Groundbreaking scheduled for new Bethesda police station
County Executive Ike Leggett will join Police Chief Tom Manger and developers from StonebridgeCarras to break ground on the 2nd District Police Station, which will be built on an empty lot in front of the county parking garage at 4823 Rugby Ave. in Bethesda’s Woodmont Triangle. The new station will replace the longtime 2nd District station at 7359 Wisconsin Ave., which was built in 1961. The county is giving StonebridgeCarras that Wisconsin Avenue property in exchange for the developer building the police station. The new police station is scheduled to open in 2017.
County Council committee to hold second Westbard Sector Plan work session
The County Council’s planning committee Monday will again take up the land use plan for the Bethesda neighborhood, this time covering issues not addressed in the first meeting, which focused on transportation and schools. Restoring the Willet Branch stream, affordable housing and zoning for specific properties will be among the facets of the plan council members are scheduled to discuss at the 2 p.m. meeting at the County Council Office Building, 100 Maryland Ave., Rockville.
Council to review two bills that would ease bed and breakfast license requirements
On Tuesday night, the County Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing at 7:30 p.m. on a bill that would ease the regulatory burdens to license a bed and breakfast. The current licensing process is identical to that of a hotel and forces operators of a bed and breakfast to receive annual inspections, provide off-street parking and renew their licenses each year. As a result, the county notes, “The Department of Health and Human Services has not received any applications for any Bed and Breakfast under current law.” The bill before the council would ease the restrictions and allow bed and breakfast owners to self-certify their business meets the new license requirements, but the county would have the right to revoke a license if complaints are received and investigated.
Two 8th Congressional District debates this weekend
Republican and Democratic candidates running to replace Rep. Chris Van Hollen will meet at 10 a.m. Saturday at Takoma Park Middle School for a debate sponsored by the advocacy group Safe Silver Spring. Three Republicans and eight Democrats, including Kathleen Matthews, David Trone, Jamie Raskin and Kumar Barve, have confirmed their participation, according to the group.
A second debate, sponsored by the African Community of Montgomery County, is scheduled for 2 p.m. Saturday at the Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave., Takoma Park.
Very nice week expected
Spring may be two weeks away, but the weather is going to make it feel like it has already arrived this week. The National Weather Service predicts party sunny or sunny highs of 62 degrees Monday, 69 Tuesday, 74 Wednesday, 73 Thursday and 66 Friday. Nighttime lows are expected to drop into the upper 40s or low 50s.
