tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post3767264064546528404..comments2024-03-29T04:57:59.779-07:00Comments on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row: Westbard sector plan appears headed for approval by County CouncilRobert Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-14782677505441798542016-03-29T12:00:12.706-07:002016-03-29T12:00:12.706-07:00@4.21:
I accept your statement that the Capital ...@4.21: <br /><br />I accept your statement that the Capital Crescent Trail is not classified as parkland north of the District. Thanks for the correction. But your conclusions are probably wrong nonetheless:<br /><br />1)Quoting from a March 18 memo to the County Council: "The reason why the Purple Line will not be extended [from Bethesda to Georgetown] is because of the 1990 decision that the Georgetown Branch right of way south of Bethesda Avenue would be developed as a park....It is well-nigh impossible to get a [project] waiver for a line than would run along the length of a park."<br /><br />2)The bar to using federal funds to construct transportation projects that interfere with park land and recreation sites is considerably higher than what you present as the "need to consider other alternatives". <br /><br />The pertinent Supreme Court decision states that the law "is a plain and explicit bar to the use of federal funds for construction of highways through parks-only the most unusual situations are exempted" and that the existence of the statute "indicates that protection of parkland was to be given paramount importance." According to the U.S. Transportation Department: To use a park or recreation resource, Federal officials must find that alternatives to doing so present unique problems or unusual factors or that the cost, environmental impacts, or community disruption would reach extraordinary magnitude. <br /><br />So the extension of the Purple Line from Bethesda to Georgetown, while not impossible, is highly unlikely.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-88584474158419412872016-03-26T07:26:38.815-07:002016-03-26T07:26:38.815-07:005:39: You betcha. Their term was "main street...5:39: You betcha. Their term was "main street", not town center. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-473504569298601732016-03-26T05:54:06.938-07:002016-03-26T05:54:06.938-07:00"Read the regulations again. It's low-inc..."Read the regulations again. It's low-income housing."<br /><br />#LyingDyer<br /><br />What is your personal threshold for "low-income" vs. "moderate-income"?<br /><br />#DodgingDyerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-1135868561398365292016-03-26T05:39:35.829-07:002016-03-26T05:39:35.829-07:00"'Town center' [has] been a forbidden..."'Town center' [has] been a forbidden phrase never used by planners, the Council or Equity One."<br /><br />It has?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-61499860453095417912016-03-26T05:32:44.323-07:002016-03-26T05:32:44.323-07:005:28: Read the regulations again. It's low-inc...5:28: Read the regulations again. It's low-income housing.<br /><br />You can't describe a majority of residents as "a small band".<br /><br />Riemer said "town center," and that has been a forbidden phrase never used by planners, the Council or Equity One. Riemer had a Freudian slip. Oops.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-81284956612252672032016-03-26T05:28:54.333-07:002016-03-26T05:28:54.333-07:00@ 9:29 PM - And once again, Dyer conflates "m...@ 9:29 PM - And once again, Dyer conflates "moderate-income" and "low-income".<br /><br />@ 9:32 PM - "The Montgomery County political cartel uniting their federal, state and judicial allies to crush resident objections."<br /><br />Or maybe you could realize that you are part of a small band of whiners and malcontents.<br /><br />@ 9:37 PM - "Create 'town center' as Riemer <i>accidentally</i> mentioned"<br /><br />Wow, are you still stuck on this imaginary talking point, Dyer?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-43378427022281330752016-03-25T21:37:25.325-07:002016-03-25T21:37:25.325-07:005:15: The other objectives here for the Council:
...5:15: The other objectives here for the Council:<br /><br />1. Create urban density as argument to extend Purple Line.<br /><br />2. Create "town center" as Riemer accidentally mentioned to facilitate creation of a special taxing district around Westbard town center.<br /><br />3. Cause parking overflow from townhomes and apartments to facilitate paid parking in urban center, and PAID permit parking in surrounding neighborhoods.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-46559315984114458532016-03-25T21:32:33.004-07:002016-03-25T21:32:33.004-07:004:21: You are correct. I predict a big fight like ...4:21: You are correct. I predict a big fight like we saw in Chevy Chase, but ultimately - as we also saw in Chevy Chase - the Montgomery County political cartel uniting their federal, state and judicial allies to crush resident objections. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-35683308450357271282016-03-25T21:29:37.654-07:002016-03-25T21:29:37.654-07:001:55: My number for affordable units takes into ac...1:55: My number for affordable units takes into account the new HOC building, their planned doubling of low-income units in the existing Westwood Tower, and the 15% requirement on the 350-unit American Plant development, which is very likely to sail through the PB and Council if they give a token dedication of stream and road. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-86537160717909043652016-03-25T17:37:57.961-07:002016-03-25T17:37:57.961-07:00@ 5:15 PM:
Why would apartments be more likely to...@ 5:15 PM:<br /><br />Why would apartments be more likely to hold 2 or 3 generation families? And what's so unusual about a "2 generation family"? Do you think that children and aging grandparents will be more, or less, likely to drive?<br /><br />"Folks who live around here don't ride the bus and never will period."<br /><br />How do you know that the new folks won't?<br /><br />"A Super Giant"? Are you serious?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-33632528406965942012016-03-25T17:15:52.424-07:002016-03-25T17:15:52.424-07:00I think the increase in vehicle traffic will be in...I think the increase in vehicle traffic will be in the 3-4k range and could be disasterous this is why-<br /><br />1. Since many of the lower-income units will be apartments, you could have 2 or 3 generations of a family in one unit alone. <br /><br />2. The couples who buy the townhomes and the more expensive condos will have 2 cars at a minimum since there is no Metrorail. Folks who live around here don't ride the bus and never will period. Bethesdan's don't worry about fuel consumption. <br /><br />3. I would hope that the redeveloped shopping center, preferably a smaller village type center, would have more stores, some restaurants, a Super Giant, thus more employees, shoppers, and cars. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-21444326467941157822016-03-25T16:21:59.929-07:002016-03-25T16:21:59.929-07:00@ 2:28 PM: Only the part of the Capital Crescent T...@ 2:28 PM: Only the part of the Capital Crescent Trail that is south of the DC line is "federal parkland". And there is no outright ban on "traversing" parkland, federal or otherwise, just a requirement that alternatives must be considered first. Nice try, Cletus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-33543426349959518222016-03-25T14:28:49.681-07:002016-03-25T14:28:49.681-07:00@10:44 am:
I agree with both your comments.
-The...@10:44 am:<br /><br />I agree with both your comments.<br /><br />-The Planning Board is not accountable. In the case of Westbard, the Planning Board merely served as a rubber stamp for project developers. The Board added height and density to the Planning Department's recommendations, paying no heed to overwhelming community opposition.<br /><br />-Planning Board chair Casey Anderson, who is said to command a $200,000 salary, is particularly objectionable. He affixed to the Planning Department's recommendations a 75-foot tall apartment project on the Little Falls Library site, despite the fact that *the project had not been previously disclosed to the public*. Anderson further described his upsized plan as a "consensus view," blatantly false in light of overwhelming opposition by area residents. <br /> <br />Why are my tax dollars paying for an unaccountable rubber stamp for developers?<br /><br />On the Purple Line: you are correct that a transportation project cannot traverse federal parkland like the Capital Crescent Trail. Thus it is highly unlikely that the Purple Line would be extended to Westbard.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-72166196397995447392016-03-25T14:07:24.702-07:002016-03-25T14:07:24.702-07:00@7.53 AM:
The petition that you are promoting s...@7.53 AM: <br /><br />The petition that you are promoting supports the version of the Westbard sector plan approved by the Planning Board and rejected by the County Council on March 22.<br /><br />I've heard that this petition was started on behalf of the developers. I hope that the community will be very wary of this petition.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-43614539571601794942016-03-25T14:01:54.177-07:002016-03-25T14:01:54.177-07:001:55 PM again. One more point on which I agree wi...1:55 PM again. One more point on which I agree with Robert Dyer:<br /><br />4. Why are 45-foot building heights appropriate for townhomes on Ridgefield Road, while 35-foot heights are supported for a site near Westbard Mews? It would be nice to have 35 foot heights on Ridgefield Road, which is immediately adjancent to single-family homes.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-47185254977320760562016-03-25T13:55:42.049-07:002016-03-25T13:55:42.049-07:00Agree in part and disagree in part with Robert'...Agree in part and disagree in part with Robert's blog.<br /><br />Disagreements:<br /><br />1. Fears about "low income" housing are overblown. The project approved by the Council on March 22 requires 182 affordable units (15% of 1,213). A majority of these will be MPDUs (moderately priced dwelling units), which are leased to households earning $30,000-$61,000 (2 earner households.) These households are screened very carefully on the basis of employment history, credit history and references. The affordable housing delivered by Park Bethesda and Equity One (a majority of the affordable units) will be MPDUs in mixed-income buildings. <br /> At issue are the apartments to be owned by the Housing Opportunities Commission: the unit mix for these dwellings might include senior housing, moderate-income housing, or "low income" housing. It is necessary to determine the use of the HOC units to determine the extent to which "low income" housing delivery will occur at Westbard. Again, over half of the affordable housing, at minimum, will be MPDUs.