telephone: 301-258-6330

PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA*
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
7:30 P.M.
City Hall Council Chambers

 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

February 7, 2007, Planning Commission Meeting
Background Material (pdf format)

CONSENT

AFP-06-050 – Lakelands – 415 Lakelands Drive

MXD Zone
(Staley Residence)
One-Story Addition and Covered Porch
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)

FROM THE COMMISSION

FROM STAFF

SDP–04-001 – The Vistas at Quince Orchard Park 

MXD Zone
Winter Walk Drive - Parcel A
13 Single-Family Detached Units,

32 Two/Two Condos, 38 Townhouses
Announcement of Closing of Record
Background I (pdf format)
Background II (pdf format)
Background III (pdf format)

Background IV (pdf format)

SDP-06-005 – Crown Farm Property 

MXD Zone
Fields Road/Sam Eig Hwy/Omega Drive

Mixed Use Development
Announcement of Closing of Record
Background I
Background II (pdf format)

ADJOURNMENT

The City is inviting the public to

Community Invited to Preview Initial Concept Plans for New Aquatic, Recreation Center
Posted 2/6/2007

The City of Gaithersburg will host a Community Workshop on Monday, February 26, 2007 at Lakelands Park Middle School to give the public an opportunity to review initial concept plans for the new Gaithersburg Indoor Aquatic and Recreation Center at Edison Park Drive.

Display boards will be available for viewing beginning at 6:30 p.m. City Staff and the design firm, SORG Architects, will make a presentation at 7:30 p.m., followed by ample opportunity for questions and answers.

It is envisioned that the new center will include an indoor pool with lap lanes and recreational areas, a gymnasium with basketball courts, a fitness area, and rooms for meetings and social gatherings.

The City anticipates receiving more detailed renderings of the concept plans from SORG this spring. These plans are the precursor to the development of a site plan.

Lakelands Park Middle School is located at 1200 Main Street. For more information please contact the City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Culture at 301-258-6350 or parksrec@gaithersburgmd.gov.

Update : A notice went out from the City today saying:

Dear Interested Parties:

Please be advised that HAWP-37E was removed from the agenda for tonight’s Historic District Commission meeting and will be placed on the HDC’s agenda for Tuesday, January 2, 2007. The City was notified that a particular piece of correspondence was not included in the public record and the HDC had not received a copy of it in their reading package.

We regret any inconvenience this may have caused.

Sincerely,

David B. Humpton
City Manager

The City has posted the agenda for the Monday, December 18, 2006 meeting of the Mayor and Council, with a mid-meeting hat change while they act as the Historic District Commission. There are a few agenda items of special interest:

• Policy discussion on Hamza Halici’s application to destroy a historically-designated property in the City, the Talbott House, also known as the Hair Bar. Mr Halici has asked permission to do this on financial-burden grounds, but has refused to submit any documentation which would effectively demonstrate the hardship the house supposedly creates. It will be interesting to see whether the Council will rule that this documentation is not required, presumably opening the door for any owner of any historic property in the City to obtain a demolition permit on these grounds, and in essence crippling future historic preservation efforts in the City.
• Announcement of the annual strategic planning retreat. Note that the public is invited to the Saturday sessions, which will be held in Annapolis.
• Two public hearings, one on T-380, an amendment to the I-3 zone (I-3 is used for IBM, Metropolitan Grove and GE Tech Park. I believe that the amendment has to do with issues in GE Tech Park specifically) and an amendment to the sprinkler ordinance, which would require the addition of sprinkler systems to apartment buildings that (a) lack them, and (b) are standing vacant for some minimum period of time. I believe that, in the immediate term, this issue was raised by the proposal to re-lease the East Deer Park apartments.
• The formal introduction of the proposed affordable housing regulations; those interested in this issue probably want to grab a copy of the background materials and read through it.
• Final action on the Defibrillator ordinance and on the Lakelands Lane in the Woods SDP.

City of Gaithersburg
AGENDA FOR A REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

MONDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2006, 7:30 P.M.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. INVOCATION

Fitzgerald Clark, Baha’i Faith

IV. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Minutes of a Regular Meeting of the Mayor and City

Council Held December 4, 2006

TBA - Background Material (pdf format)

V. APPOINTMENTS

Resolution of the City Council Confirming Appointments and a Reappointment by the Mayor to the Ad Hoc Election Participation Advisory Committee, and Gaithersburg Senior Council
Background Material (pdf format)

VI. OATH OF OFFICE TO ALTERNATE PLANNING COMMISSION MEMBER

• Geri Lanier

VII. PRESENTATION

The Gaithersburg Community Museum Train Annex Committee Update
Background Material (pdf format)

