All posts by Jeremy Dickey

City Council & Mayor Blog

Takoma Junction: Learn What’s Up and Engage

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Dear Takoma Park Community,

On April 4th at our City Council meeting, Neighborhood Development Company — our partner in redeveloping the lot at Takoma Junction — will present their draft site-plan. I wanted to take this opportunity to lay out the process, schedule, and opportunities for public feedback over the next few weeks.

But first, thank you to everyone who has continued to stay engaged and provide feedback. Together we are making this a better project and I am excited to work together on this next phase.

Our vision for Takoma Junction is to create a well-functioning area overall – not just a redevelopment of the parking lot.

To this end, in October, the Council passed a Resolution to direct Neighborhood Development Company (NDC) on elements we need to see in their draft site plan following their presentation last fall of a concept plan.  Since October, the City also undertook its own independent traffic study in addition to the study conducted by NDC, which the Council will be reviewing during the month of April as we look for ways to improve the functionality of Takoma Junction for pedestrians, bikers, and drivers.

What is a site plan?

On April 4th, NDC will present a draft site plan for the lot at Takoma Junction. What is a site plan and what should we expect to receive?

In general, a site plan is an architectural plan and engineering drawing of proposed changes to a piece of property and impacted surrounding areas. A site plan usually shows a building footprint, site design and accessories (such as walkways and trails, landscaping, and green elements), parking, and vehicle and pedestrian access and control. We expect to receive a site plan that incorporates these elements on April 4th.

After the presentation of NDC’s draft site plan on April 4th, the City Council will have a series of work sessions focused on specific aspects of the plan at our weekly public meetings.

As we look at the site plan, we will want to see a project that is lasting, memorable and reflective of the community and character of Takoma Park. The goal is for this redevelopment to create a more flourishing Takoma Junction, with improved opportunities for residents and businesses.

The Council has repeatedly stated that we want the Co-op to thrive and continue to be an integral part of our community, and we believe we can both redevelop the parking lot and continue to have a vibrant and successful Co-op. We believe this project will help the Co-op by bringing more foot traffic and amenities to the Junction.

What is the next step after the presentation of the site plan?

After the site plan is presented on April 4th, we will hold a series of work sessions during public meetings, outlined below. NDC can continue to tweak their plans based on feedback from these sessions throughout the month of April. The Council is tentatively scheduled to vote on whether to approve the site plan at our May 9th Council meeting, if not approved there will be further discussions with NDC about next steps per the Development Agreement. Approval of the site plan would signal to NDC that they can proceed with finalizing and submitting the plan to the County. For more details on the County process, please see the discussion from the February 14th City Council meeting when we invited representatives from the County’s Planning Department to walk us through the process.

What opportunities are there for public input?

There will be many opportunities for public input. Residents can share their thoughts during the public comment period at our weekly public meetings, email the City Clerk to have written comments shared with the City Council and included in the public record, and/or contact their City Council representatives directly.

There will also be an Open House on April 7 when residents can have more conversational-style exchanges with City staff, representatives from NDC, and the City Council.

In addition, residents will have an opportunity to see a mockup of the site on April 22 at the Takoma Junction parking lot, where there will be markings designating the placement of the building and other features.

We have received helpful and insightful feedback about the project so far, and we look forward to more as we make Takoma Junction a place we all want to see and can be proud of.

What will be the process over the next several weeks?

Over the next few weeks, we will be receiving the site plan and other information about the project proposal. After a series of public meetings, which will provide numerous opportunities for dialogue and public comment, the Council is scheduled to vote to take action on the site plan on May 9th. As noted above, this will be the point where Council will consider approving the site plan, which would signal to NDC that they can proceed with finalizing and submitting the plan to the County for the next steps in the process.

Here is the current schedule of meetings and events to discuss, ask questions, and provide feedback on the draft site plan (more detailed information is available on the Takoma Junction Project page).

  • April 4th NDC Presentation at City Council meeting of Takoma Junction Site Plan
  • April 7th Open House – a chance to come and ask questions and provide feedback (childcare will be provided)
  • April 11th Work session on “Building Design and Placement on the Property”
  • April 18th Work session on “Public Space and Sustainability Features”
  • April 22nd Pop-Up at the Takoma Junction – a chance to visit the lot, see markings designating public space, placement of the building, and other features
  • April 25th Work session on “Traffic and Circulation” (City Council Meeting will begin at 6:30 pm and childcare will be provided)
  • May 2nd Council discussion of Draft Resolution regarding Site Plan
  • May 9th Tentatively scheduled City Council vote on a Resolution on draft site plan

In addition to these formal times to meet, discuss, and ask questions, each of us on the Council is available to meet with smaller groups and individuals for feedback and input.

