Montgomery Council Committee to Discuss Development Oversight Coordination Today

Worksession Will Look at Proposal That Would Keep Closer Look at Evolving Future Development Districts and Intensive New Development

ROCKVILLE, Md., September 17, 2010—The Montgomery County Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee on Monday, Sept. 20, will discuss Bill 1-10 that would require the County Executive to designate an employee in the office of the Executive or the County’s Chief Administrative Officer as development coordinator for each approved development district and each geographic area where a newly revised master or sector plan has authorized intensive new development or redevelopment.

The worksession will begin at 2 p.m. in the Seventh Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.

Duchy Trachtenberg, chair of the Council’s Management and Fiscal Policy Committee, and Mike Knapp, chair of the Council’s PHED Committee, and Councilmembers Phil Andrews and Roger Berliner are sponsors of the proposed legislation.

The bill does not require the Executive to create a new position to fulfill the requirements of the bill unless it is decided that no current employee or employees can perform the required functions.

Council staff will tell the committee on Monday that in their opinion, the bill would require the Executive to designate coordinators for the Clarksburg Town Center development district, which has been approved, but not implemented. It also would require coordinators for the recently adopted White Flint sector plan.

HHS-PHED Committee Work Session Summary—Tuesday June 22nd

The Health and Human Services (HHS) and Planning, Housing & Economic Development (PHED) Committee met on Tuesday, June 22 regarding the Review of the Use of the Silver Spring Civic Building by the Round House Theatre.

BACKGROUND:

Both committees received a presentation from the Executive staff, Round House Theatre representatives and comments from the Chair of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board regarding the Round House Theatre’s use of the new Silver Spring Civic Building and additional space in Silver Spring.

A few weeks prior to the work session, the Council received a letter from the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board (SSCAB) expressing concern about two issues related to the opening of the new Silver Spring Civic Building and Veterans Plaza. They felt that if Round House was going to receive the use of additional space at the Civic Building (which other groups might be able to use if Round House were not there) the County’s Lease Agreement with Round House should require that Round House contribute to the community. Additionally, the SSCAB reviewed the proposed fees for other spaces in the Civic Building and was concerned that the fees were too high for most community groups.

Several Broader issues that were discussed included the extent to which the County assisted non-profit organizations; and there was contemplation on the following:

• The Round House Theatre is one of several arts and humanities organizations that receive substantial assistance because it is located in space owned by the County. Moreover, many organizations do not have the advantage of being in County space and must obtain and pay for space on their own.
• Some non-profit organizations that provide other types of services are housed in County space and others are not.
• Round House Theatre has been charging other nonprofits to rent the space that was leased to them by the County (for free at two Silver Spring locations, and for a $1 annually at a Bethesda location) and keeping the proceeds as revenue.
• Silver Spring has several very active non-profits which either have no space or inadequate space, while Round House is about to get more space.

DISCUSSION SUMMARY:

A. The Executive Office, represented by Diane Schwartz –Jones, said they would maintain the agreement established with RHT, and that there would be evaluations on what would be fair modifications in light of changing fiscal climate and the fees paid by other nonprofits of equal maturity to RHT.

B. The SSAB recommended that stakeholder discussions be held on policy implications for the use of community space and to have a conversation that establishes clearer criteria for the accommodation of diverse arts and nonprofit community groups.

C. Most Councilmembers were in agreement that a re-evaluation of expectations was in order of what the County can feasibly continue to support, as it pertains to subsidizing leases and utility bills of nonprofits.

D. The Council asked Ms. Schwartz-Jones to provide a follow-up report on the final deal struck with RHT on their lease agreement at the new Civic Building.

Please contact Saschane Stephenson, Legislative Aide for Health and Human Services, at 240-777-7963 (direct dial) or saschane.stephenson@montgomerycountymd.gov with your questions regarding this HHS-PHED Committee session.

Summary—PHED/HHS Committee Work Session—Thursday May 6, 2010

Members of the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development Committee (PHED) and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee met today to discuss several items within the FY11 Operating Budget Recommendations:

Following are a few of the actions taken:

Long Branch Tenant Counseling
--$12,960 will be added to the Reconciliation list for Council deliberation to close the remaining gap in the Long Branch Tenant Counseling Program.

HIF Debt Service and the Revised Tax Supported Fiscal Plan
--$15M in bond funding was approved in the FY11 CIP

Parent Resource Centers
--the PHED Committee agreed to place $48,160 on the reconciliation list.

Joint PHED/HHS Committee Work Session—May 6—FY11 Operating Budget

A joint meeting of the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee and Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee will be held on Thursday, May 6, at 9:30AM in the 7th Floor Council Hearing Room to discuss the following item within the FY11 Operating Budget.

• Housing First

Please contact Saschane Stephenson, Legislative Aide for Health and Human Services, at 240-777-7963 (direct dial) or saschane.stephenson@montgomerycountymd.gov. with your questions or concerns regarding this joint PHED-HHS Committee session.

