Zoning Code Rewrite Session 11

On Friday the PHED Committee will hold its eleventh worksession on the Zoning Code Rewrite. This will be the last worksession before the additional public hearing. Our agenda: wrap up.

The future schedule:

Before October 11: Complete PHED recommended text and map online and notice of November 12 public hearing

November 12 and 14: Council public hearing on PHED text and map recommendations

December 2 and 9: additional PHED worksessions to consider public hearing testimony

January: first Council worksession

To have your comments on the rewrite included in the public record, e-mail county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Apply Now to Right to Vote Task Force

Apply by October 30 to the new citizens’ Right to Vote Task Force to study state and local laws and practices that may affect the right to vote. The task force will develop plans and take action to promote early voting and same-day registration, develop plans for a comprehensive voter registration program and make recommendations for changes in state and local laws, regulations and practices.

In Montgomery County, elections are administered by the Montgomery County Board of Elections according to federal, state and County laws and regulations. Voter turnout was 66 percent of registered voters in the 2012 presidential election and 51 percent of registered voters in the 2010 gubernatorial election.

The Montgomery County Council has a history of supporting efforts to increase access to the democratic process, in keeping with its tradition of civic activism. The State of Maryland recently expanded early voting, resulting in at least three new early voting centers for the 2014 elections, and adopted same-day voter registration during early voting.

The County Council created the Right to Vote Task Force to ensure that the County maximizes these new opportunities to make voting easy and accessible for every citizen. The task force will consist of up to 15 members, appointed by the Council, with a staff member from the County Board of Elections serving as an ex officio member. No more than two-thirds of the members may be registered to vote in the same political party. The Council will designate a chair and vice chair. The chair and vice chair must not be from the same party.

The task force must issue an interim report by February 28 and a final report with recommendations by May 31, 2014. The Task Force must also submit a report by February 28, 2015 that evaluates the efficacy and implementation of its recommendations during the 2014 general election.

Submit your letter of interest with a resume by 5 p.m. on October 30 to Council President Nancy Navarro, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland, 20850. You can also send your application by e-mail to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov

Economic Development Week

I think every day should be economic development day, but I was pleased to formally recognize Economic Development Week this morning with a County Council Proclamation presented to the Montgomery Business Development Corporation, Rockville Economic Development Inc., the City of Gaithersburg Office of Economic Development and the Montgomery County Department of Economic Development.

Montgomery County joins the Maryland Economic Development Association and counties across the state in recognizing September 30-October 4, 2013, as Economic Development Week.

Today we honored four organizations for their outstanding efforts in marketing, business development, technical assistance, skilled workforce development, advocacy, outreach, capital projects and financing activities in support of growing the county’s knowledge-based economy and expanding the county’s tax base.

Did you know that Montgomery County is home to 30 of the 100 largest publicly traded companies as recently ranked by the Washington Business Journal? Find out which ones they are.

Public Hearing on Zoning Code Rewrite Nov. 12 and 14

The County Council will hold a second public hearing on proposed changes to the County's Zoning Law starting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 12, and continuing on Thursday, Nov. 14. The hearing will address proposed changes to the law recommended by the County’s Planning Commission and by the Council's Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee. This hearing will give residents a further opportunity to comment on Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 13-04 and District Map Amendment (DMA) G-956.

The Council introduced the Planning Board’s recommendations on May 2 following years of the Planning Board’s extensive work and discussion with community groups and other stakeholders. The Council heard from more than 50 speakers at a public hearing on the Planning Board’s recommendations in January and has received extensive email and other correspondence from County residents as the committee continues to do its work.

The Zoning Law has not been comprehensively updated since 1977 and has grown to more than 1,200 pages over the last 30 years. The goal of the Rewrite is to reorganize and simplify the Zoning Code. Rewriting the code in plain language and reorganizing it into rational sections will enable residents to more easily participate in key land use decisions, and courts and agencies will have clearer rules to apply.

Although the County Charter calls for only one public hearing, the Council decided to hold a second public hearing because it recognizes the significance of the proposed text and map changes. Few changes are proposed for single-family residential properties, but non-residentially zoned properties and their neighbors could be affected. ZTA 13-04 would implement the text changes to the Zoning Law, and DMA G-956 would update the zoning for each property to apply a new zone. The proposed rezoning in DMA G-956 is designed to mirror each property's current zoning as much as possible.

