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Health & Fitness

Concerns with the Council Approval of the Long Branch Sector Plan - Opinion

By Tony Hausner

On Tuesday, November 12, the County Council gave final approval to the Long Branch Sector Plan 

The plan recommends new mixed-use zoning, varied housing options to serve residents at different life stages, and a safe, connected pedestrian and bicycle network. Overall, planners expect the Purple Line transit stations – at Arliss Street and at University Boulevard – to catalyze redevelopment and reinvestment. The plan includes a recommendation to designate the Flower Theater and Shopping Center as a historic site, placing it on the county Master Plan for Historic Preservation.

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For more information, see the County Council press release  http://www.mymcmedia.org/county-council-approves-long-branch-sector-plan/ ) .  See also the Planning Board site for more info.   http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/longbranch/  and the Gazette article  on this decision.

As indicated in the above press release, Councilmember Marc Elrich voted against the plan, saying that he was thankful that it “adequately protects the apartments that so many people there call home,” but that he was disappointed that they “could not assure a similar level of protection for existing small businesses.”

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The Council’s decision to eliminate the proposed second stage of the plan and to not rezone most of the large residential apartment complexes led to significant changes in the original draft plan.

The plan takes into consideration that development of the Purple Line—the proposed east-west transit line that will connect the Bethesda and New Carrollton Metrorail stations—will have significant impact on Long Branch and its real estate values. To prevent a loss of market affordable units, and potential displacement of lower-income residents, the Council amended the plan to retain the zoning on most of the existing multi-family developments.

I have several concerns with this plan as stated in my testimony to the County Council in July.   My major concerns deal with the impact of the Purple Line. While I have been a strong supporter of the Purple Line, it has the potential to significantly reduce the amount of affordable housing, especially for low income renters.  Furthermore, small businesses could be undermined during the construction phase.  This would result in the loss of jobs which will have a greater impact on lower income groups.  Casa de Maryland and the University of Maryland have formed a Purple Line Corridor Coalition to address these issues.  Safe Silver Spring has joined this compact.

A second area of concern that I share with Sligo Branview residents is the plan to build high rise buildings directly across from their single family neighborhood.

I hope the County Council will address the issues raised by the Purple Line Corridor Coalition, especially in providing loans to small businesses so that they can survive the construction period for the Purple Line.  Other jurisdictions have implemented such policies.

“Silver Spring Neighborhoods” is a publication of the Presidents' Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations (PREZCO), a group of neighborhood Silver Spring civic groups that meet regularly to discuss community issues.

Silver Spring Neighborhoods” welcomes articles of interest from all members of the Silver Spring community.

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Disclaimer: The purpose of this blog is to inform Silver Spring residents about important events and issues affecting them.  Any views expressed represent those of the author(s) and not necessarily all representatives of the Presidents’ Council of Silver Spring Civic Associations.

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