Working together

In the fall, I told many of you about my experience with the Sligo Mill Playground. When I was first elected to the City Council, discussions and plans for this playground had already begun, but the community, gardeners, and neighbors, were not at all in agreement. Many of the gardeners did not want the playground because it meant the loss of some of the community garden plots and asked me to stop the plans for the playground, while some of the neighbors requested that more of the garden plots be removed to make space for a larger playground. There were tense and heated discussions and emails about the size of the playground, placement of the water tower, and other issues. However, through it all, we kept meeting and talking and listening and compromising. And now we have a terrific new playground and community garden space.

I learned many lessons from that experience, which I have tried to bring to our discussion of the Takoma Junction redevelopment. I am confident that by continuing to have productive, respectful dialogue with each other, we can have a thriving, beautiful, funky, and functional Takoma Junction.

  • As we embark on this next phase, I want to reiterate my personal vision for Takoma Junction:
  • A place where we can walk to and bump into friends and family.
  • A place to sit and read or just enjoy a warm spring day.
  • A place we can meet and enjoy a meal or pick up a last-minute birthday present.
  • A place where residents who live in other parts of the City and especially those just a few blocks away feel welcome and come to shop, mingle, and work.
  • A place that enhances the beauty of our community by replacing a surface parking lot with a building featuring advanced environmental features and eliminating stormwater runoff.
  • A place where local residents with the dream of opening a business in the City have a place to do that, and a place for an existing business in the City needing more space to relocate.
  • A place that reflects who we are and our values so that when people come to Takoma Junction they know they are in Takoma Park.

In the months to come, we will continue to be guided by the Resolution by the Council setting its goals for the project and the Development Agreement, both of which had extensive public input. You can also find a number of question and answer documents to the most frequently asked questions as we have gone through this process on the project page.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to the collaboration in the weeks ahead.

Best,
Mayor Stewart

*entry originally posted on March 23, 2018

Public Notices, Uncategorized

FIRST-TIME HOME BUYERS SEMINAR

Make a well informed decision when you purchase your first home.  Come and join us for this free first-time home buyer seminar, led by the Latino Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), a HUD certified housing organization. This seminar is the opportunity to get answers to your many questions from the professionals involved in the home buying process. Attend the entire session and receive a Certificate of Completion, allowing you access to low interest loans.

First-Time Home Buyer Seminar

Saturday, May 12, 2018

8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD

Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. To register, please contact the Housing & Community Development Department at (301) 891-7119 or sign up at http://bit.ly/2BWg0Lq

Continental breakfast and light lunch will be provided.

City Manager & Staff Blog

Budget and Takoma Junction Traffic Process

From Suzanne Ludlow, City Manager of Takoma Park

Dear Residents of Takoma Park,

I am writing today on two major topics – the Proposed FY 19 City Budget and the Takoma Junction redevelopment project.

At last Wednesday’s City Council meeting, both the Proposed Budget and the draft site plan for the City’s project in Takoma Junction were presented. It is worth it to watch the recorded Council meeting to see these presentations. Over the next six weeks, the Council and public will be learning about and commenting on the proposals. The Council will take final action on the Budget in May; the complete review process for the Takoma Junction project will take much longer, but this is a time of Council and community focus on the draft site plan. (For more information on the process, see Mayor’s Blog.)

An Open House on both the Proposed Budget and the Takoma Junction Project will be held tomorrow, Saturday, April 7, from 2 to 5 pm in the Community Center. Please come! Our Recreation Department will have activities for children during that time so that you are able to come, learn and share your thoughts.

Budget

Preparing a proposed budget is the most important duty of the City Manager. For more details, please read my Transmittal Letter in the Proposed Budget document or view Wednesday’s presentation. We are at an exciting – but challenging – point in the history of our City. The Council has clear Priorities and high expectations for the direction for Takoma Park and we are organizing ourselves to get this done in a fiscally responsible way. Your comments are important as the Council considers the Proposed Budget and determines what changes to make which will result in a Final Budget that best meets their goals.

Takoma Junction

The proposal to redevelop the City-owned vacant asphalt lot on Carroll Avenue in Takoma Junction is taking shape. The plans presented on Wednesday are truly exciting and are appropriately sized for a historic neighborhood commercial area.