Residents can see the proposed Zoning Rewrite, along with the tentative changes being considered by the PHED committee, at www.zoningmontgomery.org. Residents also will find an interactive map that enables users to determine the existing and proposed zoning for every property in the County. Clicking on a particular property will display the development standards (density, height limits and setbacks) for the existing and proposed zone.

To sign up to testify, call 240-777-7803 by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 11. Sign-ups will begin on Thursday, Oct. 3. Spaces are limited. Written testimony or comments can be mailed to County Council / 100 Maryland Ave. / Rockville, Md. 20850 or emailed to all Councilmembers at county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Zoning Code Rewrite Session 10

On Friday the PHED Committee will hold its tenth worksession on the Zoning Code Rewrite. Our agenda: wrap up, including any outstanding implementation issues.

The future schedule for the Committee work sessions is as follows:
September 27: wrap-up, continued if required

The future schedule for the Council work sessions is as follows:
October 11: complete PHED recommended text and map online and notice of November 12 public hearing
November 12: public hearing on PHED text and map recommendations
January: first Council worksession

To have your comments on the rewrite included in the public record, e-mail county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Dispelling Myths About the Affordable Care Act and Seniors

If you are interested in learning more about the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and what it means for seniors, stop by any one of a series of community events sponsored by the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services and the Montgomery County Department of Recreation that will be held in October.

 

The programs will address the myths surrounding the effect the ACA will have on seniors, and you will have the opportunity to learn more about Maryland’s plan for implementing the ACA, which mandates that legal residents age 18 to 64 have health insurance coverage beginning January 1, 2014 or face a penalty.

 

The events are scheduled for:

 

Monday, October 7, 11 a.m.

Gaithersburg Senior Center

80-A Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg

 

Tuesday, October 8, 1 p.m.

Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center

1000 Forest Glen Road, Silver Spring

 

Wednesday, October 9, 1:30 p.m.

Holiday Park Senior Center

3950 Ferarra Drive, Wheaton

 

Thursday, October 10, 11 a.m.

Long Branch Senior Center

8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring

 

Thursday, October 10, 1 p.m.

White Oak Senior Center

1700 April Lane, Silver Spring

 

Tuesday, October 15, 1:30 p.m.

Damascus Senior Center

9701 Main Street, Damascus

 

A brief presentation will be provided and a question and answer session will follow the presentation.  Registration is not required. For more information about the Affordable Care Act, go to www.marylandhealthconnection.gov. For a schedule of where in-person assistance will be available when enrollment begins October 1, go to www.capitalhealthconnection.org and click on “Resources,” then “Calendar.”

Town Hall Meeting for Students Oct. 9

This year we will hold the always-popular Town Hall Meeting for Students on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at the Council Office Building in Rockville. The meeting will be held in the Council’s Third Floor Hearing Room beginning at 7 p.m. A pre-meeting reception will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the building’s second-floor cafeteria. RSVP by calling 240-777-7931.

The October meeting is open to high school, middle school and local college students. The meeting will allow the participants to let Councilmembers know how they feel about specific issues and also will provide the opportunity to ask questions of us in an organized, but informal, setting.

The event will be broadcast live on County Cable Montgomery (CCM—cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon) and rebroadcast at various times in the weeks following the meeting. Susan Kenedy, a producer for the County station, will moderate the meeting.

Survey on Transportation Needs of Seniors and People with Disabilities

Montgomery County’s Aging and Disability Services at the Department of Health and Human Services has undertaken a project to better understand the transportation patterns and needs of older adults and individuals with disabilities, and your responses to this survey will be very helpful.  If you, a member of your family or a friend have transportation issues or concerns, please take the survey by October 18.

One Vacancy on the Merit System Protection Board

Apply now for a three-year term on the Merit System Protection Board. Generally, the board is expected to oversee the Merit System and to protect employee and applicant rights guaranteed under the County Merit System. Get your application in by Oct. 30.

 

The final term of board member Rodella Berry (Democrat) will expire in December 2013; she is not eligible for reappointment.  The other board members are Raul Chavera (unaffiliated) and Julie Martin-Korb (unaffiliated).

 

By law, no more than two of the three members of the Merit System Protection Board may be of the same political party. The appointee for this position may be a Democrat, a Republican, a voter who declines to affiliate with a party or a voter who is a member of another party officially recognized by the Board of Elections.

