Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday, Jan. 10, 2005; 7:00 p.m., in the Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
The January meeting will begin with reports from our State legislators; Charles Barkley, PJ Hogan, Nancy King and Joan Stern. Come hear what they have to say about the coming session!
Notice of Public Hearing
Text Amendment to the Code of Ordinances Article VII Zoning. The proposed ordinance will address; Charitable, Religious & Educational uses within Residential Zones.
Date: Monday, January 24, 2005 (Re-scheduled from Dec.9, 2004)
Place: McCathran Hall
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Copies of proposed Ordinance available in the Town Office, please call first.
Development Updates.
Casey Field: Thanks to all who attended and/or will attend the Dec. 16th and 23rd hearings. Your presence made a difference! Whatever the outcome, the REAL battle now lies with the County Council and the PHED (Planning, Housing & Economic Development) Committee. Everyone needs to write letters and talk to neighbors, especially those around the County and ask them to weigh in on our behalf. The PHED Committee will take up the Shady Grove Master Plan and the need for a school site. Keep in mind that the need for the school site comes directly from the proposed development at the Shady Grove Metro, whose impact will be immense. They have floated, and will actually entertain, the unacceptable idea that a LOS (Legacy Open Space) property should be used to facilitate this plan at the expense of the existing communities, and particularly threatening one of the really historic towns in their County!
Deer Park Bridge:
A public workshop is coming.probably in February. It is at this meeting where the 3 alignments for a new bridge will be presented and your public comments will be taken. The Town will be asking that another alternative, lowering the RR tracks 3-5 feet which would allow the bridge to be scaled down, be considered.
Oak Street & Center Street Closures
For many years the Town entrances at Oak and at Center Streets along Washington Grove Lane have been closed to vehicular traffic with the exception of emergency vehicles. The present configuration is no longer effective and both of these places are seeing an increase in use. In order to stop the problem, Town Maintenance will be adding another type of barrier to these areas. All methods of closure have been cleared by the Fire Departments that serve Washington Grove.
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2005; 7:30 p.m. Council Room. Please note the change to Wednesday. The public is invited to attend.
Changes in Building Permit Process
All building permit applications must now be approved or denied by the Planning Commission as a Commission. Residents will continue to deliver the required documentation to the Town Office for initial log-in and dissemination to the Planning and Historic Preservation Commissions. A Planning Commission member will be responsible for reviewing the submitted documents and, if necessary, requesting additional information. Applications will be approved or denied at the regularly scheduled Planning Commission meetings. The Planning Commission meets on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Room. Residents are urged to plan accordingly. For additional clarification, you may pick up a Permit Process Form and a Flow Chart at the Town Office. Web-posting will happen shortly.
Building Permits:
If you are going to erect a building or structure (including fences), make structural alterations to, or move any existing building or other structure, you must first obtain a building permit from the Washington Grove Planning Commission. The Town zoning ordinance governs setbacks, lot coverage and height. Applications are available at the Town Office at 301-926-2256. The permit fee is $10.00, payable to the Town of Washington Grove. Interior renovations, which involve electrical, plumbing, or load-bearing changes, generally require a County permit. A shed requires a County permit as well. The Town must first sign off all applications for County-required building permits. The Historic Preservation Commission will review most permits as well.
Can You Help?
Calling all house location surveys! Currently, one of the things required when applying for a Building Permit is a house location survey. That has not always been the case. Many of the properties in Town only have a small bit of written information (and maybe a drawing on a napkin : ) attached to a request for a building permit. If you have a house location survey or, better yet, a boundary survey that you would be willing to let the Town copy for our records, please call the Town Office 301-926-2256. Thanks!
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Jan. 18, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Council Room. Meetings are open to the public. A review was done for a porch/deck at 211 Ridge Road. The HPC is looking for volunteers and for information. Volunteers are invited to help us make an accurate pictorial and archival record of Town properties. Information about Washington Grove of any descript is sought. Photographs, documents, video/audio tapes, and anything that helps us with the documentation of our unique Town, its development and its architecture are welcomed. To volunteer or provide information, please call HPC Chairman Bob Booher at 301-963-3935.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: January 26, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Neighborhood Watch News
Report Crimes & Suspicious Activity!