<br /><br />2. Fears about the Purple Line are overblown. It is highly unlikely that the Purple Line will traverse Westbard because the Purple Line is forbidden to cross the Capital Crescent Trail under federal law.<br /><br />Agreements:<br /><br />1. The March 22 plan adds considerable density and height on the Giant site and along Ridgefield Road and Westbard Avenue. Planned residential development will add ~2600 residents and at least 2,000 cars. Because the Council does not control capital planning for schools (the responsibility of Montgomery County Public Schools) and River Road (the State Highway Administration), it is unclear whether infrastructure capacity will be sufficient to support the project. That said, the March 22 compromise roughly halves the plan originally proposed by the Planning Board, which is indeed a plus.<br /><br />2. Thus far, it is unclear whether the much-touted greenbelt and stream daylighting will be delivered. Requirements that the developers deliver 15% affordable units (instead of the usual 12.5%) means that they are likely to raise objections to fund a greenbelt and stream restoration. Final development requirements should impose the dedication of funds for the greenbelt and stream restoration, or require the County to fund these improvements from new tax dollars associated with the project. (March 22 testimony projected a tax surplus of over $200 million from Westbard redevelopment.)<br /><br />3. Councilmembers Leventhal and Riemer, who proclaimed that *the* primary amenity of Westbard redevelopment is affordable housing, have it wrong. While affordable housing is much-needed and creates diversity, such housing is hardly a community amenity as the term is typically used. The subsidy to the occupants of affordable units reduces the financial performance of redevelopment and therefore might limit the delivery of public amenities (stream daylighting and greenbelt in the case of Westbard.) It is more appropriate to balance the delivery of affordable housing with the delivery of other developer-funded amenities, especially as residents have been promised a greenbelt and Willett Branch daylighting in order to compensate for added density and height in a suburban location. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-16077656793324288642016-03-24T17:31:22.426-07:002016-03-24T17:31:22.426-07:00He does indeed. And he pranced and capered in the ...He does indeed. And he pranced and capered in the parade...if you are lucky, maybe one day he may bring his fancy steps to a parade route near you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-49164530976991785982016-03-24T15:14:25.874-07:002016-03-24T15:14:25.874-07:00Reed has a Purple Line costume?
Reed has a Purple Line costume?<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-61614755519283367042016-03-24T14:37:24.882-07:002016-03-24T14:37:24.882-07:00Uh oh there's a Dan Reed stalker among Robert ...Uh oh there's a Dan Reed stalker among Robert Dyer supporters!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-36230883353155836412016-03-24T13:56:34.527-07:002016-03-24T13:56:34.527-07:00I love the detail with which you describe Dan Reed...I love the detail with which you describe Dan Reed's movements. Is it possible that you have a crush on him?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-90135467999393076392016-03-24T12:17:03.076-07:002016-03-24T12:17:03.076-07:00One could also say Dan was capering down the stree...One could also say Dan was capering down the street dressed as the business end of the Purple Line with little paper plate wheels attached to his legs.<br /><br />What some folks will do...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-13888921425252636992016-03-24T12:11:13.546-07:002016-03-24T12:11:13.546-07:00@8:26
Prancing is what he was doing, not exactly ...@8:26<br /><br />Prancing is what he was doing, not exactly dancing, but walking and doing little jumps. Prancing is pretty much the right descriptive word. Why? Does prancing connote something different for you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-36282729512184097832016-03-24T09:31:14.769-07:002016-03-24T09:31:14.769-07:00And the facts go in one of Dyer's ear, and out...And the facts go in one of Dyer's ear, and out the other.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-34154687161437722182016-03-24T08:31:04.733-07:002016-03-24T08:31:04.733-07:006:24: Actually, it's low income, not "mod...6:24: Actually, it's low income, not "moderate income".Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-41245824013264760902016-03-24T08:28:58.255-07:002016-03-24T08:28:58.255-07:006:20: Most firefighters and police officers DO liv...6:20: Most firefighters and police officers DO live outside the County, thanks to your MoCo political cartel's high-tax policies. Yet, both our police force and fire and rescue services boast arguably the best and most qualified men and women in the region. So it hasn't hurt their "job pool" at all.<br /><br />Having said that, the majority of low-income housing units does not go to teachers and firefighters, even though the programs are sold to the public that way.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.com