 

There are two methods in which the board processes appeals:

•       A written decision issued after a review and discussion of a written record.

•       A written decision issued after a pre-hearing conference and a formal hearing in cases involving a suspension, demotion or dismissal.

 

The board, on a periodic basis, conducts special studies, audits or inquiries of the administration of the merit and retirement pay systems and, in this effort, may compel the attendance of witnesses. Written reports of its findings and recommendations are filed with the County Executive and the County Council. The board also provides comments on any proposed changes in Merit System law or regulations.

 

The board holds hearings during the day, which can take the full day, with any additional proceedings scheduled for subsequent evening(s). Also, the board normally meets for approximately an hour in the evening once or twice every month. Additional time is also required for preparatory work.

 

Members of the board receive $7,700 per year, which is adjusted annually to reflect 50 percent of the percentage change in the Washington Area Consumer Price Index.

 

Board members are restricted in political activity while serving. Section 403 of the County Charter states in part “No member shall hold political office or participate in any campaign for any political or public office during the member's term of office."  Members of County boards, committees and commissions may not serve on more than one such group at a time.

 

Applicants should submit letters of interest with a resume to: Nancy Navarro, President, Montgomery County Council, 100 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850 by 5 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2013. Applications also can be submitted via email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

 

Resumes should include professional and civic experience, political party affiliation, home and office telephone numbers and an email address.  Letters and resumes submitted are made public as part of the appointment process. A financial statement of assets, debts, income and family property interests will be required of all applicants.  Only the appointed candidates will be required to make the financial statement available to the public.

Zoning Code Rewrite Session 14

On Monday the PHED Committee will hold a worksession to address issues raised at the November public hearings on the Zoning Code Rewrite. The session begins at 1:00, and you can follow along on County Cable Montgomery. Also, check out the recently revised FAQ page. To have your comments on the rewrite included in the public record, e-mail county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Zoning Code Rewrite Session 8

On Friday the PHED Committee will hold its eighth worksession on the Zoning Code Rewrite. Our agenda: administration and procedures.

You may also be interested in the memo about affordable housing in the zoning code on our Web page dedicated to the rewrite. Also check out the FAQ section on that page. If you are looking for even more background information, see the overview or the interactive map where you can find out how proposed changes would affect your property.

The future schedule for the Committee work sessions is as follows:
September 17: unresolved issues from prior worksessions
September 20: wrap-up, including any outstanding implementation issues
September 27: wrap-up, continued if required

The future schedule for the Council work sessions is as follows:
October 11: complete PHED recommended text and map online and notice of November 12 public hearing
November 12: public hearing on PHED text and map recommendations
January: first Council worksession

To have your comments on the rewrite included in the public record, e-mail county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Council to Hold Second Hearing on Zoning Code Rewrite

The Council has decided to hold a second public hearing on proposed changes to the County's Zoning Ordinance. The hearing will be held on a date to be determined once the Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee has completed its recommended draft of the document.

The PHED Committee held worksessions every week in June and July on the County Planning Board’s recommended Zoning Ordinance Rewrite and is continuing its work in September. We expect to recommend amending many aspects of the text and map, but until we complete our worksessions, our recommendations are tentative.

The Council introduced the Planning Board’s recommendations on May 2 following years of the Planning Board’s extensive work and discussion with community groups and other stakeholders. We heard from more than 50 speakers at a public hearing on the Planning Board’s recommendations in January and have received extensive email and other correspondence from County residents over the past several months.

The Zoning Ordinance hasn't been comprehensively updated since 1977 and has grown to more than 1,200 pages over the last 30 years. The goal of the Rewrite is to reorganize and simplify the Zoning Code. Rewriting the code in plain language and reorganizing it into rational sections will enable residents to more easily participate in key land use decisions, and courts and agencies will have clearer rules to apply.

Although the County Charter calls for only one public hearing, we decided to hold a second public hearing because we recognize the significance of the proposed text and map changes. There are few changes proposed for single-family residential properties, but non-residentially zoned properties and their neighbors could be affected. ZTA 13-04 would implement the text changes to the Zoning Ordinance, and DMA G-956 would update the zoning for each property to apply a new zone. The proposed rezoning in DMA G-956 is designed to mirror each property's current zoning as much as possible.

