Published on: Friday, January 12, 2018 Public Notices

Public Hearing Regarding Streets Potentially Named for Civil War Generals

Public Hearing / Meeting Regarding Takoma Park Streets Potentially Named after Civil War Generals (Grant, Hancock, Lee, Sheridan, and Sherman Avenues)

Monday, January 29, 2018 – 7:30 p.m.
Takoma Park Community Center Auditorium

Public Hearing Agenda 

The City Council held a work session discussion on September 13, 2017 about names of City streets and parks that are associated with Civil War figures. Some options under consideration by the Council include the following:

1) seek authority from the Montgomery County Planning Department to change the street names;

2) rely on the procedure already in place for residences and businesses on a street to petition the Montgomery County Planning Department for a street name change, or;

3) maintain the current street names but add commemorative names or markers to the streets to provide a historical context.

Any of these options would require a community process to ensure that the decision reflects the views of the residents on the streets in question.

The Commemoration Commission is developing a recommendation for the City Council’s consideration. To inform the recommendation, the Commission is holding this public hearing to gather comments and suggestions from residents, especially those living on the streets potentially named for Civil War generals: Grant Avenue, Hancock Avenue, Lee Avenue, Sheridan Avenue, and Sherman Avenue.

Comments and suggestions are requested on the following options:

1) pursue renaming of the street(s) through the formal process with Montgomery County;

2) maintain the street names but add a commemorative name and signage to provide historic context for the existing names; or,

3) make no change.

The meeting will begin with an explanation of the process for making a street name change request to the Montgomery County Planning Department.

Please plan to attend the public hearing on Monday, January 29, 7:30 p.m. in the Community Center Auditorium.

Written comments are also being accepted through an online comment form.

The Commemoration Commission is a City Council-appointed commission that documents, maintains, and preserves past, present, and future memorials, commemoratives, and recognitions in the City. The Commission also recommends to the City Council procedures and programs for honors and recognitions and implements those programs.