VIII. PUBLIC APPEARANCES
(public is invited to speak on any subject that is not a public hearing topic on tonight’s agenda – each speaker three minutes)

IX. FROM THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL/ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Upcoming City Events
• Strategic Planning Retreat Announcement

X. FROM THE CITY MANAGER

• Update on Market Square Issues
  Background Material (pdf format)

• Mid-Year Personnel Adjustments

  Background Material (pdf format)

XI. PUBLIC HEARING

1. JOINT – T-380, An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 24 of the City Code Entitled "Zoning," Article III Entitled "Regulations Applicable to Particular Zones,” Division 15 Entitled “I-3 Zone, Industrial and Office Park,” to Eliminate Redundant and Conflicting Provisions and Renumber Accordingly

   Background Material (pdf format)

2. An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 5 of the City Code Entitled "Buildings," to Create a New Article VI Entitled "Additional Fire Safety Requirements for Certain Multi-Family Residential Structures” to Create a New Section 5-11 Entitled “Automated Sprinkler Systems” to Require the Retrofit of Certain Multi-Family Residential Structures With Automated Sprinkler Systems

   Background Material (pdf format)

XII. RECESS MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

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HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION

1. Call to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

• Minutes of a Historic District Commission Meeting Held December 4, 2006
  Background Material (pdf format)

3. Certificates of Approval

• HAWP-99A (Amended) - Applicant: Alfred Riley, 10 Brookes Avenue, Conversion of Residence to Office, Install Parking Lot and Modifications to Rear of House
  Background Material (pdf format)

• HAWP-49B - Applicant: Barbara Lima, 12 Brookes Avenue, Tree Removal

  Background Material (pdf format)

4. Policy Discussion

• HAWP-37E Applicant: Stephen Orens for Hamza Halici/Halici, Inc., 309 North Frederick Avenue, Demolition of Talbott House
  Background Material (pdf format)

5. Adjournment

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XIII. RECONVENE MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEETING

XIV. ORDINANCES, RESOLUTIONS, AND REGULATIONS
(ordinances, resolutions, and regulations to be introduced or adopted following appropriate procedures required by the City Code, or resolutions that may require discussion by the Mayor and Council prior to approval)

Introduction of the Gaithersburg Affordable Housing Program Regulations (Public Hearing scheduled for 1/2/07)

Background Material (pdf format)

XV. POLICY DISCUSSION AND STAFF GUIDANCE
(discussion by the Mayor and Council about previous public hearing topics and other policy matters)

1. SDP-06-003, Resolution of the Mayor and City Council of Gaithersburg Granting Approving of Schematic Development Plan, SDP-06-003 as an Amendment to Schematic Development Plan SDP-L5, Lakelands, Lane in the Woods, the Subject Property is Located in the Lakelands Subdivision and is in the Mixed Use Development (MXD) Zone (Ready for Final Action)
   Background Material (pdf format)

2. An Ordinance to Amend Chapter 2 of the City Code, Entitled “Administration”, Article II, Entitled “Municipal-County Relations”, Section 2-6 Thereof, Entitled “Exemption From Montgomery County Legislation and Regulations Within the City” so as to Include the Provisions of Section 24-211A Entitled “Fitness Centers-Defibrillators” of Chapter 24 of the Montgomery County Code Entitled “Health And Sanitation”, as Being Applicable and Enforceable Within the City (Ready for Final Action)

   Background Material (pdf format)

XVI. FROM THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGERS, CITY ATTORNEY AND OTHER STAFF

XVII. ADJOURNMENT

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Notice to the general public is hereby given that the
Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg

will not conduct a work session the
week of December 25, 2006.

---

THE NEXT REGULAR MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

WILL BE HELD TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2007, 7:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CHAMBERS, 31 SOUTH SUMMIT AVENUE

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UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETING AND WORK SESSION ITEMS
This list is not all-inclusive, and does not reflect priorities or scheduling
But is intended to provide a glance at future items to come before the City Council.

Jan 2 Meeting

Public Hearing
Affordable Housing Program Regulations (tentative)

Policy Discussion
T-377 - Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance for the City of Gaithersburg

- Ordinance to Repeal and Reenact With Amendments Section 15-4 of the City Code, Entitled “Loitering,” so as to Clarify Existing Language With Regard to Prohibited Conduct, and Section 15-9, Entitled “Solicitation In Roadways,” so as to Expand the Applicability of the City’s Prohibition on Solicitation Specific to this Chapter

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Notice to the general public is hereby given that the
Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg
will conduct a special work session on Monday,
January 8, 2007, to gather citizen input on
the Draft 2007 Strategic Plan.

In addition, notice to the general public is hereby given that
the Mayor and City Council of the City of Gaithersburg
will hold their Annual Strategic Planning Retreat on
Friday, January 19 and Saturday, January 20, 2007.