You can see the proposed Zoning Rewrite, along with the tentative changes being considered by the PHED committee, at www.zoningmontgomery.org. You also will find an interactive map that enables you to determine the existing and proposed zoning for every property in the County. Clicking on a particular property will display the development standards (density, height limits and setbacks) for the existing and proposed zone.

Further details on the hearing will be available shortly.

Public Hearings on Transit Corridors Plan

Let us know what you think about Bus Rapid Transit and other elements proposed in the Planning Board Draft of the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan. Public hearings are scheduled for September 24 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. Sign up to testify by calling 240-777-7803. If you can’t make the hearings, you can e-mail your testimony to have it included in the public record.

The Transportation, Infrastructure, Energy and Environment Committee will hold worksessions on the Plan on October 11, 14, 18 and 21. These meetings are open to the public. They are also broadcast live and on demand on County Cable Montgomery.

TV Show on Poverty Wins National Award

The Unseen Montgomery, a television program highlighting the hidden poverty in Montgomery County, has been named the winner of a Savvy Award by the City-County Communications and Marketing Association.

The Unseen Montgomery won first prize in the national contest in the category of TV and Video—One-Time Special Programming (for jurisdictions with population: 100,000 and up). We came up with the idea for the show because we wanted to portray a side of the County that is often overlooked: residents who did not appear to need the help of available services, but through circumstances, could not financially keep up with their individual and family needs.

The show was produced and hosted by Susan Kenedy of County Cable Montgomery. The videographer was Mike Springirth. The show was edited by Loren Olson and was coordinated by Delphine Harriston.

Montgomery County is known for its prosperity, so it is easy to forget that we have many residents who do not have enough money to pay for even their basic needs. Some of those living in poverty lost their jobs in the recession while others find themselves trapped in low-wage jobs that don’t pay enough to cover the rent. These families live right here, and they need help—but they are not always easy to identify. Susan Kenedy and her outstanding team did a great job of looking past the affluence and giving us a chance to see a growing part of life right here in Montgomery County. The Unseen Montgomery tells a very important story in a way that’s meaningful and thought-provoking. The team at CCM definitely deserves this award.

The independent judging panel said of the show: “A great way to focus on the issue. The video helped to cast a light on the new poor in our country. An interesting topic that kept the judging team engaged.”

In addition to airing on CCM, the show has been viewed more than a thousand times on various Internet outlets. See it on YouTube.

Stephen's Take on his First Month

In the month since Stephen joined the team, he's been touring the county and visiting some of our hidden (and not-so-hidden) gems. Here's his perspective on what he's been doing:

My first few weeks working for Montgomery County have been an exciting time of learning and seeing all that goes on around the county. I had the opportunity to learn about the cutting edge technology that is being employed by Montgomery College’s Health Sciences division to give students as close to a real life experience in a hospital, using mannequins that can mimic everything from breathing irregularities to heart complications.

On a tour of two of the facilities that serve as business incubators, I saw how the development of new businesses in fields ranging from biotech to information technology are helping entrepreneurs get their companies off the ground, bringing good paying jobs with them.

I went on a field trip to some of the parks that dot the county, including Cabin John Regional Park with its ice rink, and the historic Josiah Henson Special Park. At the Red Wiggler Community Farm I got to sample some delicious cherry tomatoes, one of the several organic crops grown on the farm.

I know that this is only the tip of the iceberg in terms of all that goes on in Montgomery County, and I am excited to learn more. Most of all, I am excited to be part of a great team here at the County Council.

Bulk Rigid Plastic Now Accepted for Recycling

You can now recycle bulk rigid plastic items such as laundry baskets, dish drainers, toys, lawn furniture, waste baskets, clothes hangers, tote boxes, crates, large buckets, pet carriers and garbage cans, at the Montgomery County Transfer Station. Just make sure the items are empty and free of loose dirt, soil, etc.

You still cannot recycle garden hoses, vinyl fencing/siding, motor oil containers, plastics containing or contaminated by chemicals or hazardous substances, and pesticide/herbicide containers.

The Solid Waste Processing Facility and Transfer Station is located at 16101 Frederick Rd. (MD Rt. 355), Derwood. You may drop off materials using the car entrance off Rt. 355.  Follow signs to the Recycling Unloading Area. Hours of operation are: Monday - Friday: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.; Saturday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sunday: 9a.m.-5 p.m.

For a complete list of both acceptable and unacceptable items, as well as a downloadable flyer, visit the Division of Solid WasteServices’ Web site.