RCHCA Newsletter

Fall 2002

Schedule of Upcoming Events

RCHCA General Meeting

·   When:  Wednesday, October 9, 7:30pm

·   Where:  Grace Episcopal Day School

·   Come hear a presentation on the planned re-build of the Kensington Safeway

Annual Halloween Parade and Pot Luck Lunch

NOTE NEW START TIME AT NOON

·   Please plan on bringing the whole family for this traditional event complete with costume parade, arts & crafts, hayrides, fire rescue vehicles, moon bounce and more!

·   When:  Sunday, October 27, 12:00 noon

·   Where:  Meet at cul-de-sac at Kensington Manor at noon for parade

·   Pot-Luck lunch to begin at 12:30 pm on Saul Rd. between Old Spring and East Bexhill

·   RCHCA will provide hamburgers, hot dogs, and drinks

·   A-L families bring side dish

·   M-Z families bring desert

·   Volunteers needed – call or e-mail Betsy Greaney at 301-962-0116 or betsygreaney@aol.com

Notice of Meeting – Wednesday, October 9, 2002 at 7:30 - COME HEAR ABOUT THE PLANNED SAFEWAY RENOVATIONS

Please plan to attend the next RCHCA meeting Wednesday, October 9, 2002,  from 7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Day School (9411 Connecticut Avenue) where we will have a presentation on the planned re-build of the Safeway store in Kensington.

RCHCA Financial Report

September 1, 2002

Respectfully submitted,

Deanna Marcum, Treasurer

Train Noise Update

The following letter was sent to Senator Sarbanes (D-MD) on behalf of Rock Creek Hills Citizens Association by the Federal Relations Coordinator for Montgomery County:

July 3, 2002

Mr. Charles Stek

Projects Director

Office of U.S. Senator Paul Sarbanes

309 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, D.C.  20510

FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION

Dear Charlie:

                I spoke with Nellie about an inquiry we had from the Rock Creek Hills Citizens’ Association concerning the community’s interest in establishing a quiet zone at the Forest Glen highway-rail crossing in Silver Spring.  Any assistance from your office would be greatly appreciated.

As described in the attachments, you will see that the group contacted several public officials for assistance.  In an October reply to Senator Mikulski, the Federal Railroad Administration indicated that regulations to allow quiet zones were being promulgated.  Unfortunately, no date was given as to when they would be finalized.  The Forest Glen community has been diligent in organizing support for the quiet zone, but without the federal regulations, it cannot proceed.

I would appreciate your looking into this matter.  If you have any questions, please call me.

Sincerely,

Sara E. Morningstar

Federal Relations Coordinator

Attachments

Businesses in the Home

At our May 8, 2002 meeting, Association members had a constructive discussion regarding businesses in the home and whether or not Montgomery County zoning regulations regarding such businesses supercede the restrictive land covenants that apply to many of our properties.  After researching the issue with a Montgomery County zoning officer and the Montgomery County Attorney’s Office – thanks to Tom Sisti for his assistance and persistence – it is clear that County zoning regulations affecting businesses in the home do NOT supercede restrictive land covenants.

What this means is that, despite the fact that Montgomery County has rules allowing for home businesses under certain conditions, those rules do not apply to the properties in Rock Creek Hills that have restrictive land covenants, all of which prohibit the use of the properties for trade or business use.

As a result of our discussion May 8, the following motion was proposed, debated, and approved:

Motion:                  That the Board shall send out an errata sheet notifying members of the community of errors on the covenants page (page 8) of the Community Directory and errors and potentially confusing language in the recent newsletter regarding covenants.  The errata sheet shall further inform the community members that they must comply with the covenants that apply to their property and that corrected clarifying information will be sent out by the Board in the near future.

Vote:                      Approved

Therefore, if you have the March 2001 “Rock Creek Hills Citizens’ Association (RCHCA) Community Directory,” we ask that on page 8 describing covenants, in line “B,” you strike out everything in the parentheses – i.e. strike out “(exception is professional home office use, Article 59G MCC Zoning)”.  If you have questions, please contact Marty Durbin.

Recent Covenant Approvals

·   9608 E. Bexhill Dr.:  New one-story addition and new covered porch.

·   9607 Hillridge Dr.:  Back yard fence and rear deck.

·   9701 Old Spring Rd.:  Kitchen addition.

NOTE:  As a way of making the RCHCA home improvement approval process quicker and easier for all involved, we will soon be posting a “check-list” on the RCHCA web site (www.rchca.org) along with a sample “neighbor notification form.”

Concert in the Park

Thanks to all who came out for a wonderful evening at the 3^rd Annual RCHCA Concert in the Park, Sunday September 22.  The Nancy Dougherty Band was terrific, and people stayed until dark, playing games, riding bikes, catching up with old and getting to know new neighbors.  If you missed it this year, make sure to be on the lookout for it next year.  Thanks again to Gary Ditto for co-sponsoring the event.