CITY OF TAKOMA PARK, MARYLAND
PUBLIC HEARING AND WORKSESSION
OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
MINUTES
(Minutes adopted April 27, 2009)
CALL TO ORDER
ROLL CALL
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PRESENT: |
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Mayor Williams
Councilmember Barry
Councilmember Clay
Councilmember Robinson
Councilmember Seamens
Councilmember Snipper
Councilmember Wright
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City Manager Matthews
Public Works Director Braithwaite
Assistant City Clerk Andia
Senior Planner Blanchard
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The City Council convened at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium of the Takoma Park Community Center -- Sam Abbott Citizens' Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, Maryland.
Ms. Clay commented on recent vehicle break-ins in Ward 2 and on the removal of the storage container located on Lincoln Avenue. She recommended revising the City’s permitting regulations on such storage containers.
Mr. Robinson asked if the City had made an effort in the past to start a credit union.
Mr. Williams said that he remembered that there was some discussion on a credit union about ten years ago.
Mr. Wright said that he researched this on his day job. He said that the economics of it made it really tough.
Mr. Seamens welcomed Ward 4 residents and reported that Mr. Loveless had recovered from his surgery.
Mr. Wright announced that a mural project event would take place on Friday at Sam Kittner’s Studio. He also announced that a forum on license plate scanners would take place on February 25. He encouraged the City Manager and Mayor to schedule a discussion on the license plate scanners.
Mr. Wright commented on the Piney Branch pool opening. He reminded the Council that the Certificate of Need for relocation of Washington Adventist Hospital was due in April and suggested that the Council take a position on the hospital site.
Mr. Snipper commented on the Piney Branch Pool. He also noted the Recreation Department’s work in partnership with the community on the winter basketball program. He concurred with Mr. Wright on the Washington Adventist Hospital site.
Mr. Williams announced that a forum on the work being done in the city by WSSC would take place on March 26. He said that he spent time in Annapolis attending the Maryland Mayors Association Conference. He said he was briefed on possible avenues for use of the federal stimulus money.
ADOPTION OF MINUTES
Minutes of January 12, 2009 were adopted upon motion by Councilmember Seamens; seconded by Councilmember Wright.
Ms. Matthews reported that 24 employees were recognized for their years of service at the employee recognition event. She said that the speed camera installation permits were secured and that she would inform the Council when the cameras become operational. Ms. Matthews said that the RFP for the Public Works renovation was sent out.
PUBLIC HEARING
Kenny Jones, 114 Ritchie Avenue, commented on speed humps and encouraged the Council to install speed humps on Ritchie Avenue.
Jose Contreras, thanked the Council for considering the request to install speed humps. He said that he was concerned about Ritchie Avenue being used as a cut through street.
Richard Payne, 39 Oswego Avenue, President of the Ritchie Avenue Citizens Association, supported the speed hump and said that the Association was concerned about the safety of the children on the street.
Bridget Bowers, 6409 Westmoreland Avenue, President of the Pinecrest Association, said that there was community consensus for traffic calming in the Pinecrest neighborhood. She said that she looked forward to working with the City to have the necessary safety measures installed.
Jane Holmes, Treasurer of the Pinecrest Association, concurred with Ms. Bowers.
Jerome Franklin, 6426 Fourth Avenue, stated that speed bumps were necessary in Pinecrest to control the traffic. He said that the blind spots created by close parking near the intersection of 4th Avenue and Poplar Avenue and Sligo Mill and Orchard Avenue should also be addressed.
Ian Helm, 6421 Fourth Avenue, commented on the Pinecrest traffic issue noting that the traffic study conducted proved that Pinecrest was a cut through area. He stated that there was no sidewalk on half of Fourth Avenue and no speed humps in the Pinecrest area. He encouraged the Council to accept the traffic calming proposal.
WORKSESSION
Ms. Braithwaite stated that the speed hump request made did not comply with the City Code in terms of distances between speed humps and stop signs. She suggested to better mark the center lining of the street or reflective bumps in the center of the street to encourage vehicles to stay in the their lane.
Mr. Seamens said that the proposal was not suggesting a speed hump at the street curve, instead the suggestion was to install a speed hump at the same distance as the existing speed hump located on Ritchie Avenue going towards Piney Branch.
Mr. Snipper asked about the Public Works vehicle entrance.
Ms. Braithwaite explained that the Public Work staff were advised to use the Ritchie Avenue entrance/exit. She said that there were other heavier vehicles that were not able to use that entrance/exit due to the steep hill and therefore use the Oswego entrance/exit instead.
Mr. Seamens asked that during the Public Works renovation, the possibility of regrading that area be looked into.
Ms. Braithwaite said that they would certainly ask the architect to review that possibility.
Mr. Wright encouraged Public Works to look into installing the speed humps in a biker friendly fashion.
Mr. Williams agreed that speeds humps should be biker friendly.
Mr. Snipper suggested installing a different type of speed hump that would be bike friendly. He described a type of speed hump used in Mexico.
Ms. Braithwaite said that she would have the City Engineer look into it.
The Council agreed to have City staff present options at the next Council meeting.
Ms. Blanchard said that there were no issues identified by staff regarding the Pinecrest traffic calming.
Mr. Williams noted that there had been a previous worksession discussion on Pinecrest traffic calming. He said he recalled that the Council was in agreement with the proposal.
In response to question, Ms. Blanchard said that the signage restricting turns would be removed. She responded to a question about the cost for a raised intersection, which was $15,000.
The Council agreed that Pinecrest traffic calming project should move forward.
Mr. Kronenberg, from the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, explained that a Takoma Park business owner was directed to him by the County because there were some concerns regarding interpretation of the Zoning Code related to his permit request to expand a business. He said that it was unclear as to what process the applicant should follow.
Ms. Blanchard explained that the building in question was non-conforming and that the planned addition to the building was of non-conforming use. She explained the difference between non-conforming buildings and non-conforming uses. She suggested that the City not require site plan review for non-conforming uses under 1000 square feet.
Mr. Robinson asked if the City weighed in on site plans before they were submitted to Park and Planning.
Ms. Blanchard said that the staff did review the plans.
Mr. Robinson stated that Mount Rainier had design review guidelines and asked if there was a way to exert more authority for plans under 1000 ft.
Ms. Blanchard responded that she would look into it.
Ms. Clay said that she hoped that the City based its decision on good public process and not decide based on whether a business should grow or not.
Mr. Kronenberg said that there was currently an opportunity for the City to weigh in on changes to the Zoning Ordinance.
The Council concurred with the suggestion to not require a site plan review process for expansion of non-conforming uses under 1000 square feet in the Commercial Revitalization Overlay Zone, but instead allow for a permit process and administrative review.
ADJOURN
The Council adjourned for the evening at 9:31 p.m.