WEEKLY TOWN UPDATES
March 31, 2023

Upcoming Special Events

Coffee & Playdate at the Park, April 16

RainScapes Gardening, April 19

Trash & Treasures, April 22 & 23

Recycling & Repurposing, April 22

Town Coffee, April 26

Spring Festival, April 30

Town Book Club, May 8

Dennison Garden Celebration, May 13

The Great Zucchini, May 21

Jump to special events

April 2023 Forecast Newsletter

The April 2023 issue of the the Forecast newsletter is now available online.

Residents Encouraged to Complete Bethesda Market Park Community Surveys

In mid-March, the County Parks Department hosted community meetings to review and discuss ideas for features and amenities in the new park to be created adjacent to the Farm Women's Market. One part of the park will occupy most of the parking lot behind the market; the other part will be built on the parking lot between Leland and Walsh streets. The Parks Department has published the presentation from the community meetings. The presentation contains three images that we think would be of particular interest to residents. These images present the concepts for how the space would be used and propose certain key features.

The Parks Department is now conducting an online survey, open through April 15, for Bethesda and Chevy Chase residents to share their ideas and feedback. We encourage residents to participate in this survey, including residents who were not able to attend the community meetings. The presentation and the particular images highlighted above provide sufficient background to respond to the survey. 

The Town also would welcome hearing from residents about what amenities you would like to see in this park. We are asking residents to complete the Town survey since the comments collected in the Parks Department survey will not indicate whether a respondent is a Town resident, and the Town Council would like to know the views of our residents specifically. 

More information on the Bethesda Market Park project is available here.

Corso Chevy Chase Rezoning Update

In March, Councilmember Joel Rubin testified before the Planning Board and Mayor Rush testified before the County Hearing Examiner on Corso Chevy Chase’s final rezoning application for 7100 Connecticut Avenue.  

After the Hearing Examiner makes her findings and recommendation, the County Council will consider the application and render a final decision. While a County Council hearing date has not yet been set, we will publicize the date via Town Crier.  

The Town has prepared a Declaration of Covenants for execution by the developer that will memorialize commitments related to perpetual use of the land and improvements that are enforceable by the Town. We also have prepared a Letter of Agreement that obligates Corso to execute the Declaration and includes short-term requirements that we want the developer to commit to but that don’t need to be conditions in perpetuity.  

Documents related to the rezoning are available here.

Safe Streets Community Project

“Slow Down and Stop”

The Public Services Committee, with approval of the Town Council, is launching a “Slow Down and Stop” Campaign. The campaign envisions a small-town ambience where all residents can safely enjoy walking, biking, chatting with neighbors, and benefitting from our beautiful tree-canopied neighborhood.

This campaign is intended to remind drivers to observe the Town's speed limit and come to a full stop at stop signs. We see the campaign as a supplement to the Town's existing tools to enforce traffic regulations.

We want your input!  Please visit bit.ly/TOCCSafeStreets to:

• Share your ideas about how to encourage people, residents and nonresidents alike, to drive safely in the Town, especially around the public amenities -- Chevy Chase Elementary School, the Lawton Community Center, Wonders Early Learning, and Oneness School.
• Give feedback to the Committee about the campaign initiative.
• Report observed incidents of unsafe driving.  Please include date, approximate time, location and description of the vehicle.  Include the direction of travel and what was unsafe about the incident (speeding, near miss, failure to stop, etc.).
  
  

East West Highway Crosswalk Improvements

On March 14, Town officials met with State Highway Administration (SHA) officials, state and county elected leaders, and County transportation (MCDOT) representatives to discuss pedestrian safety on East West Highway between Wisconsin and Connecticut avenues, including safety issues related to the crosswalk on East West Highway at Maple Avenue.  At this meeting, the group discussed specific next steps for further improvements at the crosswalk, made even more urgent by the opening of the Sleaford pedestrian underpass on the north side of East West Highway.  

We are pleased to report that the SHA and the MCDOT agreed to work together to design and install some form of a red-light signal at this crossing and to study pedestrian safety along the entire corridor.  Initial designs for the improved crosswalk should be completed by May, and we will provide updates as this effort proceeds.

Council Passes Antisemitism Awareness Resolution

At its March meeting, the Town Council approved a draft Antisemitism Awareness Resolution in response to the rise in antisemitic activities in the County and agreed to ask all County municipalities to endorse the resolution.  The resolution recognizes and condemns anti-Jewish crimes, as well as all hate crimes, and calls upon local governments to engage in countering this trend through activities that educate our residents about the challenges we face.

2023 Council Election & Annual Meeting

The Town’s Election and Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Town residents will select two candidates in the 2023 election, each to serve on the Council for a 2-year term. Candidate nominating petitions are due by 5 p.m. on April 11. A nominating petition is available here.

Balloting will be undertaken by mail and drop box only. Balloting materials and information on the nominated candidates will be mailed to all residents approximately 2 weeks before the election. In order for a resident’s vote to be counted, ballot return envelopes must either be mailed by May 2 and received by May 9 or placed in the drop box outside the Town Hall by 5 p.m. on May 2. More information on the election is available here.

The Annual Meeting will be held on May 2 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall and via Zoom and will include a public hearing on the proposed FY24 budget (see below).

