College Gardens Civic Association
Spring 2018 Meeting
Wednesday, May 16, 2018

(Spring 2018 Meeting Minutes – final)

Tom Miner, board president, called the meeting to order, and introduced the board members and guest speakers for the meeting. We show 67 attendees signed in.

Welcome and Board Updates

Brian Paul, lieutenant with Rockville Police Department (RPD): College Gardens (CG) is a neighborhood with a low-crime rate. One crime deterrent benefit to the neighborhood is that it is enclosed, meaning it isn’t used as a short cut to get to other places. To help minimize what petty crimes there are: lock your doors, leave porch lights on, call when something odd is seen, don’t wait! Leave nothing visible in cars. Report burned out streetlights to RPD via web site or phone call. A metal pole means the city oversees a streetlight, a light on a wooden pole should be reported to PEPCO.

President’s Note: Here’s an online form to report malfunctioning streetlights: http://www.rockvillemd.gov/formcenter/public-works-8/report-a-streetlight-outage-or-problem-52

Bob Mills, treasurer’s report: CGCA has a bank balance of $5340.39, which is $320.80 more than our balance at the date of our fall membership meeting. The increase is due mostly to the sale of additional directories.

John Mosely Hayes, vice president: National Night Out (NNO) is funded through the sale of directories. NNO builds community bonding between the neighborhood and police. Woodley Gardens West has joined us for the last two years. John issued a call for volunteers (clean up, activities, set up). This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, August 7. Please contact John or Tom if you can help.

Rockville 2040 Transportation Plan:

Rob DiSpirito, city manager: applauded CG for having a beautiful, well-kept neighborhood. He stated the purpose tonight is not to advocate for any one idea, but to gather feedback from the community.

David Levy, long-range planner, said the last update to the city’s comprehensive plan was done in 2002. A master plan is required for zoning, land use, transportation, community facilities, environment, preservation elements, etc. Open houses and listening sessions for the master plan started in 2015. Feedback included: we love our neighborhoods, it’s peaceful; I wish we had better north/south or east/west movement, King Farm wanted access to CGES; others wanted easier access to the senior center. Planning and Public Works started looking at options. The study is looking at which connections to discuss with the planning commission, which connections are worthy of considering. The study will come out in June. The question we ask is, “Do we believe the benefits of connectivity outweigh the costs”?

The following discussion references the image below. The full document can be found at this link. http://www.rockvillemd.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21729

 

1.4 Connecting Rutgers to Montgomery College via North Campus Dr. has been ruled out. The college doesn’t want that access to its campus for security reasons.

1.3 Study potential benefits and impacts of connecting Yale Place to West Gude Drive. A lively discussion took place concerning this possibility.

• Tom Murphy (owner since 1979) shared that a fight took place in 1980 to open Yale Place to West Gude, which was being built at that time. The neighborhood was assured by the mayor, Bill Hanna, that this connection would be a non-starter. He had it included as an ordinance in the master plan. Today, King Farm is interested in having this access to CGES.

It was noted that the master plan in 1982 said no access would be given to Yale Place via Gude Dr. In 2002 that ordinance wasn’t included in the master plan. Mayor and council can override ordinances if they feel it’s necessary.

• Huei—Fung Tsai asked the speakers how connecting Yale and Gude is a good idea. No real benefit to the neighborhood was stated.
• Scott Butterworth asked if the current council feels committed to Bill Hanna’s decision? Bridget Newton, mayor, issued an emphatic yes.

Rob DiSpirito, city manager, said option 1.3 will come off the table for future planning sessions to much applause and appreciation.

A potential connection from Piccard Drive into the Senior Center will help people north of the center to access the Senior Services. To eliminate the through traffic concerns of Woodley Gardens residents, it was noted it would be accessible only to the back-parking lot and through traffic would not be allowed. A barrier could be installed, and it could be opened only by emergency vehicles.

3.2 Gude + 355 intersection: this is not a city-maintained road. Improvements to this intersection have been in the works since 2002, and are making their way up the list of improvements. The commission can advocate for that improvement but suggests we contact MDOT to request these changes, which will let those in charge know the community is asking for the change or improvements.

3.1 intersection of 270 and Gude – a lot of unsolicited support from businesses and outer neighborhoods (like those along East Gude Dr.) to have easier access to 270. The possibility of a limited interchange without full service was noted as an option that is under consideration.

Environmental documentation is being conducted concerning Gov. Hogan’s plan to widen 270. There is room in the medians and breakdown lanes to accommodate and/or increase the capacity of 270. Mayor and council sent strongly worded letter against any widening in our area.

Other planning questions not related directly to the Rockville 2040 Transportation Plan

Is there an obligation to build ES in King Farm? MCPS is in charge of building, not neighborhoods or city. Send comments or suggestions to MCPS administration.

The planning commission is meeting on Wednesday, May 23. Mark added that the ultimate arbiter are the mayor and council. The neighborhood must remain vigilant in representing our interests.

Rob DiSpirito said a summer council meeting will include a discussion of the deer population in Rockville. All are welcome!

Could Anderson Park be made into a dog park? Rec and Parks is going to look at various parks for their usage.

Keep alleviating traffic by emphasizing walking and biking.

Kudos were given to the speakers about the improvements to the woods. It looks beautiful, and has created a better flow for the stream.

A question was asked about a bridge to connect the woods by CG to Woodley Gardens. Pedestrian bridges are not outrageously expensive, and possible. But many neighbors voiced concern that the woods and Upper Watts Branch be left in a natural state. Send a marked-up map to Parks & Recs if you have any suggestions.

Tom Miner closed the meeting by reminding everyone that Rockville’s Hometown Holidays Music Festival is coming up over the Memorial Day weekend. The Digits, a local CG rock band, is playing there on Sunday, May 27th at 2 PM.

The meeting ended at 8:43 p.m.