Comments on: Library site paved with housing funds

By: WeCanDoBetter

WeCanDoBetter — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 18:11:49 +0000

I appreciate the explanation given by Mr. Kreger. I understand the logic behind his statements. Look at the new Rockville Town Center. Although I like the way they use a mix of retail and residential establishments in the new Town Center, when you pass the Town Center on Rockville Pike, it looks like a fortress because of the high buildings. The buildings located on the periphery of the new Town Center should have been smaller.

By: Astonished

Astonished — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:48:02 +0000

Isn’t it astonishing the amount of anaylysis and wrenching that our tax dollars pay for with the planning department? All this over THREE stories (30′) in a proposed building in the middle of a very urban area. Puh-leez.

By: Glenn Kreger

Glenn Kreger — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:52:20 +0000

The proposed library site is located within the Fenton Village Overlay Zone. The Overlay Zone limits building heights to 1) create a neighborhood with a scale that is less than the scale in the Core; 2) encourage compatibility with existing buildings in Fenton Village; and 3) ensure a transition between the intense uses in the Core and the neighborhoods surrounding the downtown. Although the zone provides height incentives to encourage new housing, the need to ensure a transition in building heights was considered important even if individual properties cannot maximize the density that would otherwise be possible under the base zone.

With regard to the proposed library site, the site’s base zone (CBD-1)could accommodate a building up to 90′ tall if the Planning Board determines that height in excess of 60′ would not adversely affect surrounding properties. Since the standards in the Fenton Village Overlay Zone supercede the standards in the base zone, a new building on the proposed library site is currently limited to 60′ in height along Fenton Street; however, the height may increase to 90′ if the project is at least one-third residential and the building is stepped back from Fenton Street. (Note: Such a stepping back in building height was approved for The Adele project a block to the south on Fenton Street.) The result would be a gradual transition in building height: 143′ at the Crescent on Wayne Avenue; then 90′ at the proposed library site; then 60′ for buildings along Fenton Street. The possible inclusion of a Purple Line station at the proposed library site does not presently affect the maximum height limits specified in the Zoning Ordinance.

Glenn Kreger, Silver Spring/Takoma Park Team Leader
M-NCPPPC

By: Editor

Editor — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 15:33:23 +0000

This editor has been edited or deleted.

By: Tom Collins

Tom Collins — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 19:15:15 +0000

Editor’s note: This comment has been deleted.

By: Tom Collins

Tom Collins — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 18:27:58 +0000

Worm… I didn’t make any reference to new site *not* getting affordable housing. Gary Stith already posted on this thread that the new site *is* getting it. I was suggesting it at the “old” site. FYI… “old” site is about a five minute walk from the “new” site.

Editor’s note: This comment has been edited for content.

By: Bob

Bob — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 15:45:19 +0000

Quoting from johnny blaze:

“Amazing. You’re complaining that you can’t afford Silver Spring. Then you say your “constraints” prevent you from living anywhere but one of the town’s most high-dollar zip codes. And the alternative you present is to move to Rockville. Incredible.”

Actually, that’s not so incredible if you know that there is an orthodox synagogue at the corner of Noyes and Georgia. Presumably Mr. Zakar has to be able to walk to the synagogue from his home. Also presumably he could walk to a another synagogue if he found a home near one in Rockville, but his options are, indeed, limited.

By: Bookworm

Bookworm — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 14:18:53 +0000

Tom, why not allow the inclusion of affordable housing at the new library site, where the county has planned for it. By suggesting it move somewhere else provides further evidence of your NIMBYism and not wanting any new development to help lower income folk close to your home.

Editor's note: Play nice, people!

By: Tom Collins

Tom Collins — Fri, 10 Aug 2007 00:51:31 +0000

How about affordable housing units being built at the site that the library will be vacating?

By: johnny blaze

johnny blaze — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 22:26:48 +0000

Amazing. You're complaining that you can't afford Silver Spring. Then you say your "constraints" prevent you from living anywhere but one of the town's most high-dollar zip codes. And the alternative you present is to move to Rockville. Incredible.

My problem with this entire discussion (the claims that Silver Spring is too expensive in comparison with other comparable suburbs surrounding other major cities) is that it's an argument being waged with *anecdotal* information. Until we introduce some real economic, racial diversity, and home value data into this conversation it's pointless.

Yes, home values have increased here over the last half-decade, but a home in Silver Spring is not out of reach for people with modest incomes--that is if you broaden your view of what constitutes "the real Silver Spring". There's plenty of great housing in White Oak, etc. Sorry, you're not going to find a home in Woodside for less than $500,000.

This isn't my final post on this matter. I'm searching for some of the data we've all been grasping for here...