| FY12 Budget: Park and Planning June 2, 2011 |
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There is perhaps no agency more important to the economic development and shaping of our County than the Planning Department. It is in the able hands of the planning staff that master plans are drafted, forest conservation plans reviewed, and new projects are evaluated. Without the Planning Department, economic activity in the County would come to a standstill and we could not plan for exciting new developments like the recently approved White Flint Sector Plan.
In the past few years, the Planning Department's budget has been hit harder than almost any other department or agency in the County - suffering a 40 % reduction in staff over previous levels, yet charged with the same amount of work. Accordingly, the Council restored approximately $1.5 million above the County Executive's recommended FY12 Budget which will allow the Planning Department to help keep our economy moving out of the recession by being able to conduct timely review of development projects, maintain their current work program of master plans and neighborhood studies, and get to work on amending our Master Plan of Highways to plan for a countywide Bus Rapid Transit System.
Our vast system of beautiful parks is part of what makes Montgomery County so special. Like all other County departments and agencies, the Department of Parks has been charged with "doing more with less," even as the commission acquires more park land and open space. The Council restored some priorities identified by Parks staff, including park maintenance, seasonal staffing, and Park Police patrol of the Capital Crescent Trail from 2AM - 6AM. I am confident that with the good work of the Department of Parks staff, our unique parks system will continue to be a valued gem that is truly special to Montgomery County.
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| Update on North Bethesda Recreation Center April 15, 2011 |
Last month, I wrote that while the County Executive's Recommended CIP Amendments contained good news for District 1 schools, there was some disappointing news for a few other projects important to our community. The item I found most surprising was the County Executive's recommendation to completely close out the North Bethesda Recreation Center project.
I know that the residents of North Bethesda have waited a very long time for this project to get underway. That is why I wrote my colleagues on the PHED Committee and asked that as they took up the Department of Recreation's CIP Amendments, they consider alternatives to closing out this project entirely. I was pleased that they instructed Executive staff to come back to the Council with a modified PDF (Project Description Form) for the project that reflected planning and design funding in future years. The Council was presented that modified PDF during a worksession on the CIP Amendments last month; we will take a final vote on the CIP alongside the Operating Budget in May. At that time, I am confident the Council will approve a plan for the project that will provide the residents of North Bethesda an alternative to driving to Potomac or Chevy Chase. |
| Pearl Street and Access to the Capital Crescent Trail January 27, 2011 |
Earlier this month I wrote to the Director of the Montgomery County Department of Transportation in support of constructing an interim pedestrian access point between Pearl Street and the Capital Crescent Trail in Chevy Chase.
Unfortunately, right of way issues created a bit of an impasse - literally and figuratively - just as the Trail goes into the tunnel and meets the Bethesda Trolley Trail. With the cooperation of several parties and the development of new properties adjacent to the Trail, the right of way issues have been resolved and an interim pedestrian walkway will now be built. Ultimately the construction of the Purple Line will define the permanent access here, but until the Purple Line becomes a reality, I am pleased that people will no longer be climbing though tree roots and over embankments to reach the Trail at this particular access point. |
| Grand Opening of Bradley Hills Community Garden in Bethesda May 10, 2010 |
 Now that Spring has arrived, the Bradley Park Community Garden is open for gardening! I was very pleased that the Montgomery County Department of Parks was able to transform this under-utilized space into a vibrant addition to the neighborhood. I believe that this new park will not only provide space to grow flowers and vegetables, but also grow a greater sense of community and beautify the area as well.
For more information on the Community Gardens program or to fill out an application for a place on the plot waiting list, please click here. |
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