Spectrum and Heritage Potomac Updates
President’s Letter by Susanne Lee
We at WMCCA recently reached out to the law firm of Lerch, Early & Brewer. Attorneys from the law firm represent Spectrum and Heritage Potomac, developers of two new large residential care facilities approved for construction in Potomac. We hope to obtain updates on the construction and operation of the two facilities as they undoubtably will have major impacts, especially near the sites. We have invited both facilities to select one of our upcoming General Meeting dates to provide such updates. Below are summaries of the facilities and proceedings to date. Additional specifics can be found on the websites of Montgomery County’s Office of Zoning and Administrative Appeals (OZAH) and the Montgomery County Planning Board.
The Spectrum site is 6 acres located at 9545 River Road and zoned RE-2 (residential two acre minimum). However, a garden center operated as a special exception (now called a conditional use) at the site for many years – first as Behnke’s and more recently as Petals and Plants. On February 25, 2021, OZAH approved Spectrum’s conditional use application (CU20-05) allowing it to construct a residential care facility on the site with 100 units and a total of 130 beds, including 18 memory care units. Since then, on March 7, 2023, OZAH approved what was described as a minor amendment to the design of the facility and an extension of the period of validity of the conditional use from March 9, 2023 to March 9, 2024. Then, on August 23, 2023, OZAH approved the transfer of the conditional use from S-K Potomac Opportunity III, LLC, an affiliate of the original conditional use holder Spectrum Retirement Communities, LLC, to a new holder of the conditional use – HSB Potomac LLC.
The Heritage Potomac site is 30 acres and located at 10701 South Glen Road. It also is zoned RE-2 (residential two acre minimum). The 4th Presbyterian School operated on the site under a special exception, but it closed in 2014 and the special exception was revoked in 2019. On September 6, 2022. OZAH approved Heritage Potomac’s application for a conditional use (CU 22-01) to construct an age restricted (62 yrs. and older) residential care facility (senior care community). Included were 44 duplex and triplex townhouse style independent living housing units and a multi-unit “Lodge” containing 105 beds for independent living, assisted living and memory care. On May 26, 2023, the Montgomery County Planning Board approved a preliminary plan of subdivision of the site that would create one lot subject to certain conditions including those imposed in the OZAH decision (Preliminary Plan No. 120230070).
Avenel Equestrian Facility Update
Submitted by Kathy Petitt
As previously communicated, there have been multiple efforts on the part of the Avenel Community Association, residents, Natelli Communities (successor to Rock Run, Avenel’s developer), and other interested and dedicated parties, to engage WSSC (the owner of the land on which the Equestrian Center is located) in collaborative discussions to preserve the long–standing equestrian use. Many of our residents signed a petition in support of the continued Equestrian Facility use.
We are pleased to announce that with the support and urging of multiple elected officials, WSSC has agreed to hold a public meeting to address this issue. The meeting will be held at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Potomac at Avenel Farm on December 4th at 6:00 p.m.
This is a significant development and will provide an opportunity for the community’s voice to be heard and express your concerns directly to WSSC leadership as it relates to this public amenity.
The Avenel Community Association is greatly appreciative of the efforts of the many individuals who have been instrumental in advocating for the preservation of the Equestrian Facility and for the support and advocacy from our elected leaders, who communicated with WSSC on behalf of the community and impacted stakeholders. To view the correspondence sent to WSSC by a number of State Delegates, Senators, and County Councilmember Andrew Friedson, Click here or:
https://files.constantcontact.com/7eac12bc001/b09694ef-0196-47d0-9021-7c104a0feb5f.pdf
To view the Association’s latest correspondence to the WSSC Commissioners, and County Councilmember Friedson: WSSC Commissioners or:
https://files.constantcontact.com/7eac12bc001/b5cbc129-637e-480c-b7c0-e51bb3e95106.pdf
and County Councilmember Friedson or:
https://files.constantcontact.com/7eac12bc001/72ea764f-eacc-42d5-ac4f-a6bf1063e94a.pdf
MacArthur Boulevard Repairs to Continue Through 2024
Submitted by Barbara Hoover
Over the past month Potomac residents, as well as commuters, have encountered repairs and repaving on MacArthur Boulevard from Stable Lane to Falls Road. Montgomery County Department of Transportation has reported that this is the beginning of a project that is expected to last over a year. For the next phase of this project the US Army Corp of Engineers will be performing repairs to the Washington Aqueduct that runs under MacArthur Boulevard. These repairs have been made necessary due to compromises to the conduit’s structural integrity caused by violations of imposed vehicle weight restrictions on MacArthur Boulevard. This project is expected to take a year and be completed in December 2024. Once the repairs have been made to the Aqueduct, Montgomery County can continue resurfacing the remainder of MacArthur Boulevard. Commuters are urged to remain aware of signage throughout work zones along MacArthur Boulevard that can indicate reduced speeds, lane changes, and other important information.
The Washington Aqueduct was completed in 1863 and is 9 feet in diameter and runs 12-miles carrying water from the Potomac River near Great Falls to the Dalecarlia Reservoir, which serves as the primary source of drinking water for approximately 1 million citizens living, working, or visiting in the District of Columbia, Arlington County, Virginia, and other areas in Northern Virginia, including portions of Fairfax County.
For more information on the repair:
https://www.nab.usace.army.mil/Missions/Washington-Aqueduct/Old-Conduit-Repairs-Washington-Aqueduct/
For more information on the fascinating history: https://www.nps.gov/places/washington-aqueduct.htm
REMINDER: IT’S TIME TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR 2023-2024!
Please renew or become a new member of WMCCA. Go to our website www.wmcca.org to download a membership form or join using PayPal: Individual: $25 / Family: $50. We encourage donations to our Legal Fund. While we strive for positive results without litigation, sometimes it is unavoidable and highly effective. Contributions from members enabled us to join efforts to successfully address several issues as they affect the Potomac Subregion Master Plan, zoning, and environmental threats to the “Green Wedge”, our creeks and water supplies, and the Agricultural Reserve. If you have any issues or concerns in your neighborhood, please contact WMCCA. We appreciate the input from our neighbors. Thank you for your support !! Our Membership year runs from October 1st to September 30th.
IN-PERSON WMCCA Meeting December 13, 2023 – 7:30 p.m.
SPEAKER: Andrew Friedson, County Council Member
Rescheduled from 11/8/23 General Meeting
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. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet your Councilmember in person and discuss concerns directly with him.
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 