Virtual Town Hall Meeting from Thursday, May 9, 2019
Marc Elrich Welcome to the online chat this month. I want to note that this week is Small Business Week and I have had a chance to meet with some of the small businesses around the county. I am inspired by their hard work, creativity and commitment to Montgomery County. I look forward to your questions today.
Roz from
Mid County
One part of the solution to the shopping carts found all through the neighborhoods would be to establish a shuttle bus stops around the perimeter of all the stores in Westfield Mall (Wheaton Plaza) and then hit some stops on University and Veirs Mill Roads before heading to the destination point which would be the Wheaton Metro station. So much foot traffic in Wheaton this would help make life a little easier for the pedestrians.
Thank you for serving. Roselin Becker
Marc Elrich Yes, the shopping carts are a nuisance and pedestrians could use some help. Shuttles like the ones that operate in downtown Silver Spring and Bethesda are very expensive and only possible with the funding of the urban districts—but Wheaton does have service, and it’s about to expand. Ride On Route 9 serves the mall during the midday hours seven days per week; it operates every 30 minutes providing connections to the Wheaton and Silver Spring Metro Stations as well as Four Corners. The kind of perimeter service you mention will be an option for some Westfield Mall Wheaton shoppers with the launch of the new Ride On Flex, Montgomery County’s first experiment with micro transit (to view the boundaries of the Flex service zone for the Glenmont/Wheaton area, visit rideonflex.com). When the Flex launches in late June, the mall will have direct service during the peak periods with the Flex and fixed route service during the midday with the Route 9. And in general I'm excited about the launch of Ride On Flex - it will only be available in two zones to begin, but one of them is Wheaton-Glenmont. Let me know what you think if try it!
Linda from
Mid County
HI Marc,
Are there plans for single-stream recycling. This would be a huge help on recycling day.
Thank you.
Marc Elrich Our plans are to stay the course with our dual-stream recycling program.
Dual-stream recycling (paper and cardboard in one bin; bottles, cans, and containers in a separate bin) results in less contamination of the recyclable materials, and therefore higher quality materials that we can market for resale and reuse.
In 2018, the number of markets globally that are purchasing recyclable materials to make new products was greatly reduced when China began to ban the import of recyclables, so we need to ensure a good quality of our recyclables.
Minimizing contamination is now critically important, in order to produce higher quality materials which are more in demand by the remaining US and other overseas markets.
We will continue to work on efforts to help people understand how to best use dual-stream recycling and make it as easy as possible.
kathleen Dugan from
Rockville
What are your thoughts on adding more lanes to the already congested beltway?
How will this help elevated traffic in the future. I feel it will only encourage more people to live far out and drive in. In about 4 years the beltway will be as congested as before. Only with more cars and less trees/green space
We need to protect our environment (what is left) and find new solutions. Maybe add more metro rail options to travel over the bridges to Virginia.
Adding more lanes to an already congested 6 lane beltway is not the solution
Marc Elrich I agree with you - any transportation solution must have a strong transit component and this one does not. I do think some road solutions are reasonable - I have long been in favor of adding two reversible lanes to I-270. This would relieve some of the congestion that backs up that highway virtually every morning and evening rush hour. And I also suggested - and the state has listened - that any changes should begin at the American Legion bridge, which has many backups. However, widening the beltway is not a good solution for multiple reasons, including affect on adjacent neighborhoods and the environment. Additionally, even if traffic flow were improved on the beltway, it does not address the backups on the exit roads, including Georgia Avenue and Connecticut Avenue. We need to direct funds to improving parts of the Beltway from I-270 west to the bridge and work with Virginia to fix the problems with the bridge itself. And any transportation plan needs to include funding to expand public transit that would take traffic off all these roads. We will soon have the FLASH transit service along Route 29. We are also beginning the process to address having similar bus rapid transit along Veirs Mill Road and on Route 355 as part of an overall plan for public transit.
Veracruz from
Up County
When is the county going to accept the reality and let the state build the second Potomac crossing? This is inevitable and will be done, delaying this down the road is costing the county access to an international airport and relocation of a lot of business to the county. Any road accompanying the bridge can be built with no exits until I-270 to protect the agriculture reserve. A road connecting IAD and BWI will be a magnet for technology companies and high paying jobs who can leverage two world-class airports for domestic and international travel. The county need more jobs, not more housing, every class-A office space has "For Lease" sign in the county, more and more commercial space is just getting converted to housing. The smart growth Pike and Rose is having a hard time attracting a single tenant with decent jobs. Something needs to be done swiftly and decisively or else the county and its finances will implode to doom.
Marc Elrich In its Visualize 2045 long-range transportation plan, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments studied this connection and found that the bridge didn't measure up when compared to other transportation alternatives. The committee identified ten important actions the region could take to address transportation; and this simply didn't make the list.
It’s also worth noting that, with no right of way reserved for the link to and from the potential bridge, the private land takings required to make the connection would be enormous. And additionally, the Virginia side of the bridge would likely benefit more economically than the County would. Adding capacity on the American Legion bridge is much more important in terms of improving transportation in the County.
The County also has a commitment to maintaining the AG Reserve; and this project would have a significant negative impact.
Dave from
Eastern Montgomery
Mr. Elrich, Burtonsville asks that you please continue to make Burtonsville a priority. We are aware of your continued efforts to date and applaud the great strides made. Can you give us an update on your plans and progress with these efforts?
Marc Elrich The REVITALIZATION of the Burtonsville Crossing Shopping Center has been a priority from Day One.
- I met with Burtonsville community members (Build a Better Burtonsville) on December 6, 2018, within the first week in office to discuss ideas for revitalization of the Burtonsville.
- The Administration is looking into a number of Ideas discussed including:
- Feasibility of integrating structured parking as part for the Burtonsville Bus Rapid System parking garage plan.
