Friends of White Flint Offers Recommendations on White Flint Draft Plan
Today the Friends of White Flint sent recommendations to the Montgomery County Planning Board for improvements in the Draft Plan for the White Flint Sector. Friends of White Flint strongly supports the Draft Plan, but suggested in a June 17, 2009, letter to the Planning Board that the Plan could be improved.
The 20 recommendations in the FoWF report to the Planning Board were:
Summary of Recommendations
Note: Recommendations are presented in order of appearance in the Draft Plan, not by priority. Full details and page references are available on the pages indicated.
# Title Page in FoWF Report
1) The Promenade………………………………………………………………….5
Recommendation: Identification of the Connected Promenade as a Core Element of the Draft Plan.
2) Utilities…………………………………………………………………………..8
Recommendation: Modify language regarding location of utilities.
3) Rockville Pike Boulevard Cross-Section………………………………8
Recommendation: Add Glatting Jackson cross-section picture.
4) New Public Parks………………………………………………………………9
Recommendation: Add description of new public parks.
5) Private Outdoor Spaces………………………………………………………10
Recommendation: Modify per unit requirement to encourage community interaction in common areas.
6) Proposed Open Space Plan…………………………………………………10
Recommendation: Show connectivity to open space and community facilities outside the Sector Plan area, and to new parks.
7) Compatibility with Existing Neighborhoods……………………………..12
Recommendation: Add similar neighborhoods to listing.
8 ) Height and Density Map Readability……………………………………..13
Recommendation: Make the map bigger.
9) Density Does Not Equal Height…………………………………………….14
Recommendation: Add additional language clarifying that density does not automatically equate to height.
10) Grandfathering Existing Property Rights ………………………………..16
Recommendation: Add language clarifying grandfathering rights.
11) Day Care Throughout the Sector…………………………………………..16
Recommendation: Delete limitation that day care centers be in facilities near Metro.
12) Public Investment in Core Facilities………………………………………..17
Recommendation: Strengthen language supporting public investment in Civic Green and other facilities in the Core area.
13) Water Tower Beautification………………………………………………….17
Recommendation: Remove designation of water tower as park open space, and encourage its beautification.
Recommendation: Indicate a potential additional street at the current light located on Rockville Pike at
15) Improve Stream Conditions……………………………………………….19 Recommendation: Emphasize stream restoration and forest replanting.
16) Sidewalks………………………………………………………………………20
Recommendation: Add a new bullet on pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly sidewalks.
17) Parking Management………………………………………………………..21
Recommendation: Establish a Parking Lot District.
18) Bike-Friendly Engineering………………………………………………….21
Recommendation: Areas provided in the Draft Plan for bicycle use should include bike-friendly engineering and construction techniques.
19) School Site……………………………………………………………………..22
Recommendation: Clarify that the Board has recommended Rocking
20) Art 23 Recommendation: Add language recognizing and promoting art within the Sector.
The full report is available here: Friends of White Flint Recommendations.
Friends of White Flint will hold a special meeting for Friends and the former White Flint Advisory Group to discuss the Draft Plan at 6:30PM on Tuesday, July 14, at the offices of Federal Realty, 1626 E. Jefferson. For more information, contact Evan Goldman, at evan.goldman@friendsofwhiteflint.org.
Barnaby Zall
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