An agenda and draft 2007 Strategic Plan will be

posted on the City’s website in January 2007. Anyone who
would like more information about the retreat may contact
the City Manager’s Office at 301-258-6310.

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MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS

ARE TELEVISED LIVE ON CABLE CHANNEL 13
AND ON THE
INTERNET AT
www.gaithersburgmd.gov/tv

TO CONFIRM ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS,
PLEASE CONTACT DORIS STOKES AT
CITY HALL, 301-258-6310

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Hand held signs brought into the Council Chambers may not be displayed in a manner which
disrupts the meeting, blocks the view of spectators or cameras and poses a safety
concern [e.g., signs mounted on stakes]. Your cooperation is appreciated.)

Articles of interest in the current issue of the Gaithersburg Town Courier:

• KCA Hires Engineer to Assess Flooding
  The KCA has hired Gardener James Engineering, Inc. to assess the flooding problems in Kentlands.
• City Wards Off New Tax for Now
  This is regarding the proposed Metropolitan District Tax. I’ll have a separate post on this later.
• Developers Debut Crown Farm Details
  This is also on my to-post-about list.
• Election coverage
  There are multiple articles on the upcoming KCA election, including candidate profiles. There is also a brief item about the upcoming, uncontested Lakelands election.
• City Council Endorses Day Laborer Site
• Gaithersburg Blogger Brings City Politics to the Web
• Editorial
  The Courier defends their news coverage and editorial content.
• Letters
  • Richard Arkin takes issue with the Courier’s coverage of the activation of the districting provision and questions the Courier’s impartiality.
  • Ann Strain expresses disappointment with the conduct of the September 27 KCA BOT meeting.

The Town Courier is available for free in stands at various locations in Kentlands, Lakelands and Quince Orchard Park. Most of their articles are not published on the Web.

Update: The City has posted an Outcomes document. See also my annotations below. Also, the video of this meeting is now available.

Outcome: Minutes of the previous meeting were approved with corrections.

Update: The City has revised this agenda to final status and published background materials for most of the items. Background materials for T-379 have not been released as of this morning (10/17/06), and one item has been removed. I’ve updated the text below to include links to the background PDFs.

The City has posted a tentative agenda for the October 18, 2006 meeting of the Planning Commision. Items on this agenda include:

T-379 — Ordinance to amend Chapter 24 of the City Code, entitled “Zoning,” to create a new Article XVI, entitled, “Affordable Housing Requirements,” §§ 24-248 through 24-254, so as to require the inclusion of moderately priced dwelling units and work force housing units in new residential developments
TBA - Background Material (pdf format)
Outcome: This item is not listed in the Outcomes, presumably it was removed from the agenda at the last minute.

SDP-06-003 — Request to amend the previously approved Schematic Development Plan SDP-L5, Lakelands Lane in the Woods. The current application (SDP-06-003) requests modification to pedestrian facilities, landscape, lighting, and tot lot removal. The subject property is located in the Lakelands subdivision and is in the Mixed Use Development (MXD) Zone.
Background Material (pdf format)
Outcome:Recommended for approval

T-379 and SDP-06-003 were subjects of a recent Mayor & Council meeting.

AFP-06-041 — 340 Tschiffely Square Road in Kentlands
MXD Zone
(Shaw Residence)
1-½ Story Addition to Garage with Porch & Steps
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)
Outcome:Approved

AFP-06-027 — Goddard School
MXD Zone
Quince Orchard Park Crescents
900 Wind River Lane
13,000-Sq.Ft. Private Educational Facility
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)
Outcome:Approved with condition

SP-06-0007 — Washingtonian South Ten
MXD Zone
9711 Washingtonian Boulevard
Two Office Buildings and Garage
FINAL PLAN REVIEW
This item has been removed from the agenda

AFP-06-039 — 10 Highland Avenue
R-90 Zone
(Hoiler Residence)
Garage/Driveway Changes
AMENDMENT TO FINAL PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)
Outcome:Approved

AFP-06-040 — Crown Pointe
RP-T Zone
Norwich/Sharpstead Lanes
Revised Elevations  Norwood Model
COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITION OF APPROVAL
Background Material (pdf format)
Outcome:Granted

CSP-06-002 — Russell & Brooks Addition
R-B Zone
10 Brookes Avenue
Conversion of Residence to Office with Parking
CONCEPT PLAN REVIEW
Background Material (pdf format)
Outcome:Approved

The City has posted the outcomes of the 10/03/06 Council Meeting and the 10/04/06 Planning commission meeting.

In the Planning Commission hearing, all items on the agenda were approved or granted, SP-06-0007, SP-06-0008 and AFP-06-030 with conditions.