Mont. Co. Police non-emergency: 301-279-8000
Town Office: 301-926-2256
Betsy Klinger: 301-977-3517
Incident Report:
Dec. 8, 2004: House on First Ave. was damaged by arson. The investigation is on-going. Thanks to Virgil Van Beek who spotted the fire and reported it.
Woman’s Club News
Next meeting: Jan. 20, 2005. ; 7:30 p.m. at the home of Georgette Cole. Come to the White Elephant Auction! Bring a slightly used item to be auctioned off. Cocktails will be served and there will be a door prize.
Free Family Film: Spellbound
The Film Society kicks off 2005 on January 9th at 7:00p.m., with Spellbound. This humorous and suspenseful documentary follows eight remarkable children through the rounds of the 1999 National Spelling Bee. The fascinating subculture of competitive spelling and the children’s differing personalities and family backgrounds contribute to the film’s success. Recommended for adults and children, 8 or older.
Subscriptions to the 5-film series are $20.00. Send a check, payable to the Town of Washington Grove, to Birgit Henninger at PO Box 355. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $7.
Leaf Collection Continues
Fall/Winter leaf collection continues through January 1, 2005. If you have been missed by the “suck ’em up truck”, please contact Tom Land at 301-869-4334 or [email protected] .
Yard Waste
As of November 24th and per our contract, yard waste recycling pickup by Waste Management on Wednesdays is suspended until the beginning of March. That means no more pickup of brush in the big brown bags or properly marked yard waste containers. If you have placed something “curb-side” for this type of collection it will not be picked up. Please make other arrangements for its disposal.
Eco-friendly Meats.Are You Interested?
Are you interested in forming a Washington Grove Buyers’ Club for pasture-raised, eco-friendly meats? If so.read on. The finest beef, lamb, pork and poultry will be available to Washington Grove residents, from same supplier of Washington DC premier restaurants such as Nora’s, Cashion’s, Eve, and Jaleo. Residents order what they want two or three weeks in advance of delivery. Regular delivery will be monthly. A central location in Town will be the designated delivery site. Prices are as good as store prices, substantially better with discounts given for volume. Meats are pasture-raised, eco-friendly, to organic standards or better and all raised by local family farmers. There will be no cost to join the club; however, interested people must contact Jaron Bourke. A critical mass of demand is required to start deliveries to the Grove. For further information contact Jaron Bourke (201 Brown Street) at 301-330-9359 or [email protected] or visit www.ecofriendly.com.
Christmas Tree Disposal
Beginning in late December, Christmas trees will be picked up roadside by Town Maintenance staff. When you place your tree out for collection, please remove all tinsel, ornaments, the stand and any other metals.
Water Main Replacement Still Coming
Water main replacement on 4th Avenue is scheduled for early spring to be completed in April. Because of the close quarters and the large trees on 4th Avenue, WSSC will be using a new trench-less system for this project. The water main replacement along Brown Street is scheduled for early summer and will be the conventional replacement method. Public meetings will be held before the projects begin. Announcements for these meetings will be in a future Town Bulletin, so stay tuned.
Wednesday Morning Playgroup
Don’t forget the Wednesday (9:30 a.m.-11:00 a.m.) morning playgroup in McCathran Hall. Parents or care-givers must stay. This is not a drop-off group. Please bring a toy to share. Call Karen Kelly (301-987-9529) for more information.
Mousetrap Returns
January 23, 2005 is the date for the second concert in the Mousetrap Concert Series. Come hear the Nevsky Vocal Ensemble from St. Petersburg.
Clerk’s Corner
Why do you speed? Is it just because you can? Please be aware of your speed. How about making it a New Year’s resolution?