Summary Notes - Neighborhoods Commitee - October 2007

Summary Notes
Neighborhoods Committee
October 15, 2007 – 7:00 pm – Silver Spring Regional Services Center

Attending: Alan Bowser; Anita Morrison, Long Branch Advisory Committee; Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board members Fran Rothstein and Lucinda Lessley; Martha Waddy, New Hampshire Estates Civic Association; Charlotte Coffield, Lyttonsville Civic Association; Chris Richardson, Park Hills Civic Association; Rukiyat Gilbert, Southern Management; Marcie Stickle, Silver Spring Historical Society; Mary Reardon, Silver Spring Historical Society, Caren Madsen, Montgomery County Civic Federation; Cynthia Butler, Montgomery County Department of Housing and Community Affairs; Rob Gibbs, Montgomery County Department of Parks; Adam Pagnuco, Forest Glen Civic Association; Lt. Steve Auger, MCPD; Elmoria Stewart, Lyttonsville Civic Association, Vern McLendon, Silver Spring Recreation Advisory Board; J. Siegenthaler; Linda Siegenthaler; Sally Gagne, Friends of Sligo Creek, ; and Karen Ashby, Silver Spring Regional Services Center.

Report on October Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board Meeting and September Neighborhoods Committee Meeting: Alan Bowser reviewed the actions taken by the Board at the October 8, 2007 meeting. The full Board—
• Approved Neighborhoods Committee’s draft Resolution honoring Elnora Harvey and a letters honoring Charles Koiner.
• The Board did not approve a letter expressing the Neighborhoods Committee’s concern about a new entertainment venue on Colesville Road.
• Received presentations by representatives of Montgomery County and Live Nation regarding a new Music Center on Colesville Road.
• Took no action on a proposed Zoning Text Amendment to increase building heights in the Central Business District to 200 feet.
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At the September meeting of the Neighborhoods Committee:
• Received its regular briefing on public safety issues from Cdr. Don Johnson, 3rd District, MCPD.
• Received a detailed briefing on gangs and gang activity in Silver Spring by Ofc. Cory Brodzinski.
• Received a briefing on Long Branch developments by Joe Rodriquez of the Long Branch Business League.
• Received briefing materials on the Northwest Park /Oakview Weed & Seed program from Martha Waddy and Victor Salazar, a former Neighborhoods Committee member, and site coordinator for the project.
• Approved a draft Resolution honoring Elnora Harvey and a letter honoring Charles Koiner.
• Approved a letter expressing Committee concern about issues related to a new Music Center on Colesville Road.

Public Safety Update. 3rd District Lt. Steve Auger, MCPD, briefed the Committee on recent public safety developments in Silver Spring. He reviewed Silver Spring crime statistics, noting a decrease in violent crime and an increase in daytime residential burglaries, vehicle thefts, and larcenies from vehicles. He said that GPS devices and catalytic converters were highly sought after by thieves. He recommended several measures for residents to protect their homes and vehicles. He reported that a MCPD PCAT team was operating in Silver Spring to focus on areas of special concern.

Northwest Park/Oakview Weed & Seed Program Update. Martha Waddy briefed the Committee on recent developments regarding the Weed & Seed Program. She highlighted two events:

• On September 20, 2007, the Weed & Seed Program supported the Broad Acres School Community Picnic celebrating the new school year and return of Ms. Kimberly Oliver, National Teacher of the Year. The program was well attended and very successful.
• On October 15, 2007, Nuisance Abatement Initiative at Oakview: The Nuisance Abatement Task Force convened its final planning meeting and selected 25 priority properties to focus on during the next 30 days.

Long Branch Streetscape Update. Cynthia Butler, DHCA briefed the Committee on the planned renovation of the sidewalks along the north side of Arliss Street, in the Long Branch area of Silver Spring. The planned renovation will include trees, lighting, and ADA compliant sidewalks. Other sidewalks in the area will be renovated by private developers, and Montgomery County in a second phase project.

The Committee asked questions about the timing, funding and scope of the project. They also asked how the project tied into the Long Branch “Super Block” concept and into plans for the Purple Line transit system.

The Deer Issue in Silver Spring. Rob Gibbs, Natural Resources Manager for Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, and Chair of the Montgomery County Deer Management Workgroup, described the County’s deer management program. It began in 1995, in response to concerns of farmers in the upper part of the County whose crops were being destroyed. Other issues include deer vehicle collisions, damage to nursery businesses as well as crops, landscape degradation, parkland impacts and destruction of undergrowth, and Lyme disease.

One problem, related to Lyme disease, is that getting rid of deer won’t get rid of Lyme disease. Deer brought the deer tick, but whitefooted mice and chipmunks carry the deer tick. So the disease seems to be fairly well established in our area. The medical establishment is very unaware of Lyme disease, so there needs to be education directed at doctors and other healthcare workers.

Other problems:
• Many deer have lost their fear of humans.
• Overpopulation of deer can threaten the health of the deer population.
• Chronic Wasting Disease has already attacked deer in West Virginia, though not yet in Maryland.
• Auto accidents and other negative types of deer-human interaction are especially prevalent now, during mating season.

The Deer Management Workgroup’s overall plan is two-fold: education, and active deer management. MNCPPC offers hour-long deer management workshops for neighborhood groups. For strategies on preventing deer damage: www.naturalresources.umd.edu . Other information is available at www.mc-mncppc.org/environment/deer . Residents can pick up a brochure, “Living with White-Tailed Deer,” available in the Silver Spring Regional Center’s lobby.

Active deer management includes controlled hunts and sharpshooting in 14 parks, covering 14,000 acres of parkland. There is no hunting contemplated in Sligo Creek Park, because the park is long and narrow, and the difficulty in controlling human access during a hunt is so severe. MNCPPC is working on a population estimate for Sligo Creek Park. There is currently no deer contraception technology that meets effectiveness and safety concerns. For an environmentalist’s perspective on unabated growth in the deer population, see http://www.audubonmagazine.org/incite/incite0203.html .

The Committee asked questions about the County policies and programs, and requested more information as it became available.

The Train Noise Issue. Adam Pagnucco of the Forest Estates Community Association spoke to the Committee about the train horn noise at the Linden Lane railroad crossing (near Forest Glen Road). Approximately 60 trains per day pass through the crossing and blow their horns four times, disrupting nearby communities. Seven civic associations inside and outside the Beltway are requesting the county to declare a Quiet Zone around the crossing. The Quiet Zone would silence the horns only if the county's Department of Public Works & Transportation installed safety measures consistent with federal regulations. A four-quadrant gate would cost $500,000, while median barriers would cost $25,000. Pagnucco asked the Committee to write in support of either measure as a cost-effective way to preserve quality of life as well as train crossing safety.

The Committee unamimously approved a letter to the County Executive requesting designation of a railway Quiet Zone in Silver Spring, near Forest Glen.

Historic Preservation Issues. The Committee discussed several historic preservation issues.

Process: Historic Designation in Montgomery County. Mary Reardon, Silver Spring Historical Society summarized the process for “historic designation” in Montgomery County. Properties listed on the County’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation are legally protected from demolition or major alteration to the exterior. A building can be nominated for master plan listing by citizens or by the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). The following government entities, in this order, have to approve Master Plan listing of a property: Historic Preservation Commission, Planning Board, and County Council.

Properties are sometimes first listed on the Locational Atlas of Historic Sites. Citizens or the HPC can nominate. Locational Atlas listing gives a property interim protection. A propery can stay on the Atlas for years. A proposal for demolition or major alteration of the property triggers a full review for Master Plan listing. The HPC and the Planning Board have to approve Locational Atlas listings. The Falkland Apartments are currently on the Atlas (since 2005), while the Perpetual Building is going straight to Master Plan review.

Falkland Apartments: Recap and Update. Mary Reardon, Silver Spring Historical Society, briefed the Committee on developments regarding a proposed large size apartment development near the corner of East West Highway and 16th Street. The New Deal-era Falkland Apartments in downtown Silver Spring will be reviewed for historic designation by the Planning Board, probably in mid-November (i.e., to decide on adding it to the County’s Master Plan for Historic Preservation which would protect it from demolition). On the same evening, the Board will review the project plan, which would demolish 9 acres of Falkland (the entire north sector) and replace it with 1,059 apartment units and a Harris Teeter supermarket. We believe the Planning Board will hold a work session (and a vote) a week after the hearing. The Historic Preservation Commission voted in August to designate Falkland. In addition to the issue of historic merit (e.g., connection to New Deal history and its eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places), the proposed project is enormous, and a growing number of civic activists are concerned about the impacts on traffic and pedestrian safety in an area already clogged with traffic.

The hearing, which had been scheduled for November 1, was postponed several days after the Neighborhoods Committee meeting.

