JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT MEETING!
Tuesday, March 11th, 2025, at 7:15 p.m.
IN-PERSON AT THE POTOMAC LIBRARY!
Topic: Parks & Natural Resources in the Potomac Subregion
Parks Staff will provide an overview of the parks and parkland in the Potomac Subregion Plan Area, including information on new and future parks, current park development projects, and natural resources and natural resource stewardship on parkland.
We will be joined by three Speakers from the Park and Planning Stewardship Division, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), MoCo Department of Parks:
As always, the public is welcome to attend!
The Potomac Subregion – Our Abundant Parkland
President’s Letter by Ginny Barnes
Parks and natural areas play a critical role preserving natural resources and wildlife habitats, protecting clean water and clean air, and conserving land. Well-managed and stewarded natural areas support community well-being, encourage and preserve biodiversity, and connect people with nature which not only improves both physical and mental health but provides a sense of community.
The Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Canal along the edge of the Potomac River is one of the most valuable assets to our community. A National Park, it stretches from Georgetown in D.C. to Cumberland, MD. The towpath provides a walking trail stretching for 184 contiguous miles. But Potomac has other generous public open spaces, a stream valley park system, and parkland developed for recreation. Active recreation programs in County parks like Cabin John Regional Park are numerous. Nature Centers like Locust Grove bring the wonders of plants and wildlife to an increasingly curious public.
As of 2002, our Subregion contained portions of Seneca Creek State Park as well as three major stream valley parks (SVPs) with a variety of natural surface trails, including Cabin John Creek, Watts Branch, and Muddy Branch. These contiguous, often narrow corridors constitute irreplaceable natural resources. Each one contains sensitive environmental features. Watts Branch flows into the Potomac River. The WSSC facility visible along River Road withdraws stream water, processes it, removes sediment and discharges it back to the river, thus providing clean drinking water to over 5.1 million people in three jurisdictions.
Blockhouse Point Conservation Park also straddles River Road and the C&O Canal National Historic Park (NHP) with over 600 acres of prime forest, historic Civil War sites, and overlooks from which the Blue Ridge mountains can be glimpsed on clear days (Photo below). As of 2023, the Subregion had just over 8,000 acres of existing and pending parkland and open space including local and neighborhood, special, urban, municipal, regional, state, and national parks, as well as conservation lands and stream valley riparian corridors. The real luxury of living here is found in our abundant public open spaces, available to all citizens and visitors alike.
When the Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan (PROS) was last revised in 2022, stewardship activities had strong public support. When asked how important it is for parks, trails, and recreation facilities to play a role in various aspects of life, 65.6% of residents said, “protecting natural environment/address climate change” was extremely important, coming in second only to “supporting a high quality of life in every part of Montgomery County” (68.6%). When asked what the county should focus most on over the next 5 years, 30.6% of respondents ranked “the park system should focus more on preserving nature & the environment” in their top three choices. Our speakers this month will give us insights into why.
More Housing NOW Updates and Urgent Reminders
Shared on behalf of Montgomery County Civic Association
Please note the following dates and action items:
1) The Planning Board hearing on 25-02, Workforce Housing Standards, is set for March 6 in the afternoon session after 2:30. Deadline to sign up to testify and submit written testimony is March 4 at noon. Sign up here: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings/signup-to-testify/sign-testify-form/
The Planning Staff has posted their analysis of the More Housing N.O.W. bill on the Planning’s website: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/SR-ZTA-25-02_03-SRA-25-01-Bill-2-25-NOW.pdf
2) The MCCF is holding a special meeting by Zoom on Monday, March 3, at 7 pm. Michele Rosenfeld, Land Use Attorney, will explain the More Housing NOW ZTAs and the Planning Board’s Climate assessment of the ZTAs and answer questions. Zoom link here.
Topic: MCCF meeting with Michele Rosenfeld
Time: Mar 3, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84115070065?pwd=laqVWSv4kUFDfXhV5vbKjAVHgFZgm5.1
Meeting ID: 841 1507 0065
Passcode: 692672
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• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
3) The MCCF is holding a special meeting with Councilmember Will Jawando on Tuesday, March 4, at 7:00 pm to discuss the current Housing proposals and housing in general. Many MCCF members have expressed concerns or have questions about legislative plans, process and politics. Please join us. Councilmember Jawando is a member of the Planning, Housing and Parks Committee and recently called for a halt in consideration of the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative. Zoom link here:
Topic: MCCF meeting with CM Jawando
Time: Mar 4, 2025 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
Https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89618580843?pwd=r4xYbIjkV0unSvBBDaqS1TWA2ADTbO.1
Meeting ID: 896 1858 0843
Passcode: 860216
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• +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
The Health Impacts of Data Centers – An Appeal for State-Wide Data Center Safety Legislation
Submitted by Barbara Hoover
Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven data centers contribute significantly to air pollution, yet risk assessments and sustainability reports do not consider their impact on public health. In Montgomery County alone, the annual public health cost from data center emissions is estimated at $20 million. WMCCA is urging the Maryland State Legislature to introduce reporting requirements that ensure transparency and accountability from AI companies, similar to how they currently report greenhouse gas emissions. At the Maryland General Assembly, proposed bills (SB116 and HB270) aim to study the economic, environmental, and energy effects of data centers in Maryland but do not address their health impacts.
