High Hopes – We’ve Got High Hopes!
by President Susanne Lee
Two tracts of land in Potomac may soon be developed after sitting vacant for several years. And hopefully maybe, just maybe, in a useful, thoughtful, and dare we even dream – spectacularly beautiful and environmentally friendly manner. At least we can ask and hope.
Both tracts are zoned RE-2 low density residential 2 acre minimum. But both have had been used for commercial purposes in the past as a result of the County’s approval of special conditions (now conditional uses) for the sites. One, currently named Potomac Senior Living, is 6 acres and located at 9545 River Road. For many years the site was operated as a garden center (Behnke’s and Potomac Petals and Plants). On March 9, 2021, the Office of Zoning and Administrative Appeals (OZAH) approved a new conditional use for the site – a 130 bed residential care facility. Granted first to Spectrum, LLC, the conditional use was transferred to HSB Potomac LLC, a new owner/operator, in August, 2023. Following multiple extensions of time for the actual implementation of the conditional use, recent filings indicate that this new owner plans to begin construction soon. This will be massive construction on a small site directly on a portion of River Road that is already congested. Surrounding neighbors and we at West Montgomery entered into an agreement with Spectrum that attempted to minimize the facility’s proposed impacts on individual property owners. No matter what, the impacts will be enormous during construction but hopefully not as impossible during operation. At the time of approval, only assisted living and memory care units were to be included, not independent living units.
Now it’s unclear exactly what the facility will be. The Zoning Code provisions regarding residential care facilities were amended to accommodate the Heritage Potomac development. Under these new provisions, is it still just an assisted living facility? Is it a Senior Care Community or a Continuing Care Facility? Is it restricted to those age 62 and over? We look forward to discussing these and other issues regarding the upcoming construction with representatives of the new owner/operator at our April 10th General Meeting.
The second site is Normandie Farm at 10710 Falls Road. Although the restaurant is now closed, the owners have leased it to a restaurant group with extensive experience in the Washington area. Unfortunately, their representatives are unavailable to attend our April 10th General Meeting, but they will be providing details at a future WMCCA Board Meeting. In the meantime, they indicate they plan to open it as a restaurant with no intention of expanding it into a country inn. They state their goal is to maintain the legacy of the previous iterations of Normandie Farm. They will maintain the name Normandie Farm for the overall project but with additional add on components over time. Initially the goal is to “reopen the indoor restaurant, with an updated modern French Bistro, while also upgrading the exterior patio area to create a true outdoor French Wine Garden.” The Wine Garden expansion will require Board of Appeals approval. Fingers crossed. Let’s hope both of these developments will benefit our communities and the owners/builders will work diligently to minimize adverse impacts.
Proposed FY25 County Budget for DOT
submitted by Ginny Barnes
WMCCA has signed onto a letter from the Montgomery County Forest Coalition to prioritize several programs for funding in the upcoming budget. One is the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Tree Montgomery Program, which will add a staff position to more effectively expand the County’s tree canopy. Another is for the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) street tree planting program, which will add more trees in County rights-of-way and provide additional funding for stump removal (there is a significant backlog). Invasive plants have quickly overwhelmed parklands and property in the County rights-of-way. We have asked for additional funding to DOT and Montgomery County Parks Department to control the spread of invasive species.
More on Invasive Plants
submitted by Ginny Barnes
Agriculture Invasive Plant Species – Regulation (Biodiversity and Agriculture Protection Act) HB979/SB915 would streamline and speed up the state process used to determine invasive plants species and prohibit propagation and sale in Maryland. This Bill is sponsored by our District 15 Delegate Linda Foley. Invasive plants are a huge problem throughout Maryland. This measure aims to improve biodiversity and reduce disruption to our ecosystems caused by invasive terrestrial and aquatic plants. It has already passed the House and an identical bill has passed the Senate, where (at this writing) it awaits further action.
Avenel Equestrian Center Update
submitted by Kathy Petitt
WSSC has contracted for the barn at the Equestrian Center to have a structural assessment. According to Lucy Wilson, General Manager, Avenel Community Association, this process has started and the evaluation is scheduled to be completed by the end of June 2024. The long-time operator of the Center continues to reside in her home on the property. There is an indication that this arrangement with WSSC may be extended beyond the original May deadline. Lucy Wilson added that The Avenel Board and management are committed to working with WSSC and other stakeholders “to restore and preserve full use of the Equestrian Facility and its operation.”
WMCCA NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The following individuals will nominate Officers and Directors to be voted upon at the May 8, 2024 General Meeting:
Chairperson – Ginny Barnes
Members: Ken Bawer, Barbara Brown, Nancy Madden, Carol Van Dam Falk
MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR OUR MAY 8TH GENERAL MEETING!
Please Note – THIS MAY MEETING WILL BE A ZOOM MEETING ONLY.
The May Newsletter will include the on-line link and call-in access information to virtually attend this Meeting with our Delegates. Our Speakers will be Senator Brian Feldman and District 15 Delegates Lily Qi, David Fraser-Hidalgo, and Linda Foley. They will provide their annual update on their work in the Maryland General Assembly. Their efforts to improve the lives of citizens in their District and throughout Maryland are always important. Please join this meeting and bring your interests and questions.
WMCCA Meeting April 10 2024 – 7:30 p.m. — In Person At POTOMAC COMMUNITY CENTER
SPEAKERS: Adam Arnold and Kyle Wisdom, Harbert South Bay
Harbert South Bay (HSB Potomac, LLC) is now the Owner/Operator of Potomac Senior Living (previously Spectrum) – the 130 bed residential care facility to be built soon at 9545 River Road, the former garden center site. Join us in a discussion of exactly what the facility will include and how and when it will be built. Also available to discuss the project will be Steven Robins and Elizabeth Rogers, HSB Potomac attorneys from Lerch, Early, and Brewer and Josh Sloan and Patrick O’Connor from Vika Engineering.
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 