CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD COMMITTEE

2^ND MEETING

AUGUST 12, 2003

The meeting started at 7:30 pm. The entire committee, consisting of Dubby Barber, Leah Cecere, Brendan Deyo, Gina Eckenrode, Francis Hewitt, Margaret Pollock, David Preusch, Pete Stadler, Merritt Techter, Kim Tucker, Eric Wenger, and Tom Wilkinson, was present. Members not present at the first meeting were given their information packets consisting of a copy of the 1989 Comprehensive Plan for the Town of Laytonsville, a copy of a letter from Larry Duket from the Maryland Department of Planning regarding the 1997 revisions of the Comprehensive Plan containing vision statements, a copy of a letter to let the committee know about a pertinent pamphlet from the Maryland Office of Planning, entitled “Revisiting the Comprehensive Plan: The Six Year Review” and available at www.mdp.state.md.us/mgs/mg20.PDF plus a chart containing the names and contact information for each of the committee members. Corrections were made to the chart. Gina requested that we all introduce ourselves.

Temporary Chairman Eric Wenger conducted elections for the positions of Chairman, Vice Chairman, and Secretary. Each position was filled with a unanimous voice vote: Eric Wenger as Chairman, Leah Cecere as Vice-Chairman, and Gina Eckenrode as Secretary.

Eric Wenger called the meeting to order. Minutes from the July 29 Meeting were reviewed and approved by a unanimous voice vote. Copies of the September 1989 Land Use Plan Map were also passed out.

The task of the committee is to review the Town’s 1989 Comprehensive Plan. There was a question asking what was wrong with the plan we have now. Our job is to comply with the Maryland State Law, mandating that a review of the Plan us to occur at intervals of no more than six years. We re-evaluate the plan that was written 14 years ago in light of current conditions, and to recommend changes be made as necessary.

The committee needs to define the issues and figure out how to approach them. We wondered whether to tackle our task as one big or two small groups. Our initial efforts will be towards learning how Laytonsville functions, how it fits into the larger context of Montgomery County and the State of Maryland. We need to find out what information is out there and how to tap into it. As specific issues become obvious, we need evaluate what options are available. The conclusion of the process will be to make specific recommendations to the Mayor and Council for action. We will all have more or less homework to do prior to each session.

David Preusch explained to the committee that the Comprehensive Plan typically comes

before zoning ordinances. The purpose of the Master Plan is to provide the dream or

concept of a town, which in turn provides the theory behind the zoning within a town. It will identify certain areas for certain purposes, for example the areas at the south end of town where Warfield Road splits off of Route 108 and around Maple Knoll Drive, and no other area, were targeted as Commercial in the 1989 Plan. We as a committee need to re-evaluate whether this concept still works for Laytonsville, how well the Town has met that concept, whether to modify that vision, and how to modify it if necessary. The specific elements will all fit together into one big picture, which is reflected in a Land Use Map. It then becomes the Council’s job to implement the visions of the plan by passing zoning ordinances, and then by placing certain areas within certain zones. For example, the 1989 Master Plan recommended 2 acre zoning in town. The Council passed an ordinance defining 2 acre zoning (R3) in June and placed the Natelli and Stadler properties into R3 zones. This placement is then reflected in a Zoning Map. The goal is that the Land Use Map and the Zoning Map be the same.

Brendan emphasized that we need to understand how our town jives with the State of Maryland and the Montgomery County Plans. With reference to the above process regarding the creation and implementation of the R3 Zone, the Mayor alerted certain agencies of the amendments and an upcoming Public Hearing on the subject on September 2. Eric read correspondence from John R. Griffin of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC), Derick Berlage of the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), Dennis Simpson of the State Highway Administration (SHA), and Douglas Duncan, County Executive. Copies of these letters will be provided to the committee at the next meeting on September 9. The Committee should obtain copies of the Plans by each of these agencies regarding Laytonsville and its surrounding areas. This may be important if and when it comes time for an easement to be created. It is also important for the Comprehensive Plan revision take into account State Law. Gina suggested that committee members look at http://www.mdp.state.md.us/smartintro.htm for information from the Maryland Department of Planning regarding Smart Growth. Kim commented that water and sewer are a driving force, and that we need to learn what limitations are imposed on future development here by the County and State Permitting Agencies.

In addition to agencies and the experts in them, there are a number of people important

to our efforts. Willard Oland confirmed that Stan Benning, the Land Planner for the Town, has volunteered his attendance at meetings with “no pay.” There was a desire that the committee point its own direction. We agreed that we will not have outside experts as regular participants at our meetings; rather we will request help from experts when we want more information on a specific topic. Phyllis Sterling wondered whether we would solicit town comments. Eric suggested that interested residents put their comments in writing so they can be passed out and looked at by the committee members. The question was raised whether we want to go around town and solicit comments. In an effort to keep residents informed, we want to post our approved minutes on the website in a timely manner after approval. So that we have time to read and study the minutes, the Secretary will e-mail or fax drafts to members prior to the following meeting. The Route 108 By-Pass was discussed at length. Eric feels that a by-pass will change the character of town, in that it can help the center of town be more user-friendly. Brendan asked whether there had been a traffic study; Tom said not. We were provided with a map of the Laytonsville Northwest By-Pass. The proposed bypass is 50% in town, and affects a state road. The town will need to petition the state to study the possibility, which will take 2-3 years, and include wetland locations, a number of possible alignments, and evaluations detailing the pluses and minuses. Since most of the land for any proposal is undeveloped, the town will have to deal with developers if we want a by-pass. Since the Natelli property is within town limits, if he gets public water from the WSSC and is permitted to develop his property, he will dedicate the property for a 4-lane divided highway. The Mayor told the committee that the other large undeveloped property south of town is owned by a partnership with the acronym of YUKCCM; he also mentioned the Potomac Group. For a by-pass to happen, there is a lengthy process in which the Town will have to deal with the State, Parks and Planning, and developers.

Eric wants our first mission to be a focus. Leah suggests that our assignments be spelled out.

1) Everyone needs to go through the Comprehensive Plan.

2) We all need to study the Goals and Objectives on page 9.

3) Brendan volunteered to draw up a vision statement, considering comments we e-mail him.

4) Kim and Gina will contact Well and Septic to learn what limitations are imposed on development.

5) Dave and Tom will report on the by-pass and contact Park and Planning.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, September 9, 2003.

Kim made a motion to adjourn and Tom seconded. The motion was approved by a voice vote.

Respectfully submitted,

Virginia Eckenrode

Secretary

September 5, 2003