In the outcomes document for the Mayor and Council meeting, it states that the Goddard School, the Gateway Park matching grant, the T-372 text amendment and the Defibrillator Code were all approved. I still have not had an opportunity to watch the end of that meeting, so if anyone is aware of any anomalies in the discussion of those items, please leave a note in the comments.

In contrast to previous outcomes documents, this one does not include the text of the City Manager’s statement on progress in the Day Laborer situation; the statement text that is on the City’s website does not include the part about supporting the development of an anti-solicitation ordinance.

Update: The City has posted the video of last night’s meeting, as well as the final, approved versions of the minutes of the 09/05/06 and 09/18/06 Council meetings. The 09/05/06 minutes still do not have the HDC portion.

I don’t have a lot of time to write a long post, so I’ll try to quickly summarize what happened tonight, and will try to follow up with more detail when I have some more time.

• The minutes for both the 09/05/06 and 09/18/06 meetings were approved. The HDC portion of the 9/05/06 meeting, regarding the destruction of the Talbott House, was omitted from the minutes without comment. I expect that, at a minimum, it is undergoing a thorough legal review.
• The City Manager read a statement regarding progress in the day labor center. There was essentially nothing new beyond the previous press release.
  Correction: As George points out, one difference between the statement at the meeting and the press release was the City Manager’s support for an anti-solicitation ordinance. Later in the session, the Council members expressed support for this as well, and directed the City Manager to have staff prepare a draft ordinance sooner rather than later.
• Public appearances went on for quite a while; most people spoke on the labor center issue. Generally the Olde Towne residents who have been putting up with the existing site were supportive, but repeatedly made the point that the center needed to be combined with an anti-solicitation ordinance or there would be no way for the City to deal with the continued existence of ad hoc sites. Demos Chrissos and Susan Payne were dead set against the proposed site, but were also dead set against any labor center anywhere in the city. They promised to do everything possible to stop it from happening, but I don’t recall hearing them suggest any positive steps that the City government could take to shut down the informal laborer hiring sites scattered through the city. From what they’ve said at previous Council meetings, however, I have the impression that they favor having the City police round up all the illegals in the city and hand them over to ICE, thus creating an illegal-free zone that would have no need for a labor center, but I suppose I could be misunderstanding their position.
• The hearing on SDP-06-003 was largely a non-event; I suggest watching it on the video if this affects you.
• The hearing on the affordable housing ordinance brought out a long parade of speakers. Action in Montgomery had a big turnout, and many members spoke of the need to preserve all the affordable housing in Gaithersburg, no matter how decrepit; one person did suggest that it would be best if the developers could renovate such housing as long as they didn’t then raise the rents or evict existing tenants. The point was made that an MPDU requrement for new construction would do nothing for a large number of residents of Olde Towne, who are currently benefiting from ongoing disinvestment and could not afford even apartments at MPDU rental rates. One Asbury resident spoke of the need for low-wage Asbury employees to have a place to live within walking distance, but did not address the possibility of either paying them enough to be able to afford a car or a better place nearby, or building some affordable housing on Asbury grounds. Several businessmen and residents spoke to the need for continued investment in Olde Towne CBD zones in particular. Jim Clifford pointed out that in the past ten years there has not been a single unsubsidized development in Olde Towne, that the most recent development of any sort was three years ago, and that 97% of the dwelling units in Olde Towne met workforce housing standards, while 70% met MPDU standards as far as cost was concerned. Many speakers supported excluding Olde Towne from the affordable housing requirements, as Olde Towne already has an oversupply of affordable housing and an under supply of mid-priced and luxury dwelling units. Many also spoke of the need for this ordinance to cause affordable housing to be created throughout the city. In the end, the Council choose to go forward with a policy discussion on the option two ordinance, which does exclude Olde Towne.

I have not been able to watch the remainder of the meeting, and will report on that once I’ve had the opportunity to do so.

OK, maybe it wasn’t such a short summary after all.

There’s a public hearing scheduled for Schematic Development Plan change for Lakelands Lane in the Woods.

The application requests to amend the previously approved Schematic Development Plan, SDP-L5, Lakelands Lane in the Woods, The current application (SDP-06-003) requests modification to pedestrian facilities, landscape, lighting, and tot lot removal. The subject property is located in the Lakelands subdivision and is in the Mixed Use Development (MXD) Zone.Contact the Planning and Code Administration City Planner (listed below) at 301-258-6330 if you should have any questions and/or to learn more about this process and your ability to offer testimony and input.

There’s a PDF of the locater map available, although I must admit I’m not certain exactly where, exactly, are the lots they are talking about. No further background seems to be available, it will probably be posted along with the agenda for the 10/03 meeting. If anyone has any concerns or more information about the proposed change, please leave a note in the comments.