Work Session Meeting minutes of the Town Council Work
Session on March 16, 2004
As reviewed, approved and accepted by the Town Council
on April 6, 2004
WORK SESSION
March 16, 2004
The Work Session was opened
by Mayor Charles W. Oland at 7:35 p.m. Council
Members Frank Bennett, David Preusch, Tom Wilkinson and Charles Bradsher were
present. The Town Planner, Mr. Stan Benning, was present. The Clerk was present. There were 15 citizens present.
Elm Street Development:
Mayor Oland welcomed Messrs. John
Clarke, Mike Bingley and Jody Kline.
Town Planner, Stanley Benning, reported that he had met on behalf of the
Town with Messrs. Clarke and Bingley on Monday, March 15, 2004. A concept plan was presented to the meeting
from Elm Street Development proposing to extend the Route 108 By Pass through a
total annexation of property consisting of 28 acres. This would yield 13 or 14 building lots to Elm Street
Development. Mr. Benning indicated that
Elm Street Development would be willing to dedicate the right-of-way for the
proposed By Pass with some assurance from the Town that Elm Street would
receive the buildings lots as proposed in the concept plan. Mr. John Clarke indicated that the proposal
is simply conceptual at this submission.
Mayor Oland clarified the
boundaries of the proposed annexed area as the limits of the proposed By
Pass. With the Town’s approval of this
proposed conceptual plan, Elm Street would received six additional building
lots and the Town would receive a right-of-way dedication.
Mr. Kline suggested that the
process would be: Town approves
Resolution to Annex; Town approves Resolution for Rezoning; Town approves
Resolution to establish annexed area as historic asset. Mr. Kline reported that both Rockville and
Gaithersburg have attached annexation plans with a conceptual plan to allow for
the refinement of lot lines, etc.
Mayor Oland commented that
his suggested approach would be to formally present Elm Street Development’s
proposed conceptual plan at the next Town Council meeting on April 6, 2004 and
then instruct Town Attorney, Stanley D. Abrams, to work with Jody Kline
regarding guidelines to proceed.
Council Member Dave Preusch
questioned the intersection of the proposed By Pass and Route 108 at the North
section. Stanley Benning reminded the
meeting that the Town of Laytonsville’s Comprehensive Plan reflects a cul de
sac at the North end of Route 108.
Sophia Voit inquired as to
the process to bring this project to a Public Hearing. Any annexation proposal is required to be
presented at a Public Hearing.
According to Article 23A, Maryland Code Annotated, Paragraph 19
Annexation, (d), a Hearing is scheduled after the introduction of the
resolution; the resolution is adopted and then can be brought to referendum.
Eckford Voit expressed his
concern regarding development of houses close to his residence.
Mayor Oland responded that
the proposal contained 12 lots plus 1 (25 acre) lot with only two lots close to
the Voit residence.
Phyllis Sterling questioned
where the Jones property is classified in the Water Service Area. Mayor Oland responded that this property is
classified as category #5.
Mayor Oland thanked Messrs.
Clarke, Bingley and Kline for attending the Work Session.
Sterling Letter:
Mayor Oland reported that the
Mayor and Council had received an email letter from resident Phyllis Sterling
dated 2-29-04 addressing some concerns regarding the Citizens Advisory
Committee (see attached). Mayor Oland’s
responded that the Citizens Advisory Committee was established in August, 2003
and was charged with reviewing the current Town Comprehensive Plan within a one
year time frame and that he felt they were addressing issues as requested.
Council Member Preusch
indicated that he felt that the Citizens Advisory Board was composed of a cross
section of the community and from that standpoint, it was a very effective tool
for the democratic process. He further
reported that David Whitaker, Maryland Department of Planning, was at the
3-9-04 Citizens Advisory Board meeting and recommended that traffic calming
issues be pursued for the Town as well as to continue to pursue a dedicated
right-of-way for the proposed By Pass.
Mrs. Sterling responded that
it was her concern that the Citizens Advisory Board was not undertaking a
comprehensive review of the Comprehensive Plan and that the approach was more
fragmented. Mrs. Sterling also reminded
that meeting that Montgomery County has a tax credit program for the preservation
of historic resources.
The Work Session was
concluded at 8:35 p.m.
Cathryn D. Buit
Clerk
March 16, 2004