Plus: Montgomery County to launch new solar initiative; County Council takes up school appropriations
Chilly nights, warm days ahead – You may need a jacket at times, but this week’s weather should be beautiful. The National Weather Service predicts clear, sunny days with highs reaching into the low-70s Tuesday through Friday. Nighttime lows are expected to drop into the mid-40s. Monday is predicted to be the coldest day, with the high reaching 54 degrees.
Westbard Plan work session – The Montgomery County Planning Board is scheduled to conduct its first work session Thursday afternoon at the board’s Silver Spring headquarters to review the Westbard Sector Plan. Residents of the western Bethesda neighborhood who would be affected by the plan have raised concerns that the long-term guide for development in the area would allow too much growth in what is predominantly a residential area. The plan would allow more than 2,000 new apartment units and 75-foot-tall buildings on Westbard Avenue.
County Council to discuss two school funding resolutions – The Montgomery County Council is scheduled Tuesday to hold two public hearings related to school issues. A $45,000 appropriation to help fund an artificial turf field at Somerset Elementary School in Chevy Chase is the subject of one hearing. The other public hearing will focus on a $2 million appropriation for Montgomery County Public Schools’ “Technology Modernization” project. The funds will help pay for 16 information technology specialists at local schools.
White Flint transportation open house – The county is hosting an open house at Walter Johnson High School at 7 p.m. Monday night to present transportation plans in the White Flint area. So far the county has been working on bicycle infrastructure as well as a proposal to add bus rapid transit to the developing area. Attendees will have an opportunity to discuss the projects with county transportation staff members.
Planning Department design awards – The Montgomery County Planning Department will host the first annual Design Excellence awards Thursday night at the Silver Spring Civic Building. The awards highlight the best local design projects in architecture, landscape architecture and urban design. Christopher Leinberger, a Brookings Institution senior fellow and partner of Arcadia Land Company, is scheduled to speak about the business benefits of quality design and land use. The event, which is expected to draw a crowd of local developers, architects and elected officials, starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $35.
Leggett, council members to announce solar initiative – County Executive Ike Leggett will be joined Monday by council members Roger Berliner and Tom Hucker in Chevy Chase to announce a new solar initiative. The first phase of the initiative includes the installation of 14 solar projects on county facilities including recreation centers, libraries and correctional facilities. The county has partnered with the solar panel company SolarCity on the initiative.
