Meeting Agenda for Tuesday June 11th, 2013

Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee

2424 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD 20902

Agenda

June 11, 2013

1.   Call to Order, Introductions,
  Approval of Minutes,
  Report of Chair                                      St. Gerard             6:00 – 6:10 pm

      

2.  RSC Director Report                                 Van Balen              6:10 – 6:20 pm

3.   Report from Council Staff                                                      6:20 – 6:30 pm

4.   Presentation on Montgomery County

Community Emergency Response Team           Jay Wilson            6:30 – 6:55 pm

     

5.  Sub Committee Report                                                           6:55 – 7:05 pm

      a. Economic                                              Sesay

      b. Design                                                   Thompson

5.  Redevelopment Update                               DOT                     7:05 – 7:15pm

6.  Other Business                                                                        7:15 – 7:20pm

      Garden of Lights Letter

7.  Community Concerns                                                              7:20 – 7:30pm

8.   Adjourn                                                                                  7:30 pm

     

This information is available in an alternative format by calling 240-777-8103. Sign Language interpreter services will be provided only upon request with notice as far in advance as possible but no less than 72 hours prior to the event. If you need other services or aids to participate in this activity, please call 240-777-8101.

Wheaton Walking Tour 6-01-2013

The Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee, in cooperation with the Coalition for Smarter Growth, conducted a two hour walking tour of the Wheaton central business district on Saturday June 1st.  The walk was well attended by residents, business operators, and several County officials including Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett and Councilmember Nancy Navarro. After opening remarks by Mr. Leggett and Ms. Navarro, the group then proceeded to several key areas of the downtown area, including MetroPointe apartments, Veterans Park, the Limerick Pub area, the clock tower on Grandview and finishing back on the community green across from the Mid-County Service center. Along the way guides at designated stops highlighted ways in which development has and will make Wheaton a destination where people will want to work, live, and visit.
Some areas touched on that will need to be addressed as construction moves forward include: impact on existing businesses, parking, pedestrian safety, signage, storefronts, traffic and landscaping.
One key theme of the Walking Tour was the fact that Redevelopment is more than just constructing a building and hoping people will come. People will come to a place that inspires them, and that means different things to different people. To some it could be unique architecture. To others it may be beautiful year round landscaping.  Others may value shops and restaurants, ease of access to parking and transportation, or affordable, diverse housing choices. As the walk concluded the one thing that was very clear is that Redevelopment gives all stakeholders in the future of Wheaton a great opportunity through a public/private partnership to achieve a unified vision on making Wheaton the best place it can be.

County Executive Ike Leggett listens to Kelly Blinn

Councilmember Nancy Navarro

WUDAC's Jim Onder and Devala Janardan

Marian Fryer and Jennette Feldner of WUDAC

William Moore and Jim Onder of WUDAC

Councilmember Hans Reimer

Jeannette Feldner

Elizabeth Chaisson of Green Wheaton

WUDAC Chair Henriot St. Gerald and Devala Janardan

Discussion at Veterans Park

Unofficial Mayor Marian Fryer(as bestowed by Ike Leggett)

WUDAC'S Tom Stanton

Seeking shade

MCDOT Deputy Director Al Roshdieh

Ash Kosiewicz from the Coalition for the Fair Redevelopment of Wheaton

Mid-County Regional Center Director Ana Lopez van Balen

At the clock tower corner of Grandview and Ennalls

Henriot St. Gerard and Kelly Blinn at the community green

Del. Jeff Waldstreicher

Kelly Blinn of the Coalition for Smarter Growth

Meeting Minutes for Tuesday April 9th,2013

Wheaton Urban District Advisory Committee

Mid-County Regional Center, 2424 Reedie Drive Wheaton MD 20902

Meeting Minutes, Tuesday April 9^th, 2013

Members Present:  Henriot St. Gerard(chair), Devala Janardan(vice chair), Jeannette Feldner, Marian Fryer, William Moore, Dan Thompson, Tom Stanton, Nadia Sesay

Members Absent:  Luis Bonilla, Jim Onder

Staff Present:  Ana Lopez van Balen, Director Mid-County Regional Center

                           Sidney Cooper, Marketing Manager, Wheaton Urban District

Guests:  Elizabeth Chaisson, Green Wheaton

                Gerald Seagers, WRAC

Call to Order:  6:00pm followed by member and guest introductions.

Motions: Motion to approve March meeting minutes with changes passed

Chair Report:  Henriot reported that he has been involved in ongoing discussions with The Coalition for Smart Growth and they have set the date for the walking tour for Saturday June 1^st from 10am to noon.

There has been no response from Holly Sears pertaining to a letter sent by WUDAC requesting a meeting.  Henriot will make another attempt to reach out.

The WUDAC Blog was updated.

The Chair also informed WUDAC of a recent meeting with Adam Fogel, staff to Councilmember Navarro, about the Urban District’s budget requests. He will meet with Councilmember Navarro on April 11^th. The County Council will hold meetings on April 12^th and 24^th concerning Wheaton redevelopment matters.

The discussion then moved to a proposed letter from WUDAC to the County Council for spending requests for FY2014. After review and comments, a motion was raised and passed to send a version of the letter that did not prioritize the recommended spending.

Directors Report:  Ana Lopez van Balen reported that the State Enterprise bill for Glenmont passed.  DED had a public meeting.  It went well. She updated WUDAC on MCCAB’s work on land use issues in Aspen Hill, and work on eviction and safety.

Ana noted that the Public Safety Workgroup will issue a final report on April 22^nd and that she is finalizing membership requirements in a Nightime Economy Workgroup.

WUDAC was also informed that there would be a photo op for members at the Costco VIP reception with a check presentation for the Taste of Wheaton.

Marketing Report:  Sidney Cooper announced that the digital Community Board is up at Westfield for small business advertisement. 

Sub-Committee Reports:

Economic: Nadia Sesay reported that 2 members of the Food Truck Association attended their April 1^st meeting and they discussed a proposed Curbside Cookoff event.  She stated that no Urban District funds would be used for the event.  She recommended that WUDAC support this event.  After heated discussion, a motion was made and passed.

Design:  Dan Thompson briefed WUDAC on the April 1^st meeting. Much of the hour was devoted to a presentation from Elzabeth Chaisson of Green Wheaton, who shared ideas on storefronts, beautification, greening, lighting and signage, and art. The subcommittee requested more opportunities to meet and brainstorm with Green Wheaton and invited them to participate in the walking tour in June and a future Chamber of Commerce event on design matters.

Dan reported that the subcommittee members gave brief presentations on their progress but that priorities all depend upon some support from the County.  Jim Onder was tasked by the subcommittee Chair to move forward in planning a meeting for businesses in cooperation with the Chamber and the WUDAC economic subcommittee.

Other: Sidney Cooper briefly discussed changes to the Taste of Wheaton event.

Adjourn: 7:05pm

Public Meeting for new Wheaton Library/Rec Center

There is a public meeting tonight to discuss the new Wheaton Library/Rec Center. Details below. For more go here.

• June 5, 2013 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at the Wheaton Library in Meeting Room 100. This first meeting will be a workshop where all in attendance will be discussing their visions, goals, challenges and concerns for the new development and the site.