WEEKLY TOWN UPDATES
September 2, 2022
For more information on any news item, special event, or reminder, please click on the respective title.
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Draft “Binding Elements” and ImagesThe Town Council, with assistance from the Town's 4-H Committee and legal counsel, has developed a proposed list of “Binding Elements” that the Town will propose as conditions for County approval of the developer’s rezoning application. These conditions include limitations on the scale of the development, restrictions on use (such as preserving the woods and limiting the amount of commercial space), and other requirements. Please review these, and we invite your comments. We also will be discussing this draft with the County Planning Department.
In early August, the Town received and publicized numerous three-dimensional images that show the height and massing of the proposed buildings from all adjacent streets, with and without vegetative cover.
September 10 “Walkinar”
The Town will host a “Walkinar” of the Corso property on September 10 at 10 a.m. (with a rain date of September 11 at 1 p.m.) to allow residents to understand the development plans and pose questions to the developers. Particular focus will be on the plans for forest conservation easements and the proposed storm water management system. Representatives from the County Planning Department also will attend. The event will start at the north side of the Corso property along Thornapple Street and proceed through the west and south sides of the property.
September 12 Town Forum
On September 12 at 7 p.m., the Town Council will host a Town Forum to receive resident feedback on the proposed redevelopment. The forum will be held in the Town Hall and by Zoom video conference.
We encourage residents to review the proposed binding elements and images and provide feedback to the Town Council at the Town Forum or at townoffice@townofchevychase.org. Following the receipt of resident feedback, the Council will finalize our proposed set of conditions to submit to the developer and the County Planning Department.
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We expect that this fall will be a crucial time to finalize arrangements for the development of the new parks associated with the redevelopment of the Farm Women’s Market. The four parties involved -- the Town, the Parks Department, the developers, and the County, through the Department of Transportation -- are exchanging drafts of a Letter of Intent (“LOI”) that will set out the general responsibilities of the parties, including the Town’s commitment, revised by the Town Council in July, to contribute $4.5 million. Upon completion of this LOI, the County Executive will send a request to the County Council to amend the County budget to include the $9.25 million that represents the County’s portion of the funding.
Following the execution of the LOI, the parties will begin work on the definitive documents. We also expect that a design review, or charette, process will be conducted this fall. During this process, the Town and other surrounding communities will have the opportunity to review and comment on the proposed design for the parks and the amenities that they will contain. We will provide regular updates to residents on this project.
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Crews Resume Construction of Purple Line Noise Walls Adjacent to the TownCrews have resumed construction of noise walls adjacent to the Town using East-West Highway access points. Work may take place 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and weekends, as needed.
Long-Term Lane Closure on Wisconsin Avenue at Elm Street
Crews have resumed work at the future Purple Line Bethesda Metro Station located at Elm Street and Wisconsin Avenue. A long-term lane closure of the southbound right lane of Wisconsin Avenue at Elm Street will be implemented on or about September 14, 2022, through completion of the station construction to facilitate a work zone buffer and construction access. Pedestrians will need to use the signed pedestrian detour to access the northbound side of Wisconsin Avenue. Work will occur in two shifts from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 a.m. weekdays and weekends, as needed.
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The Town offers a program that provides residents who complete a County RainScapes project with a supplemental rebate of up to 50% of the County rebate amount, with the total combined rebate limited to 85% of the total cost of the project. Although the County program closed to new applicants on September 2, residents are encouraged to take advantage of the Town's Consulting Water Management Program to identify a suitable Rainscapes project for their property in anticipation of the County's reopening of the program from February 1, 2023 to March 31, 2023.
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The Town is preparing its fall tree planting list. If you have a spot in your yard suitable for a tree, you might want to take advantage of the Town’s Private Tree Planting Program. Under this program, the Town will purchase and plant a tree on your property at no cost to you. We have recently expanded the offerings under this program to include understory and evergreen trees in addition to more canopy trees. Residents are responsible for the long-term care of the trees once installed.
You also may request a tree to be planted along the street in front of your home. Residents always will be consulted before a public tree is planted in front of their home. Once the trees are planted, the Town will care for them for the first year by ensuring that they are watered. To request a tree, please complete the form on the Town website under Quick Links or email townoffice@townofchevychase.org.
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On September 18 from 5 to 6 p.m. on the Lawton Center basketball court, the Rockville Concert Band will perform a special concert for Town residents. A food truck will be on site, so make it an evening of fun, food, and music! Under the direction of Dr. Juan Gallestegui, this full concert band will perform light pops and marches for a delightful evening for Town families to enjoy.
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Our Town Book Club will meet September 19 at 7 p.m. in the Lawton Center Conference Room to discuss Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Since we picked it, the book has risen to the Best Seller List! Cooking, chemistry, and feminism… stirred into one.
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The Town’s fall Trash and Treasures has been rescheduled for the weekend of October 8-9. The Town offers this curbside bulk trash collection so that residents can dispose of items that are no longer usable. Please remember to bag, box, or contain all of your discards, and do not put items at the curb before noon on October 7 or after 7 a.m. on October 10. If you have items that can be recycled or repurposed, we encourage you to come to the Lawton Center on October 8 for our Alternatives to Trash & Treasures event.
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Calling all artists! If you (or your child) created a painting, poem, sculpture, musical composition, or another artistic expression that encompasses the theme "All Things Autumn,” please describe the creation or take a photo and send it to townoffice@townofchevychase.org by September 15. If selected, your artwork may be exhibited at the Town's October 15 Fall Fest. |
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Montgomery Parks has a full lineup of special events in September, including festivals, free salsa lessons, happy hours, and yappy hours to bring your furry friends along. There are events for all ages and interests! |
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CC@H is a member organization providing social and educational programs to neighbors of all ages and support services to seniors.
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The Town office will be closed on Monday, September 5 for the Labor Day holiday. Household trash will not be collected on Monday, September 5 but will be collected on Thursday, September 8 for the Monday/Thursday collection route. Yard trash will be collected on Tuesday, September 6, and recycling and household organic waste will be collected on Wednesday, September 7.
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The Town has COVID test kits and N95 masks available for pick up at the Town office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The kits and masks are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last. |
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The use of gas-powered blowers is prohibited from January 1 through October 14. The Council approved this ban in response to resident concerns about noise and other impacts of this type of landscaping equipment. The regulations exempt gas-powered snow blowers and sprayers. Montgomery County noise regulations also remain in effect in the Town.
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In October 2021, the Town Council adopted the County’s Pesticide Law, making it applicable in the Town. Most notably, the law prohibits homeowners and
contractors from using synthetic pesticides for cosmetic purposes on lawns. More information, including how to report a violation, is available here.
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The Town office is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On other days, most employees telework. There may be someone to assist on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but please contact the office in advance. |
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Residents are encouraged to connect with fellow residents through the private Town Neighbors listserv. |
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The Town offers a free service where residents may have their compostable materials picked up by our contractor, The Compost Crew. |
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View an interactive calendar of upcoming Town meetings and events. |
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