West Fernwood Citizens Association launches petition to delay WMAL site redevelopment in Bethesda

The West Fernwood Citizens Association has posted an online petition for residents and "neighbors" of the community (the petition requires name and address to verify you live nearby) to sign, which asks the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board to halt redevelopment of the WMAL radio tower site at 7115 Greentree Road in Bethesda until several concerns are addressed. Developer Toll Brothers has a plan to construct 328 homes with recreation trails, and a clubhouse with a pool and fitness center on the property, which currently houses transmission towers for the radio station.

Concerns summarized on the petition are:

• Traffic - Residents are concerned about both the added impact of the new cars the development will bring, as well as the notoriously-inaccurate methods the County uses to gauge road capacity. The petition notes that the tougher standard of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments rates Fernwood Road (which some residents refer to as "Fernlock" due to its rush hour backups) "Heavily Congested. Weaker County standards don't jibe with "the reality experienced by citizens," an issue that has come up in the controversial Westbard sector plan, as well
• Schools in the Walter Johnson cluster, and in North Bethesda generally, are already "bursting at the seams" with overcrowding
• Lack of vehicular access routes to the tower site. Currently there is only one way in. Toll Brothers' plan anticipates a second gateway via Greyswood Road, and fire access via Renita Lane
• The only close-by bus line, Ride On 47, is more than half-a-mile from the center of the tower site
• The tower site is about 3 miles from the nearest Metro station, the WFCA calculated
• Limited pedestrian access to shopping, services and amenities

Toll Brothers submitted its preliminary plan to Montgomery County in late May, and has a public information website about its plans for the WMAL property.