Work continues on a zoning text amendment related to development in town center that the Mayor and Council asked City staff to file in November.
The amendment would bring applications for Level 1 site plans that are located in the Town Center Performance District before the Planning Commission for approval instead of City staff approval. Level 1 plans are those that are smaller in size, generate little traffic and has less impact on single family residences.
The Town Center Performance District is essentially the core of the town center area. Its borders are generally East Jefferson Street, North Washington Street to Hungerford Drive, and the Metro tracks.
The amendment would also add requirements for public notification for some larger development projects throughout the city. The proposed changes would require electronic notice to all civic and homeowner’s associations leadership– in addition to an existing requirement to give written notice to property owners within a certain radius of a site.
The Planning Commis-sion reviewed the proposed amendment in December, and the Mayor and Council will hold a public hearing on the topic at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14. A decision by Mayor and Council is expected sometime in February.
For more information, contact Deane Mellander in Community Planning and Development Services at 240-314-8224. You may view the text amendment on the City’s web site at www.rockvillemd.gov/zoning. Voice your Opinion on Construction of New Bridge
 Rockville residents are encouraged to voice their opinion about whether to re-construct a pedestrian bridge from South Stonestreet Avenue to Veirs Mill Road at a public hearing Monday, Jan. 14, during the Mayor and Council meeting at 7 p.m. Written comments will be accepted until Monday, Jan. 28.
The original Stonestreet Pedestrian Bridge, built in 1973, was located over the train tracks just south of the Rockville Metro station. The bridge was demolished in 2011 due to structural integrity concerns.
The Mayor and Council approved funding in the FY11 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to remove the existing bridge and to design and construct a replacement bridge. Costs associated with the bridge have increased due to complicating factors such as the need for increased soil stabilization, land constraints to meet ADA compliance and railroad permit fees. The estimated cost for construction of a replacement bridge is almost $1.2 million.
The Mayor and Council are seeking input on whether to continue with the project or to remove the approved funding and use it for other (to be determined) purposes.
For more information about this project, contact Ilene Lish, project manager, at ilish@rockvillemd.gov or 240-314-8500, or visit www.rockvillemd.gov/residents/publicworks/stonestreet-bridge.
To submit testimony to the public record, mail or email the City Clerk’s Office at Doug Barber, city clerk, 111 Maryland Ave., Rockville, Md., 20850, or clerk@rockvillemd.gov. Draft Plan Available for Public Comment
Rockville’s governing body is expected to review and endorse the final Rock Creek Watershed Study report at its meeting, Monday, Jan. 28.
The draft report will be made available on the City’s website at www.rockvillemd.gov/environment/watersheds/rockcreek.html.
The purpose of the study was to: - evaluate current conditions and patterns in the City’s section of the Rock Creek watershed that affect water resources and
- recommend a list of stormwater projects and program changes that can help address water quality issues.
The 4-square-mile watershed includes several neighborhoods like Twinbrook and Lincoln Park, as well as Redgate Golf Course and the Southlawn industrial areas.
The portion of Rockville within the Rock Creek watershed is highly urbanized, with the majority of the development occurring between 1950 and 1975 – before environmental regulations were enacted for the management of stormwater runoff and watershed quality. Much of this developed land has insufficient stormwater management and there is no treatment of the runoff from the large amount of impervious surfaces.
If you would like to comment on the study, or if you need more information, call Lise Soukup at 240-314-8874 or email lsoukup@rockvillemd.gov.
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