FY24 Budget Development and Adoption

On March 20, the Town Council held a work session review the proposed budget for the next fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2023. The Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at the Annual Meeting on May 2. The budget will be available for review on the Town website after April 11, and a budget summary will be included in the election edition of the Forecast newsletter. 

Throughout the budget development process, the Council will consider suggestions from residents about what programs they would like to see funded in next year’s budget. Please provide suggestions here.

Bethesda Urban Partnership Community Survey

Bethesda Urban Partnership (BUP) is hosting a short survey to get feedback from the public that will help it to identify priorities and improvements for downtown Bethesda over the next five years. You can take the survey here until April 10. 

BUP markets and maintains downtown Bethesda’ landscaping and maintenance needs in public spaces and holds cultural events and festivals for the public, such as Taste of Bethesda. It also manages the Bethesda Arts & Entertainment District, the Bethesda Circulator, and operates Bethesda Transportation Solutions.

Coffee & Playdate at the Park, April 16

Meet old & new neighbors (with or without kids) for coffee & snacks while the kids burn off energy at the Lawton Center playground (4301 Willow Lane) on Sunday, April 16 from 3:30 to 5 p.m.

RainScapes Gardening, April 19

Celebrate Earth Week with a presentation on RainScapes Gardening on Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the Chevy Chase Village Hall (5906 Connecticut Avenue). Ann English, RainScapes Program Manager for the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, will present “How to design a beautiful space that captures stormwater and creates a haven for nature year-round.” Light refreshments will be provided. 

Click here to learn more about the RainScapes program.

Trash & Treasures, April 22 & 23

The Town’s spring Trash and Treasures is scheduled for the weekend of April 22 & 23. The Town offers this curbside bulk trash collection so that residents can dispose of items that are no longer usable. Please remember to bag, box, or contain all of your discards, and do not put items at the curb before noon on Friday, April 21 or after 7 a.m. on Monday, April 24. 

The following items will not be collected as bulk trash: construction debris; vehicle parts; loose glass; firewood or fencing; paint cans; flammable or hazardous materials; recyclable items; and yard waste.

If you have items that can be recycled or repurposed, we encourage you to come to the Lawton Center on Saturday, April 22 for our Recycling & Repurposing event (see below).

Recycling & Repurposing Event, April 22

The following services will be provided on Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Lawton Center Parking Lot.

Shred Your Documents: Shred Ace will shred documents. Staples and paper clips are okay. No batteries, binders, or books.

Recycle Clothing and Home Goods: The Interfaith Works Clothing Center will collect clothing and home goods to donate to low-income County residents. Please put items in secured plastic bags.

Donate Furniture & Household Items: A Wider Circle will collect gently used furniture and household items to donate to families in need. For large items, please email furnish@awidercircle.org or call 301-608-3504 to schedule a pick-up.

Recycle Electronic Equipment: SAMR will collect electronic equipment -- anything with a plug or a battery -- for recycling.

Donate Sports Equipment: Leveling the Playing Field (LPF) will collect used and excess sporting equipment to donate to programs and schools serving low-income communities. 

Donate Books: The Town will collect books for Friends of the Library, Montgomery County (FOLMC). Please bring clean, gently used books in a box or bag. No magazines or encyclopedias.

Note: The County’s light bulb exchange service will not be available at this event. Click here to find out how to exchange inefficient light bulbs for energy efficient ones.

Town Coffee, April 26

A Town coffee will be held on Wednesday, April 26, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Town Hall. Please join neighbors -- newcomers, longtime residents, and everyone in between -- for conversation and refreshments. Please RSVP here if possible, but not required.

Spring Festival, April 30

The Town of Chevy Chase is partnering with the Jane E. Lawton Center to host the 2023 Spring Festival. The event will take place on Sunday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Lawton Center parking lot.  Join us for live music, food, games, and art & crafts.  All ages are welcome!

TOCC Book Club, May 8

Our Town of Chevy Chase Book Club will meet Monday, May 8 at 7 p.m. in the Town Hall to discuss Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. A contemporary David Copperfield in Appalachia, surviving the perils of modern child poverty. Sponsored by the Community Relations committee; all are welcome.

Lee Wick Dennison Sustainable Garden Celebration, May 13

Celebrate the Lee Wick Dennison Sustainable Garden, located at the corner of Lynn Drive and Maple Avenue in Zimmerman Park, on Saturday, May 13 from 3:30 to 5 p.m. 

• Paint and Plant a Pot of Pollinators! 
• Tour the Sustainable Garden! 
• Consult a Garden Expert About Your Garden Concerns! 
• Nosh on Delicious Food! 
• Fun & Learning for All Ages! 

Please RSVP here by May 5. More information about this event, Lee Dennison, the sustainable garden, and sustainable gardening practices is available here.

The Great Zucchini, May 21

Join us on Sunday, May 21 at 10:30 a.m. in the Lawton Center Social Hall for The Great Zucchini, Washington’s funniest and most magical preschool and kindergarten entertainer. The Great Zucchini will perform a colorful magic show where every child is a star and guaranteed to laugh! Please RSVP here.

Town Neighbors Listserv

Residents are encouraged to connect with fellow residents through the private Town Neighbors listserv.

Free COVID Test Kits & Masks

The Town has COVID test kits and N95 masks available for pick up at the Town office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The kits and masks are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last.

Town Office Hours

The Town office is staffed from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On other days, most employees telework. There may be someone to assist on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but please contact the office in advance.