Takoma Junction Traffic

A major issue is a pre-existing one: the poor configuration of the intersection of Ethan Allen Avenue (MD 410) and Carroll Avenue (MD 195), and the resulting traffic (most of it passing through from outside Takoma Park) and pedestrian-safety issues in the Junction area. For years, City leaders have advocated for improvements to the intersection. In response, Maryland State Highway Administration (SHA) has made some band-aid pedestrian safety improvements, but not addressed the underlying issues with the intersection’s configuration.

Most development projects like ours at Takoma Junction are required to do a traffic study. A typical study looks at the number of additional vehicular trips that would be generated by the development and evaluates options to address traffic and safety impacts. The City’s development partner for this project, Neighborhood Development Company (NDC), hired a traffic consultant firm to do traffic counts and do the assessment required by Montgomery County for the project.

The NDC traffic analysis is not yet complete but we have asked NDC to share traffic counts and other elements that are completed or nearly completed. (Completing the analysis was slowed by some unexpected delays in getting information from SHA as part of the work done to date.) As we get the elements, we will post them on the Takoma Junction Project Page.  We will post them to be as transparent as possible, but please recognize that they are not complete and more updates will be provided until they are marked as “final.”

Because the City knew about the pre-existing problems with traffic in the Takoma Junction area, the City is funding an independent traffic study that overlaps with the NDC study but also looks at a larger area of traffic issues. The traffic counts that our consultant has done are completed, but their analysis is also not yet done. Again, we will be posting the information as we can, noting that it is not complete and will be updated.

Many residents have expressed concern that the City Council may vote on a site plan for the Takoma Junction development project without having complete traffic information. The Council will not do that. The Council’s vote on the site plan is marked as “tentative” on its Rolling Agenda to let the public know of the earliest date on which the Council could vote on the plan. However, traffic impact, pedestrian safety and circulation on and off of the site are key elements to a site plan. The Council will not vote until it has studied the issues, heard from the public, and feels comfortable that it has adequate information for a vote.

State and County Roles and Responsibilities

As I have said from the beginning about the proposed Takoma Junction development project, having a real project in the development review process may be the only way to have the Maryland State Highway Administration do what is needed to address the Takoma Junction intersection.

As the County reviews development traffic studies, they consider location, distance to transit facilities and the nature of the development. Takoma Park has long advocated that Montgomery County should consider the distance to the Takoma Metro in reviewing traffic studies and parking requirements for development applications even though the Metro station is outside of Montgomery County. The County does look at existing traffic conditions near a development site as part of its development review process.

Part of the traffic study that is underway by the City’s traffic consultant is a review of options for the Takoma Junction intersection. We have been waiting to see the traffic analysis of several possible configurations and, if any are technically feasible, these options will be shared for consideration by the public and by the State Highway Administration.

The Next Few Weeks

As the public looks at the Takoma Junction plans over the next few weeks, I ask that you let us know what you think about the design of the building, public space, and the sustainability features. As soon as we have the traffic studies and recommendations, we will share them with the public and take the time we need to consider those. Again, the Council will not vote on the proposed site plan until it feels it has adequate information, including traffic information.

The Budget

Back to the FY 19 Proposed Budget. A review of the Proposed Budget and the Council’s Priorities will show that the Takoma Junction Project is just one of many major projects that staff will be working on in the coming year under the Priority of Community Development for an Improved and Equitable Quality of Life. I have wonderful staff, but the workload is heavy.

Besides advancing economic development initiatives that help build long-lasting fiscal health while crafting and maintaining the special character and diversity of Takoma Park, our planners have the following projects to work on or respond to: Washington Adventist Hospital leaving; protecting businesses during Purple Line construction; Takoma Junction redevelopment; Montgomery College development; future plans for the New Hampshire Avenue Recreation Center; Washington McLaughlin site; MCPS school facility needs; Open Space Plan; bus rapid transit and bikeway planning; advancing redevelopment along New Hampshire Avenue, including expanding affordable housing options; and reviewing development applications, large and small.

We also have major projects such as renovation and expansion of the Takoma Park Library, the Ethan Allen Gateway street project and the Flower Avenue Green Street project. And, we have Community Policing efforts and our cutting edge work on environmental sustainability. In all, the FY 19 Proposed Budget advances the Council’s Priorities for a wonderful and fiscally-conscious Takoma Park. The Councilmembers and I welcome your thoughts on the Proposed Budget.