- Temporary low-cost traffic calming treatments/ measures on MD 198 (across Burtonsville)- widened edge lines, transverse markings, rumble strips, speed warning signs/flashing yellow lights, etc.
- Providing short-term/pop-up (place making) uses of the Shopping Center/spaces to bring the community together and create a greater sense of community in this region
- Support implementation of the Burtonsville Community Legacy Plan-public amenities, mixed-use development, transportation/parking, business/economic development, housing, environmental sustainability.
- MCG Senior Staff met with representatives from Burtonsville, EDENS and Councilmember Tom Hucker’s Office shortly before taking office to update community members on MCG’s ongoing negotiations with EDENs, the developer’s vision for the center and constraints/barriers for moving forward for revitalization.
- The biggest impediment to redeveloping the empty shopping center is that Giant won't release the lease restrictions on its former store in the nearly empty center. This means that no new grocery store is allowed in the center, which severely impacts the developer's ability to redevelop the center. They're still attempting to negotiate with Giant to get the restrictions lifted.
- Other efforts made to promote redevelopment: MC tax credits for real estate and personal property in 2013; County exemption from impact taxes in 2015, Maryland tax credits for real property and income tax credits for new employees in 2017.
- The Directors of the East County RSC and Recreation Department recently met with County Planning staff to coordinate a plan in close collaboration with EDENs, local Burtonsville businesses, community and County government partners to establish a Place Making Program in Burtonsville.
East County is on a DEVELOPMENT PATH:
- We are actively engaged in talks with a major potential tenant for the center.
- The White Oak Science Gateway Master Plan approved and adopted in 2014, ending over 20-year moratorium on development and creating opportunities for significant developments and transformations in Eastern Montgomery County
- Bus Rapid Transit System on US 29 in East County from Burtonsville to downtown Silver Spring - First area designated for RAPID TRANSIT (BRT)
- FDA Headquarter Consolidation in White Oak-130 acres, 6,000m Sf, 5,900 additional jobs on campus
- VIVA White Oak-mixed –use development, science hub
- White Oak Medical Center (Washington Adventist Hospital) - to open August 25, 2019
- Hillandale Gateway Projects- collaboration with HOC, Mixed-use development, office, retail, commercial- Home2 Suites Hotel in Hillandale to open early April, 2019
- White Oak Town Center (US 29/Industrial Parkway)-mixed-use residential, office, commercial
- Affordable Senior Residential Developments- Affordable Senior apartments (Victory Crossing by the 3D Police Station, Willow Manor at the East County RSC, 2 by the Buddhist Temple on New Hampshire Avenue (Independent and Assisted Living apartment communities).
George from
Up County
Who owns this site and where can I reach them? This site is simply horrible. I cannot select, the directions are poor and more importantly I cannot use the contact link to reach them. https://www2.montgomerycountymd.gov/dot-streetlight/Index.aspx
Marc Elrich I'm sorry you're having difficulty with this tool. Please provide an address and/or intersection for this light so that I may be able to assist you further. We'll also take a look at both the instructions and functionality. Additionally, to report a problem with a streetlight, you could also email
[email protected] or call 311.
Patrick Little from
Rockville
This Government taught me at a young age, America, Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, Then you destroyed it with one secret law. Notice to vacate your Home with out a reason.
Marc Elrich Thank you for your comment. I want to clarify that the law to which you are referring addresses just cause for eviction. This is a state law not a county law. I have worked to change the law to require landlords to present just cause for eviction. The Maryland General Assembly voted the law down. I intend to continue to work hard to enact this law.
Eric Nash from
Rockville
The county is investing significant amount in infrastructure in up-county and Silver Spring area. However, over the past decade, as housing prices have increased through the county, home prices in Potomac have been declining, with significant population of wealthy residents leaving the county. This issue hurts the county in two ways, less property tax, and less income to tax from wealthy population. What is being done to address the housing issue in Potomac? What is being done to retain the wealthy population?
Marc Elrich Thank you for your question. Montgomery County is a growing community of more than 1.1 million people requiring expanded public services, especially infrastructure such as schools, roads, libraries and recreation centers. With limited resources, we attempt to allocate resources as equitably as possible. Our goal is to maintain Montgomery County as an excellent place to live work and raise a family. By most accounts, we do this well. Our 2017 Citizen Survey showed more than 85% of our residents are satisfied with life in the county.
Maintaining this high satisfaction rate in every part of the county is very important to me. Potomac homeowners benefit from our commitment to public education and public safety as well as are high standards to protect the environment. More specifically we have recently rebuilt several schools, with more coming, added a new full-service recreation center and fire station, opened new bikeways and paved many miles of local roads in Potomac. We know that there is increasing interest in housing being located closer to transit, and that Potomac is pretty much only accessible by car. There may be a shift in housing preferences at play here.
Roxanne from
Silver Spring
Will the new Police Chief be asked her/his opinion Re: the TRUST Act?
Marc Elrich Thank you for your question. I am deeply grateful to Police Chief Tom Manager for his many years of service to the people of Montgomery County.
Before I appoint a new police chief, I intend to to engage with the community during this process. We have circulated a survey asking the community what they are seeking in a police chief. Those results will be published on our website shortly. On June 6, at Kennedy High School, I will host a community forum about policing to hear from people directly. After substantial input and participation from our diverse communities, I will select a chief who represents the values of accountability, fairness, justice and transparency which at are at the heart of Montgomery County's culture. You have asked about the "Trust Act," which is not currently legislation or law in Montgomery County but most elements of the Trust Act are already part of County policy.
Our diverse population makes us stronger - it is my intent to hire a police chief who understands our commitment to and support for our diversity.
Marc Elrich Thank you for joining me. I look forward to hearing from you next month.
