You will have a whopping 3 minutes to testify. Interestingly, the hearing will be at the Silver Spring planning headquarters, in contrast to the remote location hearings of the Bethesda Downtown Plan recently.
So far, the Westbard plan has been panned by residents, who object to the urban character, height and density proposed.
The plan also offers no substantive public amenities or facilities beyond the daylighting of Willett Branch stream, of which there is no guarantee it will ever actually happen. Moreover, the concepts for the daylighting are using river images, while the stream itself is currently a stormwater channel.
But those aren't the only deceptive aspects of the plan. Read my in-depth analysis first to understand how the 75' maximum heights aren't actually maximums, when you factor in the density bonuses developers will receive. The plan proposes to drop thousands of new people and cars into a two-block area, but suggests not a single proposal to increase vehicle capacity on either of the main commuting corridors in the plan area, River Road and Massachusetts Avenue.
On the positive side, the historical background in the plan has been well-developed, and some excellent recommendations for bike facilities and connectivity have been made.
As of press time, there was no mechanism to actually sign up for the public hearing on the planning website.
Area residents have given their opinions repeatedly to the Planning Department and to Equity One. To date, I'd say that Equity One has been the more responsive entity. Remarkable that the developer has dealt more graciously with community opinion than the Planning Department.
ReplyDeleteI've found the dismissiveness of the Planning Department extremely high handed. The Planning Department has paid lip service to community participation requirements and has checked all the boxes, but has not been responsive to the concerns of affected residents and neighborhoods.
I suspect that the Westbard redevelopment will become a significant political issue if residents' views continue to be ignored. I hope that members of the County Council will be more responsive to the concerns of area residents than the Planning Department has been.
As well, I hope that the Planning Board will take the concerns of Westbard area residents more seriously than the Planning Department staff has done to date.
DeleteI happened to be in Astoria, Queens, a New York City neighborhood just outside Manhattan, a few days ago. While there, I was reminded of the Planning Department's characterization of Westbard as an "urban village".
ReplyDeleteThat's because Astoria, which is subway served, is a *real* urban village with most buildings in the 3-4 story range and a significant amount of tree cover on the side streets. The major commercial streets include numerous ethnic cafes and mom and pop businesses. The street life is vibrant.
Contrast Astoria-- an authentic urban village-- to the Westbard Plan, whose proposed heights extend to 75-100 feet *in a suburban area with limited mass transit*. The vision of the Planning Department is hardly a village and will make Westbard into a replica of the area around Barnes & Noble area in downtown Bethesda.
Perhaps residents should provide the Planning Department's Westbard team, the Planning Board and the County Council with a trip to Astoria, so they can visit a real urban village for planning purposes.
1:19: Excellent point. I think the plan started from the wrong, urban template, rather than focusing on creating a unique place compatible with the existing character and lack of rapid transit.
DeleteWashington Episcopal School is building a 97' building and nobody cares. If the community has a problem with Equity One, they surely should be furious with Washington Episcopal School. Hypocrites.
ReplyDelete1:35: The community *is* furious about the height of the WES building. They haven't had much opportunity to be heard about it.
DeleteI agree that WES's planned 97 foot structure in the Westbard sector is ludicrous. Anything in excess of 50 feet is incompatible in the area.
DeleteThe neighborhoods around Westbard Avenue are really going to have to organize and come out to speak once again against this plan at the Planning Board and Council. It's well documented that the community doesn't want the current proposal.
ReplyDeleteDyer can take us to the promised land and stop this thing, but the neighborhood needs to get out there and organize with Dyer.
The County Council will be responsive, but only if residents turn out in numbers again. If the Council detects enough opposition that could threaten their jobs, they will respond. History shows that time and again.
Agreed that the community-- and/or individual residents-- need to organize to speak out, use social and other media, and contact politicians.
DeleteWith respect to media: Dyer's blog has been covering Westbard more accurately and completely than other outlets, especially since the demise of the Montgomery Gazette.
"The neighborhood needs to get out there and organize with Dyer."
ReplyDeleteWhat on Earth does is this supposed to mean?
Dyer has brought community opposition to the Westbard Sector Plan to public attention more effectively than virtually any other organization. If he cares to organize community opposition, I am all for it.
Delete"They haven't had much opportunity to be heard about it."
ReplyDeleteLOL, what does this mean?
2:03/6:51: If you have to ask "what does this mean" in response to every plain English sentence, it suggests a remedial English course might be helpful.
DeleteThere has been opportunity to be heard, but the Planning Department has largely ignored residents. It is inappropriate and discouraging that the Planning Department has largely made the case for the developers, rather than acting as an honest broker between the parties.
DeleteIf you can't write coherent sentences that the average reader can understand on the first reading, then it is you who needs to take "a remedial English course".
ReplyDeleterobert dyer graduated top of his class
ReplyDeleteYour nose is sooo brown.
ReplyDelete9:40: All other readers but you - the troll - understood. It's not me, it's you.
ReplyDelete