Perpetual Building. Marcie Stickle, Silver Spring Historical Society Advocacy Chair, briefed the Committee on developments regarding the Perpetual Building located at the corner of Georgia Avenue and Cameron Street. She said that the elegantly designed 1958 Perpetual Building was imminently endangered as its owner proposes plans to demolish it and build a 14-story condominium in its place at the corner of Ga. Ave. & Cameron—Silver Spring's "Financial District" with 9 banks surrounding that intersection. Its style is modern classicism, with Art Deco Egyptian motif features as seen in its trapezoidal windows; its fabrics are of polished Carnelian (formed 2 billion years ago) and Diamond Gray granite, limestone, roseate marble, brushed aluminum, and green-tinted glass.

Perpetual, a leading “thrift” institution survived the Great Depression, making homeownership possible for the working and middle class. The Silver Spring Historical Society has overwhelming support for its historic preservation and designation, including support from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Maryland Historical Trust and the Historic Preservation Commission. The Planning Board hearing on historical designation has been postponed until later November or early December.

See Jerry McCoy's Voice article with photos: http://recentpast.org/types/commercial/perpetual.html &
http://www.silverspringvoice.com/archives/copy/2007/02/features_thenAgain0207.html

Lyttonsville and Samuel Lytton Historic Designation. Charlotte Coffield, Lyttonsville Civic Association, briefed the Committee on the history of the Lyttonsville community and its founder, Samuel Lytton, and the community’s efforts to achieve official recognition of its early role in the economic development, growth and civic life of Silver Spring and Montgomery County.

She pointed out that Lyttonsville and its residents, historically, had received little attention from the Montgomery County government in Rockville. For example, it took a 25 year battle with the County before the neighborhood streets were paved. No official recognition has ever been made of the significant contributions of its African American residents since the community was founded in 1853. The publications on the history of Silver Spring and Montgomery County fail to acknowledge the important role that the African-American community of Lyttonsville played in their development. She shared photographs illustrating the contributions of Lyttonsville residents to the U.S. armed forces and the National Park Seminary. She said the community feels that now is the time for Lyttonsville to be acknowledged for its important role in the County’s history. She described the Lyttonville Civic Association’s meetings with officials of the Park & Planning Commission and their efforts to get official recognition and a historical monument in honor of the community’s founder, Samuel Lytton.

The Committee unamimously approved a letter in support of the Lyttonsville’s community efforts to secure historical recognition for Lyttonsville and its founder Samuel Lytton.

Weed and Seed Program Update. Victor Salazar and Martha Waddy provided a summary of Northwest Park Oakview Weed & Seed Program developments. That summary is provided as an attachment to the Committee minutes.

Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 9:10 pm.

Next Meeting November 19, 2007


The Northwest Park Oakview Weed and Seed (NPOWS)
Program Update to the
Silver Spring Citizen’s Advisory Board
Neighborhood Committee
October 15, 2007

Martha Waddy
Steering Committee Member
Northwest Park Oakview Weed & Seed

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

• On September 17, 2007, The Avery Park Community held another community meeting at Good Shepherd United Methodist. Silver Spring events like Magical Montgomery were advertised.

• On September 20, 2007, the Weed & Seed Program supported the Broad Acres School Community Picnic celebrating the new school year and return of Ms. Kimberly Oliver, National Teacher of the Year.

• On September 26, 2007, Victor Salazar, Weed & Seed Site Coordinator, was a guest speaker at the Oakview Community Association meeting. The community reiterated its support for a Weed & Seed Nuisance Abatement Initiative.

• On October 5, 2007, The Northwest Park Apartments celebrated the graduation of several residents from Neighborhood Watch Training. George Simms from the State’s Attorney’s Office was a guest speaker and led the graduation ceremony.

• On October 9, 2007, a meeting was held with CSAFE who is the coordinating agency for the Weed & Seed’s anti-truancy initiative during year 2 of operation. Highlights of the initiative include 8 task force meetings, 3 workshops and activities focused on Middle School Youth.

• On October 10, 2007, Victor Salazar and Gretchen Hilburger met with Southern Management’s resident manager and outreach team in charge of Hampshire West Apartments. An agreement was reached to collaborate on engaging residents in activities with management support.

• On October 15, 2007, Nuisance Abatement Initiative at Oakview: The Nuisance Abatement Task Force convened its final planning meeting and selected 25 priority properties to focus on during the next 30 days.

• Four (4) residents within the Weed & Seed Community are taking part in Impact Silver Spring’s CEP – Community Empowerment Program. Luther Hinsley, Bill Dawes, Margaret Palmer from Avery Park and Serena Locust from Northwest Park.