MFP/PHED Committees Discussed FY11 Operating Budget on 4/30

The Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee, Chaired by Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg, and the Planning, Housing & Economic Development (PHED) Committee, Chaired by Councilmember Mike Knapp, held a joint meeting on Friday, April 30th at 1:30 pm. The MFP/PHED Committees discussed the FY11 Operating Budget. Specifically, the joint committees deliberated on the following:

1. Regional Services Centers
2. Community Partnerships

The MFP/PHED Committees voted (5 to 1) to add 5 additional positions to the Regional Service Centers.

Please contact Laurie Mintzer Edberg, Director of Management and Fiscal Policy, at 240-777-7948 (direct dial) or laurie.edberg@montgomerycountymd.gov with any questions regarding this joint MFP/PHED session.

Bill 1-10: Development Oversight

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg testified today at the Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee meeting in support of her proposed Bill 1-10: Development Oversight.

The bill will create a new County position to oversee future development projects and will ensure that plans are followed as envisioned.

Emily Hoopes, Saschane Stephenson Join Trachtenberg Staff

We are pleased to welcome Emily Hoopes and Saschane Stephenson to the Trachtenberg Office.

Emily Hoopes, a resident of Washington Grove, previously served as Executive Director of the Montgomery Countryside Alliance and as Advocate & Campaign Director for Environment Colorado/Colorado Public Interest Research Group. A graduate of Northern Arizona University, she also served as a legislative assistant to former Montgomery County Councilmember Nancy Dacek. She will serve as our Legislative Aide for Planning, Housing and Economic Development and Director of Correspondence.

Saschane Stephenson, a resident of Silver Spring, is President of LINK Communications Group, LLC, and former Director, Communications and Marketing for Washington Adventist University (formerly Columbia Union College) in Takoma Park, Maryland. She is a graduate of City University of New York and Andrews University in Michigan. She will serve as our Legislative Aide for Health and Human Services and Director of Communications.

Trachtenberg Office Follows Land Use Issues

Councilmember Trachtenberg attended that the County Council’s recent work session on the establishment of a Commercial/Residential (CR) Zone. The CR zone is for mixed use development with respect to a blend of commercial and residential/non residential development. One of the goals of the CR zone is to create walkable communities as well as healthier lifestyles. Councilmember Trachtenberg requested specific language with respect to health and well being in a CR zone. A vote is scheduled for next Tuesday, February 23rd. Legislative Aide Laurie Edberg attended the work session.

Staff from the Trachtenberg Office also attended the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee’s meeting his week on staging for the White Flint Sector Plan. It was the Committee's seventh work session on the White Flint Sector Plan. The staging plan is guided by four principles: coordinating development with public infrastructure; promoting a sense of place; promoting balance; and ensuring fiscal responsibility. Representatives from the Planning Board had an opportunity to discuss the staging process. Legislative Aide Laurie Edberg attended the committee meeting.

Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) Committee Meetings Today

The Management and Fiscal Policy (MFP) and the Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) committees are meeting jointly today to discuss financial issues of the White Flint Sector Plan. For more info, click here.

Following this joint meeting, the MFP will meet at 3:30 p.m to discuss Bill 46-09: Hiring Preference for Persons with Disabilities.

Councilmember Duchy Trachtenberg is the chair of the MFP Committee.

Councilmember Trachtenberg Introduces Development Oversight Legislation

At this morning’s County Council session, Councilmember Trachtenberg introduced new legislation to require oversight and coordination of new complex development in Montgomery County. Trachtenberg is Chair of the Council’s Committee on Management and Fiscal Policy.

Joining Councilmember Mike Knapp, Chairman of the Committee on Planning, Housing and Economic Development as original co-sponsors are Councilmembers Phil Andrews (D-District 3) and Roger Berliner (D-District 1)

Bill 1-10 amends the County’s laws governing coordination of development and “provides further coordination and oversight of master-planned development … and further coordination and oversight of development districts.”

The bill directs the county executive to designate an employee in the Office of the Executive or in the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer as the development coordinator for each planning area for which a newly revised master or sector plan has authorized intensive new development or redevelopment. The coordinator would oversee the financing and development of County infrastructure in the planning area. The coordinator also would serve as the primary point of contact for residents and businesses located in the planning area and the developer of any development located in the area.

In her remarks during the Council session, Councilmember Trachtenberg discussed the need for oversight and coordination for complex. “I am looking forward to the conversation with the community, homeowners, business and developers about this proposal,” said Trachtenberg. She said that the proposal would be discussed in a joint work session of the Committee on Management and Fiscal Policy and Committee on Planning, Housing and Economic Development.

A press event with representatives of the business community, developer community and civic community is scheduled for Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 11 a.m. in the Council Office Building in Rockville, Maryland.

The Planning, Housing, and Economic Development (PHED) Committee discusses White Flint Transportation and Land Use Issues

The Montgomery County Council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee today will continue its discussions on the proposed White Flint Sector Plan. The committee will review transportation plans and land use issues in morning and afternoon meetings.

For more information:
PHED Committee Packet - White Flint Sector Plan - Transportation
PHED Committee Packet - White Flint Sector Plan - Land Use Issues

Both sessions are televised live on Montgomery County Channel 6 or 30.