Thank You and Keep on Keeping On
President’s Letter by Susanne Lee
WMCCA’s booth at Potomac Day was a great spot for catching up with folks we have worked with on issues in the past and for meeting new folks with new issues and interests. Often they apologize for not being more active. But this is to thank you all for anything you can do, at any time, to promote and preserve the rich environmental resources of the Potomac Subregion. We know our members, young and old, are already engaged in a dazzling, demanding kaleidoscope of important activities, personal and professional. A very few are environmental professionals. But no matter what their primary professions are or have been, there are so many that have great “side hustles” that taken together create positive environmental benefits. These are often through organized community wide activities, but also as organic farmers, bee keepers, native plant gardeners, tree planters, etc.
Environmentalist Bill McKibben has established The Third Act, an organization to engage those 60 and over in climate action. The younger members of our community are often juggling demanding family and work responsibilities. So we especially urge and thank our older members for their continued efforts. The preservation of our environmental resources depends on all of us. But no need to apologize – just keep on being our eyes and ears in your communities and please, please jump in when you can.
And a correction from last month’s newsletter describing the issues surrounding the construction of Heritage Potomac (previously called Heritage Gardens) a large age-restricted residential care facility. At one point we erroneously called it Potomac Gardens and we failed to describe where it will be located. The correct and current name is Heritage Potomac and it will be located at 10701 South Glen Road in Potomac. The location is on the NE side of South Glen Road and just NW of its intersection with Norton Road.
WSSC Staff Attempt to Close the Avenel Equestrian Center
Submitted by Susanne Lee
We recently learned that staff at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), without public notice or to that of its own Commission Members, is closing the Avenel Equestrian Center that has been operating as a valuable community asset serving the public for over 35 years. This action violates the Avenel Farm Development Master Plan Agreement (Master Plan Agreement) signed by WSSC, Montgomery County, the developer, and the PGA in which WSSC agreed to continue the Center provided its use did not conflict with the construction and operation of an Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant (AWT). The AWT has not been constructed, nor are there plans to do so.
Neal Gillen, a long-time Potomac resident and former President of WMCCA, was involved in the negotiation of the Agreement and later was actively involved in the implementation of the Equestrian Center provisions. Recently, he learned of the WSSC staff’s proposed action, joined with other neighbors, including Avenel residents, and has reached out to various public officials and to WMCCA’s Board. In the Summary linked below, he describes in detail how the WSSC, an integral party to the Master Agreement, has reneged and is in breach of its contractual agreement and its own adopted Resolution to allow operation of the equestrian center. Mr. Gillen has also submitted a draft resolution on the issue to Councilmember Friedson seeking adoption by the full Council. Both the Summary and Proposed Resolution can be found here: www.wmcca.org/aec/. Additional information can be found in this correspondence from the Natelli Communities and the Avenel Community Association: https://conta.cc/3ZkwcBy
Further information on next steps will be discussed at WMCCA’s General Meeting on November 8th.
Who Repairs What Road?
Submitted by Barbara Hoover
From time to time, we like to remind the community who they can contact for road and road sign repairs and maintenance. Since all roads in Montgomery County are maintained by one of four agencies or organizations, it’s important to know which one to contact. It is important to be patient with requests for routine repairs, especially for lightly used roads. Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) has a strict budget that forces them to focus on highly traveled roads and repairs that address public safety. The level of road repairs in any given year is based entirely upon available funding.
Visit “Know Your Roads” to see which governmental body maintains which road:
https://maryland.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=14f27a6cab51422dabdfb168ca603482
Montgomery County Division of Highway Services (DHS) is responsible for maintaining most roads throughout the County. The types of maintenance include resurfacing roads, shoulder maintenance, curb, gutter and sidewalk repair and replacement, and roadway tree maintenance. DHS maintains: Main Roads (also known as Primary/Arterial Roads and includes Urban District and Commercial Business District Roads); Neighborhood Streets (also known as Residential – the interconnecting streets in the community); and Rural/Rustic Roads (country roads).
The Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) maintains most roads that have route numbers. They include roads such as Georgia Avenue (MD 97), Connecticut Avenue (MD 185), Wisconsin Avenue / Rockville Pike / Frederick Road (MD 355), as well as interstate highways within Montgomery County. One notable exception is Falls Road, which is maintained by DHS between MacArthur Blvd and River Road.
Private Home Owners Associations (HOAs) typically maintain roads that are within the HOA boundaries.
Municipalities such as Rockville and Gaithersburg and others maintain all roads within the municipal boundaries. Click here for information on all Municipalities in Montgomery County:
http://www.mdarchives.state.md.us/msa/mdmanual/36loc/mo/html/momu.html
IN-PERSON WMCCA Meeting November 8, 2023 – 7:30 p.m.
SPEAKER: Andrew Friedson, County Council Member
Andrew Friedson is the Montgomery County Council District 1 Councilmember representing Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Potomac. He is currently in his second term. He was elected in 2018 as the youngest Councilmember in Montgomery County history and is the current Council Vice President. He grew up in Potomac and still calls it home. He chairs the Planning, Housing, & Parks (PH) Committee and serves on the Government Operations & Fiscal Policy (GO) Committee. Potomac is rich in conservation parkland so we look forward to discussing issues of concern with him and learning how our parks are served by the work of his committee.
As always, the public is welcome to attend!
West Montgomery County Citizens Association Newsletter
P.O. Box 59335, Potomac, MD 20854-9335
President – Susanne Lee: President@WMCCA.org
Website: WMCCA.org – Thomas Fahey, Newsletter Editor – Nancy Madden
West Montgomery County Citizens Association 