Uncategorized

Wireless Emergency Alert Test: April 5, 2018

Will you be in the National Capital Region on Thursday, April 5, between 10-11 a.m.? If so, chances are extremely high that you will be part of the country’s first regional Wireless Emergency Alert system test using geo-target capabilities.

Twenty jurisdictions, including Takoma Park, will simultaneously issue a test message to the public through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. Local jurisdiction participating include: City of Alexandria, City of Bowie, City of College Park, City of Fairfax, City of Falls Church, City of Gaithersburg, City of Greenbelt, City of Takoma Park, City of Manassas, City of Manassas Park, City of Rockville, District of Columbia, Arlington County, Charles County, Fairfax County, Frederick County, Loudoun County, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and Prince William County.

Cell phones or other mobile devices in the participating jurisdictions will receive the following message: “A test of Montgomery County’s Emergency Alert System. No action required.” WEA triggers a loud noise and text message on cell phones and enabled mobile devices.

It’s extremely possible during this exercise individuals may receive more than one WEA message. During an actual emergency officials are committed to providing critical life-saving information; therefore, there is no exclusivity to this responsibility. We want to ensure the safety of the public which means we will communicate as much as possible in as many ways as possible.

Periodic testing of public alert and warning systems help assess the operational readiness of the system and identify any improvements. Public safety officials need to be sure that in times of an emergency or disaster, they have reliable methods and systems that will deliver urgent alerts and warnings to the public. Conducting a regional test supports the continued use, training, and improvement of the WEA system.

Since its launch in 2012, the WEA system has been used more than 33,000 times nationwide to warn the public about dangerous weather, missing children, and other critical situations.

Additional information on WEA is located at: https://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/wireless-emergency-alerts-wea.

City Council & Mayor Blog

City Council Adopts 2018 Priorities

From Kacy Kostiuk, Councilmember, Ward 3

The Takoma Park City Council adopted its 2018 Council Priorities on March 7, 2018. The priorities include five overarching themes with goals, strategies, and desired outcomes in each priority area. The themes are:

  • A Livable Community for All
  • Fiscally Sustainable Government
  • Environmentally Sustainable Community
  • Engaged, Responsive, Service-Oriented Government
  • Community Development for an Improved and Equitable Quality of Life

Setting and regularly revisiting priorities is a best practice in many fields and can benefit a local government in several ways. The priorities we set for 2018 will inform the development of the Takoma Park City budget and will be our “roadmap,” indicating the strategic direction of the City Council for its three year term with an emphasis on the coming year. We will regularly refer to the priorities during policy and budgeting discussions.

Our 2018 Council Priorities grew out of multiple work sessions and discussions. Prior to our vote to adopt the priorities, we developed and refined the priorities document during two retreats in January, held a work session at a City Council meeting on February 7, discussed priorities with City staff in a public meeting on February 28, and discussed priorities during the joint Green Team meeting with the Committee on the Environment.

In addition to detailing goals, strategies, and desired outcomes, the document lists major projects, initiatives, and ongoing activities that the City Council and City staff will continue to work on.

The City has already begun work on several goals included in the 2018 Council Priorities. To name a few: we have held work sessions to work toward the development of a Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan which will guide future steps toward ensuring affordable and stable housing options and providing programming to make the City more welcoming to residents and the business community. We are working to increase the use of renewable energy throughout the City and recently awarded a contract to Clean Choice Energy to conduct research on rates, business reliability, and contract terms to make it easier for people to switch to 100 percent renewable power by providing information in a more accessible, reliable way. We have implemented a racial equity framework and plan to broaden what we are doing to include training opportunities for residents. We will be rethinking the structure and staffing of the Police Department to emphasize and improve our approach to community policing.

There may be times when we need to make adjustments to the priorities or change direction due to unforeseen issues or new opportunities to achieve desired outcomes, but having a priorities document helps keep us on track and provides an important outline of our goals and direction for the coming year.

We encourage you to take a look at the 2018 Council Priorities and help us work toward achieving these goals. We encourage residents to join a City board, commission, or committee, as well as share your thoughts during the public comment period at our weekly City Council meetings, or contact your representative directly to share your thoughts and ideas. By outlining our priorities and working together to achieve our goals, we can build a stronger and more positive future for our City.

Public Notices

Maryland Homestead, Homeowners’, and Renters’ Tax Credit Information

It’s tax season and there are several resources that Takoma Park residents may find beneficial when filing their taxes: The Maryland Homestead Tax Credit, Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit, and Renters’ Tax Credit.

