Work Session Meeting minutes of the Town
Council Work Session on January 20, 2004
as reviewed, approved and accepted by the
Town Council on February 3, 2004
January 20, 2004
The Work Session
was opened by Mayor Charles W. Oland at 7:30 p.m. Council Members Frank Bennett, David Preusch and Charles Bradsher
were present. Council Member Tom
Wilkinson was absent. The Town Planner, Mr. Stan Benning, was present. The Clerk was present. There were twelve citizens present.
Mayor Willard
Oland indicated that the topic of the Work Session was the discussion of the
proposed Northwest By Pass for the Town of Laytonsville. Mayor Oland reported that the Citizens
Advisory Board which was appointed in August, 2003 had prepared a memo to the
Mayor and Council dated November 18, 2003 and the first paragraph read “The
Citizens Advisory Board requests that you take all measure necessary to
expedite any changes necessary to the Comprehensive Plan to dedicate space for
a by-pass North and West of town. We
make this request based on the strong feeling that without a by-pass
Laytonsville’s future as a cohesive community would be severely harmed. And without land dedicated as son as
possible there is a change that development or other problems May impede use of
the necessary land, forever blocking construction of a by-pass.” The Work Session would, therefore, include a
discussion among the various participants.
Mayor Oland
introduced Mayor Richard Allen, Town of Brookeville. Mayor Allen indicated that the Town of Brookeville created a
thirteen minute video in 1989 to support their request for a by-pass. Ultimately, the by-pass was approved;
however, there are currently no state funds available to proceed with this
project. Mayor Allen stated that the
key to successful results in requesting approval of such a project is to create
a movement around the support of the
by-pass (i.e., video presentation, review of Comprehensive Plan). Mayor Allen recommended that the project be
approached with creativity and planning to enhance the approval process.
Council Member
David Preusch thanked Mayor Allen and asked about Maryland National Capital
Park & Planning’s opinion of the Brookeville project. Mayor Allen reported that MNCP&P did
approve Brookeville’s plan.
Mayor Oland
thanked Mayor Allen for attending the Work Session and sharing his experiences.
Mayor Oland
introduced Eric M. Wenger, Chair of the Citizens Advisory Board. Mr. Wenger reported that traffic is the
number one issue facing the region and the Town of Laytonsville. Mr. Wenger reported that the current Town
residents wish to retain Laytonsville’s small-town character. The Citizens Advisory Board has developed a
third proposal for the Northwest By-Pass, Alternate A, which is right inside
the Town’s
corporate
limits. This proposal was presented to
the Mayor and Council for their consideration.
Mayor Oland
introduced John Clarke, Vice President of Elm Street Development and Mike
Bingley from Elm Street Development.
Mr. Clarke questioned the right-of-way through the Fulks South (Natelli)
property and the 150’ dedication. Mr.
Clarke indicated the 150’ right-of-way was problematic for Elm Street
Development. Mr. Stan Benning, Town
Planner, reported that the 150’ dedication was a part of the Town’s Master
Plan; however, the state would be the ultimate definer of the specifications
for any right-of-way.
Council Member
Dave Preusch reported that the Town of Laytonsville had talked with MNCP&P
about putting the Town’s By-Pass outside of the Town’s limits and their
response was that MNCP&P would not support a by-pass outside of the Town
limits.
Resident Phyllis
Sterling reminded the meeting that under the Smart Growth Initiative, if the
Town met certain criteria, approval could be achieved. Mrs. Sterling suggested that clarification
of MNCP&P’s comments could be reviewed by listening to the tapes of the
October 7, 2003 meeting of the Town Council.
Mr. Clarke
requested that the Town of Laytonsville consider ways to grant Elm Street
Development some flexibility in their planning; i.e., lots in the Town limits
and septic fields in Montgomery County; a zoning change to allow septic fields
on outside lots; the possibility of annexation. Mr. Clarke also asked the Town to consider the benefit of
controlling density and zoning. Mayor
Oland requested that Mr. Clarke take the proposals submitted for the Northwest
By-Pass to his engineers for their consideration and to advise the Mayor and
Council.
Council Member
Dave Preusch reported that in the Olney Master Plan, MNCP&P has a proposed four-lane road coming to the limits of the
Town of Laytonsville on the south
The Work Session
was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
Cathryn D. Buit
Clerk
January 20, 2004