Dennis Collins
Neighborhood resident Dennis Collins calls the planned redevelopment of the Westwood Shopping Center “Stupid Growth,” an obvious reference to the “Smart Growth” philosophy Montgomery County officials have long endorsed. Collins is not alone. He and many of his neighbors who live near the shopping center are vehemently against the plan, which is slated to bring new retail and housing to the quiet suburban strip mall near the intersection of Westbard Avenue and Ridgefield Road in Bethesda. Many approvals remain, making the start of actual construction a down-the-road proposition. But that hasn’t stopped some of the residents from turning public meetings hosted by the planning department into shouting matches.