A major concern is PM 2.5, a fine particulate matter primarily emitted by diesel backup generators. This pollutant is harmful because it can deeply penetrate the lungs, increasing risks of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer, and even premature death. Studies suggest that data center pollution could rival or exceed the health impact of vehicle emissions. Because air pollution can travel hundreds of miles, Montgomery County is currently one of the most impacted counties in the metropolitan area for estimated increases in health costs, surpassing Fairfax and Loudon Counties. The “Health cost map” below shows us in the 100th percentile of health cost in the US (the big yellow dot is Loudoun County, VA). Ignoring these health impacts is no longer an option—stronger regulations and transparency are needed. To read the entire research paper from Cornell University on “The Unpaid Toll: Quantifying the Public Health Impact of AI” go to https://arxiv.org/abs/2412.06288
Cabin John Level Fitness Update
Submitted by Carol Van Dam Falk
The crowd at Clara Barton Neighborhood Recreation Center for a December presentation by potential developers, Bethesda-based Broad Branch Partners of Level Fitness at 7687 MacArthur Blvd., was standing-room only. Close to 100 people attended. Their lawyer, Matthew Gordon of Selzer Gurvitch, and their civil engineer described plans for the 0.42-acre parcel that currently has 16 parking spaces. The plan is to build 11 luxury, four-story townhomes, 4 in one building facing MacArthur, and 7 in a second building facing 77th Street, all with two-car garages. The developers have not yet bought the property and apparently, any sale would be contingent on the successful map amendment to change the zoning of the property. 75% of the property is zoned C-1, while the other 25% is zoned R-90, which is typically used for single-family detached homes and requires a 30-foot setback from the street.
The developers are proposing to rezone the entire property to a CRN-commercial/residential neighborhood, which would allow them to raise the density of the 25% of the property zoned R-90. The developers suggested if the property is not rezoned and their plan does not move forward, the property could go to an undesirable business such as an overnight methadone clinic or “a daycare with 200 cars”, according to the Cabin John Village Newsletter.
The developers provided a detailed timeline ending with a Planning Board review of a preliminary plan/site plan application late 2025-early 2026. Residents raised concerns about soil studies, stormwater management, and traffic impacts, although rezoning requirements do not include those elements. If approved, the number of housing units on 77th Street would nearly double. The crowd applauded residents who said the plan is not consistent with the neighborhood and the Cabin John community at large. Attorney Gordon has since emailed the Cabin John Citizens Association (CJCA) saying his client heard the feedback and is “going back to the drawing board” to develop a plan with less density and building height.
Road Salt Damages the Environment
Submitted by Carol Van Dam Falk
Too Much Salt: Good for Winter Travel …
We had more snowfall than many of us anticipated this past Winter, and as a result, the salt trucks were out in force. It seemed, however, that road salt was applied in excessive amounts on several occasions. Road salt hurts the environment as it can contaminate waterways, harm aquatic life, damage vegetation, and potentially infiltrate drinking water supplies when it runs off into nearby streams and groundwater after melting snow and ice. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), located near the heart of Potomac, is responsible for supplying safe drinking water not only for Montgomery County but also for much of Prince George’s County, serving 1.9 million residents. Its water sources? The Potomac and Patuxent Rivers are directly impacted by runoff from salted roads. Chloride in road salt can also be toxic to plants and animals at high concentrations. It’s lethal to fish, frogs and other aquatic organisms even at low concentrations. Salt spray from vehicles can harm roadside vegetation, and excessive salt can negatively affect soil quality and plant growth. We know our roads must be treated in advance of significant snowfall, but several residents noticed piles of leftover salt on state and local roads weeks after the snow is gone. I’ve reached out to the Montgomery County district supervisor in charge of salting operations to learn more about it and to request that the County consider adjusting its road salt spraying policies. Stay tuned for more information.
Rick Maggin – A Heartfelt Tribute to a True Community Hero
Submitted by Susanne Lee
Several days after the January 29th air crash at National Airport, we learned of the sudden loss of Rick Maggin in this unspeakable tragedy. He was one of the passengers on the American Airlines jet that was struck by an Army helicopter as the plane was preparing to land. Rick was such a neighborhood hero – the leader of the neighbors opposing Heritage Gardens. As a developer/builder himself, he always wanted to do the right thing for the neighborhood and the environment. He knew the local building codes and environmental requirements and used that expertise to not only build/renovate quality homes that enhanced neighborhoods but to keep local officials accountable for following zoning and coding requirements that help maintain Montgomery County as such a desirable and welcoming place to live. Our sincere condolences go out to his family and friends – he is deeply missed by the WMCCA Board and its members for his many years of support and service to his community.
Https://www.sagelbloomfield.com/obituary/Richard-Maggin
Go Green – Go Paperless! Let us know if you are willing to go paperless. Our electronic newlettters save the expense of rising postage and printing costs. Thank you! Please email: hooverb@msn.com.
West Montgomery County Citizens Association Newsletter
P.O. Box 59335, Potomac, 20859
President – Ginny Barnes: President@WMCCA.org
Website: WMCCA.org – Thomas Fahey, Newsletter Editor – Nancy Madden
West Montgomery County Citizens Association 