Traffic and Transportation Commission
Minutes

Black Eyed Susan Conference Room
Meeting No. 01-10
January 19, 2010, 7:30 p.m.
  

1.    General Announcements, Public Comment Period, and Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee Announcements

a.    Chair Telesco opened the meeting by welcoming the commissioners and residents. He asked the commissioners to briefly introduce themselves for the benefit of the new commissioner, Mr. Nick Ferris.
b.    Chair Telesco reported that the Rockville Bicycle Advisory Committee (RBAC) would like to encourage more cycling & participation in its events this year. The Committee feels that Rockville’s bicycle infrastructure is adequate and would like to see more residents/ commuters utilize the pathways for recreation and utility purposes. RBAC will plan events to cyclists around the 150th anniversary theme.

2.    Review and Approve December 2009 Meeting Minutes

a.    The December 2009 minutes were approved with minor changes. 

3.    Additional Items/ Discussion, including RBAC Liaison

a.    Chair Telesco announced that Commissioner Martin is the Commission’s new liaison to RBAC
b.    Commissioner Crane requested that staff keep the Commission up-to-date on any changes as the Princeton Place fence issue continues to develop.
c.    Commissioner Klein followed-up on this request and asked if the Chief of Police had been involved in working toward a solution at Princeton Place (since security was involved).

·    Ms. Torma stated that she would get back to Commissioner Klein, as she was not aware of the Chief’s involvement.

The Chief of Police has not been involved in working on a solution at Princeton Place.  The Mayor and Council have been talking with the College to resolve the issue of the fence and the smoking ban on campus.  The Mayor and Council will discuss this item at their February 22 meeting.
d.    In reference to item 4a in the 12/15/09 minutes, Commissioner Oberg requested an update on how the City planned to utilize Pleasant Road funds.

·    Ms. Torma stated that the City has no specific plans for those funds at this time.

e.    Chair Telesco requested that staff provide the Commission with an updated contact list to reflect changes on Mayor and Council, new commissioners, and liaison positions.
An updated contact list will be provided.
f.    Commissioner Ferris stated that he received complaints about streetlight outages on Wootton Parkway between the Wintergreen Shopping Center and Falls Road.

·    Ms. Torma stated that this was likely a Pepco issue and she would investigate and follow-up with the commission.  The traffic and Transportation technicians looked into the problem and noticed the streetlights between Edmonston and Preserve do not have voltage.  They notified Pepco and the streetlights were repaired the following week.

4.    Staff Report and Updates (Weekly)

a.    Ms. Torma stated that staff expects a revised traffic analysis at four critical intersections no later than 2/4/10. The Commission should address other items associated with this development now.
b.    Commissioner Klein asked staff to elaborate on the pedestrian accident that occurred at the intersection of Bouic Avenue and Chapman Avenue on 12/28/09. Commissioner Oberg said that he visited the site after the accident and felt that the area created a dangerous crossing situation.

·    Staff clarified the time and location of the accident for the commission and stated that while the Police were still investigating the incident, it appeared that one pedestrian was jaywalking, one was in the crosswalk, and the sun impaired the driver’s vision. 

b.    Commissioner Levine asked staff to elaborate on the 800 Hurley project.

·    Ms. Torma informed the commission that 800 Hurley is a church and an applicant not related to the church is seeking a tutoring service.

c.    Commissioner Levine asked staff to report on the status of 700 Princeton Place permit parking request.

·    Ms. Torma stated that the permit-parking request is on hold, pending resolution of the fence issue.
·    Commissioner Oberg noted that residents were meeting with Montgomery College officials to discuss fence options that evening (1/19/10).

d.    Commissioner Klein asked staff to elaborate on the Noise Study project

·    Ms. Torma explained such a policy would only be applied to new developments and that staff has been working on this project since 2007.

e.    Commissioner Crane asked if there would be adequate parking at the new police station once it is occupied.  She stated her concern about creating parking demand in the nearby residential area.

·    Ms. Torma stated that this project would not be reviewed by the Commission, unless they would like to see it as a courtesy review. She also informed the Commission that all residential areas near the police station already have permit parking restrictions and the Police will use parking in the adjacent office building.

f.    Commissioner Levine raised concerns about Southlawn Lane/ Southlawn Ct as a dangerous intersection. He stated that through traffic on Southlawn Ln. does not necessarily expect a high volume of turning traffic from Southlawn Ct because of the curvature of the road and varying schedule of the athletic facility. He recommended that a hidden driveway/ flasher (or similar) be placed on both approaches to Southlawn Ct.

·    This intersection is controlled by Montgomery County who would have to approve any traffic signal, sign or flasher.  In addition, at the request of the City, the County evaluated whether a traffic signal could be installed at this intersection.  The County’s review a few years ago showed it did not meet the criteria.  The County mentioned that they would install a median to help improve site distance; however they have not done so.  The City will ask the County to install the median.

g.    Commissioner Levine recommended that Fortune Terrace be a through-street because he noticed rutting in the grass at the dead-end to get through to the next street.

