What would Warren Buffett do? Well, we know what the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board will do. The recent mega-downsizing of GEICO from its lush, longtime campus in the Friendship Heights area of Chevy Chase to a modest office in Bethesda is quickly leading to a massive redevelopment of that land long feared by neighbors. Central to the plans to building luxury apartments and townhomes on the site is the removal of almost all of the large trees from the 29-acre campus.
"This includes trees that are over 50 inches in diameter; some have been there for more than 100 years," the Little Falls Watershed Alliance warned in a email. "LFWA opposes this large scale destruction of the trees as well as many other elements of the plan that will have a negative impact on the environment." Developer EYA is also seeking permission to remove trees from Brookdale Park, the organization said. LFWA is encouraging residents to email the Planning Department and County Council, and ask them to preserve the trees.
The last sentence is just preposterous and that's not a dig at the author. They are asking folks to email the council and planning board? It's just so unbelievable. That will do nothing. They do not want nor care for input from the citizenry whatsoever. Anyone remember the ruining of Little Falls Parkway? No one listened on that issue and even a local mayor weighed in and that did nothing. Lastly, I understand developing a site but those trees took 50-100 years to get that size and they will chop them down without blinking. Sad.
ReplyDeleteThey are preoccupied with becoming county executives so they'll do nothing.
DeleteThey are bent on creating a down county ghetto.
DeleteThat's no way to increase the tax revenue base.
Don't most largescale developments require removing trees? Why is this project any different?
ReplyDeletehttps://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/news/el-ejecutivo-del-condado-de-montgomery-marc-elrich-destaca-el-importante-progreso-del-plan-de-accion-climatica-durante-su-visita-la-escuela-secundaria-walt-whitman
DeleteSurprised Robert now cares about the trees, when usually lambasting the moribund Montgomery County economy. Folks, are you pro-business or not?
ReplyDeleteA site steps from a Metro station and they're building million dollar townhomes.
ReplyDeleteIt's like these people don't know there is an affordable housing crisis.
I have written to the Planning Board members listed and asked for the following: Try to retain at least 30 percent of the trees in the new development. Build a dog park area in the new development. Provide adequate parking for the residents in the new development. I reside in Kenwood Place Condominium, and the new EYA development is right next to our property with literally a couple of feet separating us. Those townhouses have garages for two cars, and there is next to no parking on the streets. I think the residents and guests are expected to park in the garage with the Giant on top.
ReplyDeleteWe have had the new residents parking on our property - it's so much more convenient - until our fencing went up. EYA is not a good neighbor so far.
I've read that you can't chop down trees in you yard in Takoma Park.
ReplyDelete