Town Council News
Next meeting: Monday, Feb. 14, 2005; 7:30 p.m., in the Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
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
Place: McCathran Hall
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Copies of proposed Ordinance available in the Town Office, please call first.
Tax Reminder-Washington Grove-1612
Please fill in Washington Grove 1612 in the appropriate box on your State income tax form. If someone else prepares your tax forms, include this notice with your tax information and if you file electronically; be sure to select Washington Grove under City, Town or Taxing Area. This DOES NOT increase your taxes, but DOES help ensure that the Town receives its proper share of local income tax revenue. Thanks for your help!
Casey Field:
The Shady Grove Master Plan is now being examined by the PHED Committee. This group will be looking at the possibility of using the Legacy Open Space field for an elementary school site. Although your letter writing efforts convinced the Planning Board to leave the field alone, the County Council can still override that decision. It looks like another Town effort to save the field may be in order. It’s almost certain that residents will be asked to write more letters. Stay tuned…
Deer Park Bridge: A higher/wider/relocated Hump-Back Bridge?
The County has undertaken a serious study of concepts that will dramatically affect the Grove: all center on rebuilding the Hump-Back Bridge, making it wider for more and faster traffic flow, and higher for greater vertical clearance of trains. Concepts also include widening and realigning Oakmont Avenue to promote moving traffic. The County has scheduled a public “workshop” in Gaithersburg on Monday, January 31st at 7:30 p.m. to solicit reactions of the public to the various concepts. There will be a very important January 27th meeting in the Town Hall at 7:30 p.m.. This meeting will be the Town’s opportunity to prepare for the January 31st workshop. It is critical that each of us know as much as possible about the pros and cons of the concepts so that we can talk knowledgeably and effectively with County reps at the workshop. Please come and bring your neighbors to listen and learn.
Water Main Replacement Update
WSSC Public Meeting Scheduled
McCathran Hall Tuesday, January 25, 2005 7:00 p.m.
In previous Town Bulletins, we have been telling you about proposed water main replacement projects on 4th Avenue and on Brown Street. These projects have grown a bit and now include water mains on Pine Avenue, Cherry Avenue, Grove Avenue, Maple Avenue, and Ridge Road. Replacement of these water mains is scheduled to begin in early spring of this year and should be completed in the fall 2005. You are invited to attend a public meeting where the plans for these replacements can be reviewed. The meeting will provide you with the opportunity to comment on the projects, ask questions, and to review the potential impacts of this construction.
Planning Commission News
Next meeting: Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005; 7:30 p.m. Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Board of Zoning Appeals-Notice of Public Hearing
Application for a Special Exception Applicant: Dale Eno Shore, Artist, Instructor
Date: February 12, 2005
Time: 9:00 a.m.
Place: McCathran Hall, Council Chambers
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.
Historic Preservation News
Next meeting: Feb. 15, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Council Room.
Meetings are open to the public. One of the Historic Preservation Commission’s duties is to review most building permit applications presented to the Planning Commission. We encourage those who are planning to make a permit application to consider early consultation with the HPC before doing so.
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:
Jan. 7: 300 block of Ridge Road; a probable peeper found climbing a ladder he had placed against a house at 1:00a.m.. Suspect ran away carrying his 16 ft. ladder. A composite sketch is posted in the Town Office.
Recreation Committee News
Next meeting: January 26, 2005, 7:30 p.m. Council Room.
The public is invited to attend.
Don’t Forget Mousetrap Concert #2
at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, January 23 @ McCathran Hall
The NEVSKY VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Russian Music: Sacred, Contemporary , Folk Songs
Paintings of Nancy Haskett & reception follows concert.
Woman’s Club News
Next meeting: Feb. 17, 2005. ; 7:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse.
Come to the Woman’s Club and hear Marianne Strong, Professor, Lecturer, Writer, give a talk about goddesses, tragic heroines and real women of Ancient Greece and how the west may well have inherited both fear of and hostility toward women from them.
Film Society
On February 13, 2005 at 7:00 p.m. the Film Society will show Millennium Actress, an unusual anime production that is an absolute gem for fans of the genre and casual moviegoers alike. After nearly 30 years of seclusion, aged screen star Chiyoko Fujiwara grants an interview to journalist Genya Tachibana. As scenes from Chiyoko’s films are intercut with her memories of pursuing a mysterious artist, Tachibana finds himself within her memories and movies, observing and aiding the woman he adores. We invite you to watch and stay to talk about this anime film, the first of its genre shown in the Grove. 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
If you put leaves out for collection after Monday, January 3, 2005, you missed the last contracted pickup for the winter. Per our contract, U.S. Lawns will return for spring clean-up but are finished for now.
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. Your yard waste disposal is your responsibility until that time.
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.
Wednesday Morning Playgroup
Don’t forget the Wednesday (9:30a.m. – 11:00a.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.
Yoga
Weekly Yoga classes are still in session. Residents may “drop-in” on Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. in McCathran Hall. Classes are over at 8:30 p.m.. Come learn to relax. For further information call Terry Strother at 240-631-2759.
Clerk’s Corner
When I’m not bugging you about your speed, I’m nudging you about recycling. Please take your junk mail home and recycle it through our trash contractor. If you throw it away in the Post Office, it will not be recycled. Just a reminder; newspapers, magazines, catalogs phone books, office & computer paper, newspaper inserts, unwanted mail and paperback books are ALL recyclable.
AND… In case you forgot…
DRIVE 15, ENJOY THE SCENE!