·    Ms. Torma stated that this roadway is planned to be a through-street in conjunction with an upcoming development.  Barricades had been installed to prevent vehicles from driving over the grass.  The road connection would not occur for at least a year since there are many heavy cables running underground in the area.

5.    Permit Parking submission: Monroe Street, east side of the 700 Block between Cabin John Parkway and the entrance to Dogwood Park—Staff Recommendation

a.    Ms. Torma offered the Commission a brief overview of the existing situation and stated that staff does not recommend approval of this petition.
b.    Ms. Torma stated that she observed very few vans and after analyzing the license plate tags, found that the majority of cars parked on Monroe Street belonged to local residents.
c.    Ms. Torma stated that the offending vehicles were not related to events within Dogwood Park and that the City’s Recreation and Parks Department opposed creation of a parking restriction due to its proximity to Dogwood Park.

6. Permit Parking submission: Monroe Street, east side of the 700 Block between Cabin John Parkway and the entrance to Dogwood Park—Public Hearing

a.    Two residents from the Waddington Oaks HOA, Randi Demberg (14 Waddington Ln.) and Jerri Hall (80 Waddington Ln.) shared their experiences with the Commission to support their request for permit parking. Ms. Demberg and Ms. Hall stated that their community would be willing to accept overnight parking restrictions if the Commission preferred such a district to a 24-hour restriction. Among other issues, Ms. Demberg outlined garbage, safety, and aesthetics as her community’s primary concerns.
b.    Residents from Fireside Apartments asked staff if residents in their complex would be allowed to obtain permits in the proposed district. These residents said many parking stalls in their complex were not used due to New Mark Commons’ trees, which are in poor condition and nearly falling over. Ms. Torma confirmed that apartment residents are eligible.
Transportation staff informed Code Enforcement about dead trees on New Mark Commons property.  Code Enforcement has sent a letter to New Mark Commons to remove the trees, who is in the process of removing dead trees on their property.
c.    Ms. Demberg stated that commuter parking would still be reduced if apartment residents were included in the district.

Chair Telesco closed the public hearing at 8:50 p.m.

7. Permit Parking submission: Monroe Street, east side of the 700 Block between Cabin John Parkway and the entrance to Dogwood Park—Commission Recommendation

a.    The Commission discussed two potential alternatives through which the situation could be addressed short of establishing permit parking. These options include: code enforcement and forestry (to evaluate private trees in New Mark Commons).
b.    The Commission asked residents to submit photos and license plate numbers of the parking issue at night to staff so the Police can analyze the license plates again.
c.    Commissioner Oberg made a motion to deny the petition with the provision that it be reconsidered as early as the next meeting without the need for any additional signatures. Commissioner Klein seconded the motion, which carried on a unanimous vote.
d.    The commission requested that staff continue to work with Waddington residents and:

1.    Determine the make/model/weight capacity of the offending vans from photos/ license plate numbers to be submitted by the petitioners.
2.    Analyze the license plate numbers submitted by the petitioners (from overnight hours) to determine which vehicles are not registered to local residents.
3.    Ensure that the New Mark Commons tree issue is addressed with Forestry
4.    Determine under what authority the Commission has to grant a permit parking restriction for an aesthetic purpose.

8. Montgomery County Judicial Center Annex, New County Office Building and Garage—Staff Update

a.    Ms. Torma informed the commissioners that significant differences were found between traffic counts submitted by the developer (February 2009) and those conducted by City staff (October 2009).  As a result, the developer will resubmit additional analysis at:

1.    MD 28/ Maryland Avenue
2.    MD 28/ Monroe Street
3.    Maryland Avenue/ Fleet Street
4.    MD 355/ Middle Lane

10. Montgomery County Judicial Center Annex, New County Office Building and Garage—Commissioner Discussion and Recommendation

b.    Councilman Britton restated his opposition to the pedestrian bridge option because it will pull commercial/pedestrian activity away from the street level. He also feels that (in general) pedestrian needs have not been studied and believes they should be. Councilman Britton went on to encourage the Commission to go before the Planning Commission to share their recommendations on this development since time before the hearing is limited.
c.    Commissioner Oberg asked if pedestrians were forced to cross at grade, would this cause the intersection to fail? Ms. Torma stated that the developer had not shown the proposed pedestrian bridge on any plan. The developer only submitted plans for the Judicial Center Annex.
d.    Ms. Torma told the Commission that she would share the resubmitted counts once she receives them. She expects the analysis no later than 2/4/10 for the Planning Commission on 2/24/10. The application is considered a level II site plan, in which Planning Commission has the approval authority.
Staff received the analysis for four intersections on February 3.  Staff has reviewed the applicant’s report and sent out the Transportation Staff Report to the Commission with the February agenda.

Having no further items to discuss, Chair Telesco made a motion to adjourn, which was seconded by Commissioner Oberg.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:10 p.m.