Clearcut! in downtown Bethesda (Photos)

The oxygen level in the area behind the Bethesda Metro station just went down, and the carbon dioxide level has increased significantly. Large, mature trees and bushes have been clearcut at 4885 Edgemoor Lane in preparation for construction of the Edgemont II residential high-rise.

Due to exhaust-churning buses regularly entering and exiting the Woodmont Avenue-level bus bays, this is already one of the worst air-quality areas in downtown Bethesda. Every tree counts at this location.

Hug the trees of Westbard (Photos)

Remember when the Montgomery County Council and Planning Board told you that building a small city at "Westbard" would improve the environment, but I told you it would replace a suburban neighborhood of mature trees with a relentless hardscape of concrete and steel? Well, look who was right again. A "tree variance request" filed by Regency Centers puts the foggy abstract into focus, listing the trees that will be clearcut along Westbard Avenue and Ridgefield Road.

We haven't heard much blowback from the developer-endorsing "environmental groups" about this, but none of the champion trees being removed are dying. In fact, three of the 6 mature trees that will be removed have just been declared to be in "Good" health by an arborist. Two others are in "Fair" health, in no chance of dying anytime soon. One is in "Poor" health, but not in need of removal for health reasons. All will be removed for money-making reasons.

When you look at the specific trees being removed, they are the ones that give Westbard its leafy, suburban character. Looking at these pictures, you don't see the fabled "parking lots" or "outmoded retail centers." What you see is a substantial green canopy, which cleans the air, and also fits in with the nearby single-family homes.

CLICK HERE before voting, so you don't
have the voter's remorse you did in 2014,
when you were betrayed by the County Council
on Westbard only 10 days after the election

After these trees are removed, there will be substantially more carbon dioxide in the air, higher noise levels, and hotter surface temperatures. There's a reason why urban areas show up on thermal infrared satellite maps as "heat islands," and suburban neighborhoods do not - although no one has educated George "The Suburbs Were a Mistake" Leventhal on that point, apparently.

Most of all, there will be concrete, glass, steel and more concrete in every direction you look from the future Westbard Avenue. None of the streetscapes and green turf postage stamps in the development will feature mature trees, only the glorified twigs found around most new developments today. Federal Realty, in a very unusual move, paid extra to bring an actual mature tree to Rose Park at Pike & Rose. Will Regency Centers change their plans and do so as well? And then truck in five more? I'm not willing to bet any money on it.

#TFW you realize the "New Westbard" will
be a hot hellscape of concrete and steel, and that
you voted for the people who approved the plan

PROPHETIC WARNING:

"We need a Councilman who doesn't get all weak-in-the-knees when a developer walks in the room."

- Robert Dyer, 2014

Trees being cut down at Apex Building as plaintiffs continue fight to stop Wilson Store move

On Wednesday, workers began cutting down street trees around the Apex Building on Elm Street. Meanwhile, the local residents challenging the move of the historic Wilson Store/Community Paint and Hardware building next door to the Apex say they plan to appeal the recent Montgomery County Circuit Court decision upholding the Historic Preservation Commission's approval of the relocation to Middleton Lane.

The appeal is complicated by the wait for the judge's transcript that will make his decision final, before which time the appeal to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals cannot be filed. Plaintiffs are asking that production of the transcript be expedited. A second practical challenge is the fact that Carr Properties plans to move the building this weekend. Through their attorney, David Brown, the plaintiffs have asked that Carr postpone the move until their appeal can be heard.

Wilson Store

If successful at the Court of Special Appeals, the residents would then have standing to challenge the move before the County Board of Appeals. As I reported yesterday, the building has already been chopped in half and loaded onto the motorized dollies for this weekend's move.

ARBOR HORROR!! SHA TO CLEARCUT "GREEN MILE" BETWEEN BETHESDA AND FRIENDSHIP HEIGHTS

"EVERYTHING MUST GO!"

ALL 53 TREES TO BE REMOVED

FOR SIDEWALK

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS!

Another Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row Exclusive!!!

Tree huggers:  You'd better get a good rest and fortify yourself with a hearty breakfast.  53 trees are going to be destroyed along Wisconsin Avenue between Bradley Lane and Friendship Heights, if the state has its way.

According to an attendee of last night's meeting between the Maryland State Highway Administration and nearby residents, SHA is determined to cut down every tree along the east side of 355 in order to build a sidewalk.   A sidewalk!

There just happens to be one on the west side of the road, guys.

What's happening here, of course, is that sidewalks and multi-use paths now must conform to strict environmental and disability access standards that didn't exist before.  In almost every case, that makes sense.  But you would think that, with this being the only stretch of green for miles, no one would propose building a sidewalk that is not strictly necessary.

I'm always an advocate for mandating sidewalks, paths and/or bike lanes wherever feasable on new roads.  Separate bike, auto and pedestrian facilities improve safety, and get everyone to their destination faster.

But should such an ideal scenario come at the expense of precious and rare environmental resources?

I have no problem with trees being cut down for the public good, such as to build a highway, railroad or fire station.  In this case, however, this sidewalk is a luxury item, and a solution in search of a problem.

Very few people walk this stretch.  Those who wish to do so can now on the west sidewalk.  Joggers can run, cyclists can cycle and wheelchairs can utilize it as well.  Most people are taking a car, bus or Metro ride down there.

Would I like to have an 8' multi-use path there?  Absolutely.  But not at the cost of the Green Mile.

To a small extent, this is reminiscent of Montgomery County's sidewalk shenanigans in recent years.  The county, supposedly so broke it needs to hit up senior citizens for ambulance fees, has what seems to be a bottomless budget to retrofit old neighborhoods with sidewalks.  They're used as political payoffs, as well-connected supporters simply ask and receive sidewalks.  No rigorous engineering standards must be met.  And the destruction of our already-evaporating tree canopy is not an issue for them.  At all.  In some Bethesda neighborhoods, trees older than the neighborhoods themselves are being felled for sidewalks.  My answer is, if you wanted a street with sidewalks, why did you buy a house where there weren't any?  Our elected officials are out to literally pave over the entire county.

And that leads me to my theory about what's really behind this clearcutting of the Green Mile.  Right now, that tree-lined stretch is off limits to development.  There's a mishmash of government and Chevy Chase Club land that I'll let a surveyor try to explain to you.  (Someone even brought this up as a place to build the new BCC cluster middle school, so you're talking about more government land then you'd think).

Here's my theory:  It's practically sacred now.  No one would dare try to build anything there.

But what if government found a "noble excuse" to clearcut the trees? Now it becomes just another barren space.

Here comes Danny Developer down the road.  He's rubbing his hands together, thinking of all the possibilities.  "Green.  Sustainable.  Smart growth," Danny says, smiling at the Planning Board.  "A vibrant space to live, work and play."  (By the way, what do the planners and developers mean when they refer to "play" for people over the age of, say 10?  Do adults "play?" So annoying).  "Staff recommends approval!"  "All those in favor... By acclimation!"

By eliminating the Green Mile, the taboo of developing it is gone.  Pretty clever, right?  Too clever by half.

Angry about losing 53 trees?

Comments about the project are still being taken at:

kmazzara@sha.state.md.us 

ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov