Rock Creek Hills Citizens Association

Minutes of October 10, 2001

Shannon Hamm, President, called the meeting to order.

Carol Franek, Head of School for the Grace Episcopal Day School, welcomed us to the facility.  She also announced that groups can sign up to use the sports fields.

Announcements:

John Robinson is now a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board (Maryland National Capitol Park and Planning Commission); therefore, to avoid any possible suggestion of impropriety, he is resigning as chair of the Transportation Committee.  We extend our thanks to John for all the work he has performed in the various positions he has held within RCHCA.

RCHCA will attempt to get information on the Beltway noise study posted our web site (www.rchca.org).

Old Business:

1. Minutes of the May 9, 2001 meeting were presented.

Motion:           Approve minutes of the May 9, 2001 meeting.

Vote:               Approved.

Guest Speaker:

Tanya Schmieler, Montgomery County Park and Planning Commission, presented the idea of using the lower parking lot at Rock Creek Hills Park as additional parking for the nursing home and as a practice roller hockey arena.  Also speaking on this issue was Officer Mary Carlin from the Maryland‑National Capitol Park Police.

Some highlights of the discussion are:

• The lower parking lot at Rock Creek Hills is in poor condition.  The Kensington Park Retirement Community currently uses some parking spaces in this lot.  It has been recommended that the County officially lease these spaces to them.  It has been suggested that in return for a lease on the parking spaces, the Kensington Park Retirement Community would be responsible for paving the entire parking lot.
• It would be several years before the Park and Planning Commission would be able to pave the lower parking lot out of their budget.
• Currently the tennis courts at the park are frequently being used for roller hockey.  The inline skates can damage the surface of the tennis courts, so they are asked to leave the tennis courts.  It was suggested that a roller blading facility in the neighborhood would be an asset and well utilized.

Motion:                 Recommend that the Montgomery County Park and Planning Commission allow the Kensington Park Retirement Community to lease not more than ten parking spaces from the lower parking lot at Rock Creek Hills Park in exchange for them paving the entire lower parking lot to Saul Road.

Vote:                     Approved with one opposed

Motion:                 Recommend that the Montgomery County Park and Planning Commission consider using a portion of the repaved lower parking lot at Rock Creek Hills Park as a practice roller hockey arena.  The practice roller hockey arena would not extend south of the stairs from the lower lot to the soccer fields.  The practice roller hockey arena would be appropriately fenced and landscaped.

Vote:                     Approved with one opposed

Motion:                 Recommend that the Montgomery County Park and Planning Commission restrict the use of the lower parking lot at Rock Creek Hills Park to park use only.

Vote:                     Approved

Motion:                 Request the Montgomery County Park and Planning Commission to install metered lighting in Rock Creek Hills Park at the proposed practice roller hockey arena, and the existing tennis court, playground, and basketball court.  RCHCA assigns the following priorities for metered lighting (1) the tennis courts, (2) the basketball court and playground area, and (3) the proposed practice roller hockey arena.  The meters should prohibit the use of lighting at these areas after 10:00 PM.

Vote:                     Approved

RCHCA will write a letter to the Park and Planning Commission.  This letter will include the motions passed tonight, previous requests for improvements at Rock Creek Hills Park, and a request for a sidewalk or bike path on Kensington Parkway.  In addition, RCHCA will follow up with a letter to the Department of Public Works and Transportation regarding a request for a sidewalk on Kensington Parkway.  

[Letter was sent by Shannon Hamm on November 19, 2001.  Click here to view this letter.]

Old Business Continued:

2. Mike Baker presented a brief update on the status of the Stoneybrook Drive bridge.  Construction is behind schedule.  Depending on the weather, the on‑site engineer for Cherry Hill Construction hopes to have traffic on the bridge by December 1^st.  The County engineer did not sound as optimistic.

3. Deanna Marcum presented the Treasurer’s report.  Also presented were a summary of past expenses by category, and a number of budget issues.  Handouts were provided.  There was some discussion on where RCHCA should focus it limited resources (both financial and volunteers).  There was general agreement that emphasizing social events for the neighborhood should be the highest priority for the Board.

Motion:           Accept the Treasurer’s report.

Vote:               Approved

Motion:           RCHCA will consider raising dues to $35.00 per household at the January meeting.

Vote:               Approved

4. Joe Rosenberg presented an update on the train noise associated with the train whistle being sounded at the Forest Glenn crossing.

·        It is expected that Mr. Reis (Staff Director, Grade Crossing Safety Division for the Federal Railroad Administration) will provide detailed requirements for a quiet zone.  The expected requirements are installation of four quadrant gates.

·        The sounding of the train whistle in downtown Kensington is a separate issue.

·        The proposed quiet zone at the Forest Glen Crossing may be the first proposed quiet zone in Maryland.

·        If a quiet zone is approved, it is likely that most of the funding would come from the State with some Federal funding.

New Business:

1.      Elections for the RCHCA board will be held at the January meeting.  There will be a number of vacancies.  Anyone interested in a position on the board should contact one of the current members of the Board.

2.      There is a nature trail at the Grace Episcopal Day School.  It follows the National Schoolyard Habitat guidelines.

3.      Stacey Heckel volunteered to be the focal point for safety issues along Kensington Parkway.  Her phone number is 301 942-2298.
 

4.      We need a chair for the Transportation Committee.

5.      The Hammond’s are moving to Leisure World.  They left their new address and phone number with the Board.  They will be missed in the neighborhood.

6.      Motion:     Motion to adjourn.

Vote:         Approved