NOTELY DEVELOPMENT - Announcement 2
Neighbors,
OUR ATTORNEY ADVISES A SHORT, YET IMPORTANT, EMAIL TO SEND TODAY (or ASAP):
A ***NEW*** EMAIL to TROY LEFTWICH (MoCo Planning Board point of contact) & copy the 2 other addresses below—
Email Troy.Leftwich@montgomeryplanning.org
CC: Amy.Lindsey@montgomeryplanning.org
CC: notley.townhouses@gmail.com
Even if you already emailed Troy to voice objection to the project,
TODAY YOU SHOULD EMAIL THIS:
SUBJECT: INCLUDE ME AS A PARTY OF RECORD FOR COLESVILLE LMA H19 & F20250680
****In the body of your email repeat:
“Please include me as a party of record for COLESVILLE LMA H19 & F20250680.”
Your name, email, property address and phone number
[That’s it, you don’t have to say anything else]
****Sending this email using the words “Party of record” will identify the large number of neighbors that are concerned about the Colesville Townhouse application and also keeps you on an email list to be informed of key information
Please copy & share with your neighbors
***********************
NEWS UPDATE ON THE PROJECT:
This week, our attorney, Michele Rosenfeld shared this vital info:
The MoCo Planning Board Staff were not satisfied with the Developer’s application and identified deficiencies (click to see full comments). They requested the Developer revise their application to address these issues:
Master Plan
- staff still deciding whether project meets White Oak master plan (p1)
Compatibility with Existing Community
- consider other layout options (p2)
- long multi-unit townhouses "overpowers the character" of single family homes across street (p4)
- current layout "does not offer compatibility" with the established residential community (p4)
- staff provides other layouts that include townhouses just not as many (p4)
Traffic
- address MCDOT’s comments about Developer's Traffic Study* (p7)
- Park and Planning Commission plans to submit further comments (p7)
Height of Townhouses
- justify 60’ height (p3)
Parking
- parking appears insufficient (p3)
Stormwater
- submit a storm drain study if necessary (p4)
Green space and sidewalks
- maybe connect green space with Sr homes and park (p3)
- maybe increase green space along Notley Rd (p5)
- widen proposed sidewalks (p5-6)
Schools and Sewer
- no comments yet about schools or sewer to our knowledge
*MCDOT’s comments on the Developer’s Traffic Study is not yet public. We have asked the Planning Board to make it public. We are concerned that the Traffic Study did not take into account the federal return to work orders and thus may be misleading. We’ll review MCDOT’s comments and decide on further actions.
Addressing all these bulleted issues could take the Developer weeks or months and may push back the review/hearing timetable. Consequently, we are not yet engaging the engineer, and Michele is doing a very short review of the proposal/waiting for the Developer’s updated application in order to provide counsel.
In the coming week, Michele is notifying the MoCo Planning Board Staff that she is the ATTORNEY OF RECORD representing us—THIS HAS A BIG IMPACT ON THE PLANNING BOARD STAFF. Being represented by legal counsel results in the project plans being reviewed very carefully. There is also the assumption that our community/legal counsel will file an appeal if the approvals are not to our liking (but we have no commitment to file the appeal).
In her representation, Michele will be able to manage testimony, cross examine witnesses for the Developer, call witnesses/experts etc.