The Maryland Homestead Tax Credit was designed to help homeowners deal with large assessment increases on their principal residence. The Homestead Credit limits the increase in taxable assessments each year to a fixed percentage. Every county and municipality in Maryland is required to limit taxable assessment increases to 10% or less each year. Click here to view a listing of homestead caps.

The State of Maryland has developed a Homeowners’ Property Tax Credit Program which allows credits against the homeowner’s property tax bill if the property taxes exceed a fixed percentage of the person’s gross income. In other words, it sets a limit on the amount of property taxes any homeowner must pay based upon his or her income.

The Renters’ Tax Credit Program provides property tax credits for renters who meet certain requirements. The plan was modeled after and designed to be similar in principle to the Homeowners’ Tax Credit Program, which is known to many as the Circuit Breaker Program. The concept rests on the reasoning that renters indirectly pay property taxes as part of their rent and thus should have some protection, as do homeowners.

The plan is based upon the relationship between rent and income. If the portion of rent attributable to the assumed property taxes exceeds a fixed amount in relation to income, the renter can, under specified conditions, receive a credit of as much as $1,000. The credit is paid as a direct check from the State of Maryland.

Montgomery County also offers specialized tax credits for individuals over 65 and military retirees. To learn more about this credit please visit their website.

For questions and to learn more about Maryland tax credits, please visit the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.

News

Mayor Kate Stewart Appointed To Serve On National League of Cities’ Race, Equity and Leadership Council

Kate Stewart, Mayor, Takoma Park, Maryland, has been appointed as vice-chair of the National League of Cities (NLC) 2018 Race, Equity and Leadership (REAL) council.

This council has the lead responsibility for developing NLC’s strategic focus on eliminating racial disparities, healing racial divisions and building more equitable communities. The appointment was announced by NLC President Mark Stodola, mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas.

“I am honored to be part of a group charged with building stronger and more just communities,” said Mayor Kate Stewart. “The NLC Race, Equity and Leadership Council’s work to address inequities and bridge community divides is as inspiring as it is essential.”

As a council member, Stewart will play a key role in shaping REAL’s agenda and developing innovative methods to advance racial equity in America’s cities and towns.

“Serving on NLC’s REAL Council is one of the most effective ways for a local official to advocate for racial equity in cities across the country and in Washington,” said NLC President Stodola. “I am thrilled to have Kate Stewart join a team of local leaders from around the country working to craft our platform on racial equity and to solve one of the most pressing challenges facing our communities.”

The leadership of this year’s REAL council will consist of Co-Chairs LaWana Mayfield, Councilwoman, Charlotte, North Carolina, John Ostenburg, Mayor, Park Forest, Illinois and Vice Chair, Kate Stewart, Mayor, Takoma Park, Maryland.

For more information on NLC’s Race, Ethnicity and Leadership Initiative, visit: http://www.nlc.org/real.

The National League of Cities (NLC) is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. NLC is a resource and advocate for 19,000 cities, towns and villages, representing more than 218 million Americans. www.nlc.org

Public Notices

Housing in Takoma Park – Providing Diverse Housing Opportunities

Are you a renter, a homeowner, landlord, housing advocate or just interested in local housing issues? Please join us on Monday, February 26 at 7:00 pm in the Auditorium of the Community Center as we continue the conversation on how to address the Takoma Park City Council’s interests in providing diverse housing opportunities to residents throughout our community. We welcome your input.

Representatives from Mullin & Lonergan, one of the firms working on the City’s upcoming strategic plan, will provide background information on current conditions in Takoma Park and the region, give an overview of the feedback gathered from local housing representatives, and discuss the housing recommendations included in the draft Strategic Plan.

Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions and provide comment to the City Council.

Unable to attend? Weigh in on the discussion on Facebook Live or provide your feedback online at bit.ly/2jnK1fV

Public Notices

Seminar: Tree Protection Measures for Professionals

The City of Takoma Park will hold a seminar on “Tree Protection Measures for Professionals”  Saturday 02/24/18 from 9 am to 11.30 am in the Azalea room at the Community Center (7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912).

Mr. Keith Pitchford will present information about tree preservation measures during construction and Mr.  Jan van Zutphen, Urban Forest Manager with the City of Takoma Park, will provide information about the requirements for tree preservation in the City Code.

While the seminar is geared towards professionals in the fields of landscape design, architecture and construction, anyone is welcome. (RSVP appreciated but not required).  Refreshments will be served.  For more info/RSVP: JanVZ@takomaparkmd.gov or 301-891-7612.