County Council Considers Legislation to 
 Create an Urban District in Friendship Heights

The County Council is considering Expedited Bill 13-23, Montgomery County Urban Districts – Friendship Heights Urban District, which would create an urban district in the Friendship Heights area.  The bill was introduced by Council Vice President and District 1 representative Andrew Friedson, and would establish an urban district to provide funding for, and support the work of, The Friendship Heights Alliance, a nonprofit organization that works on behalf of businesses and residents in Friendship Heights to further economic vitality and strengthen community in the area.  

This legislation dovetails with legislation proposed by Washington, D.C. Ward 3 Councilmember Matthew Frumin to develop a Business Improvement District on the D.C. side of Friendship Heights.  The bill will also establish a five-member Friendship Heights Urban District Advisory Committee, expand the purposes of urban districts in the county, create a commercial district charge as an additional mechanism to fund an urban district, and generally amend the law concerning urban districts in the county.  

The Friendship Heights Urban Advisory Committee members must be appointed by the County Executive and confirmed by the Council. The proposed five-member committee would include two commercial property owners nominated by the Friendship Heights Alliance, one residential renter in the district, one residential property owner and one business owner nominated by the Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce. 

Montgomery County currently has urban districts to serve Wheaton, Bethesda and Silver Spring. 

The urban district boundaries and more information on the proposed legislation can be found here.  The bill will be reviewed during the council’s Economic Development Committee’s work session on Thursday, March 23 at 1:30 p.m.  Comments regarding the bill can be submitted to the council by email to county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov. 

CLICK HERE to view more information, including an Urban District FAQ Sheet, a map of the proposed district boundaries and information regarding the Friendship Heights Alliance.

Montgomery County Executive Elrich Releases 
Recommended Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget

Recommended Budget Includes a 10-Cent Increase in the
County’s Property Tax Rate to Fund MCPS Budget

This week, Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich released his recommended Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Operating Budget of $6.8 billion, which is an increase of 7.7 percent from the FY23 approved all funds budget (County Government plus outside agencies.) The recommended FY24 budget reflects record level and significant investments for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS), Montgomery College, affordable housing, economic development, public safety, and efforts to combat climate change.

To access the entire recommended FY24 budget, click here. To watch the County Executive's FY24 recommended budget presentation, click here. 

The County Charter requires the County Executive to present a recommended budget by March 15 of each year. The recommended budget will be reviewed by the County Council over the next two months. The Council will adopt the new County budget in late May. The new budget will go into effect on July 1.   Click here to view the full budget press release.

County Committee Against Hate/Violence Antisemitism 
Panel Discussion: Wednesday, March 22

Montgomery County Council Executive Marc Elrich, County Council President Evan Glass, and Councilmember Andrew Friedson are among those expected to join the County Committee Against Hate/Violence (CAHV) panel discussion on “Anti-Semitism in Montgomery County” at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 22. The in-person event will be held at the County’s Executive Office Building, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville, will be viewable online at https://www.facebook.com/CountyCableMoCo.

The County Committee Against Hate/Violence is a division of the County’s Office of Human Rights. The goal of the CAHV antisemitism panel discussion is to create greater community awareness of how antisemitism is defined and how the problem affects all residents.   

For further information, contact Craig Simon at Califcraig@yahoo.com or 818-406-4953;  Richard W. Allen at rwallen4equity@comcast.net or 301-366-9361; or James Stowe, director of the County Office of Human Rights, at JamesStowe@montgomerycountymd.gov or 240-888-5502.  CLICK HERE view the full event press release.

Public Comments Welcomed on the Draft FY 2024 Budget

The Chevy Chase Village Board of Managers held a work session on February 27 to review the proposed operating and capital budgets for the fiscal year that will begin on July 1, 2023 and end on June 30, 2024, as prepared by the Village Manager and staff. The Board will invite comments on the draft budget and tax rate during the second of two public hearings at its regular meeting on Monday, April 10. The meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. 
 
Copies of the budget summary and details are available on the Village website, and hard copies can be obtained at the Village office. Residents may submit written comments (c/o the Village office by email to ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov) in advance of the April 10 hearing.
 
Budget details, and the PowerPoint video recording of the Budget Work Session can be accessed by clicking on the below link: 

https://www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/401/Proposed-FY2024-Budget-CIP

A report from Board Treasurer Mr. Gary Crockett along with a summary of the proposed budget will be included in the April issue of the Crier. The Board’s second Public Hearing on the budget will be held during its Monday, April 10 meeting.  The FY2024 budget and tax rates will be adopted during the Village’s Annual Meeting, to be held Monday, April 17.

Public Hearing on Planning Board's Draft of 
the County's Proposed Pedestrian Master Plan

Thursday, March 23 at the Planning Board Headquarters in Wheaton

The county’s Planning Board has released the Pedestrian Master Plan Public Hearing Draft and associated public hearing date.

The Pedestrian Master Plan is the first countywide plan in Montgomery County to make recommendations to improve the pedestrian experience in a holistic way. An important element in the county’s 2017 Vision Zero Action Plan and 2021 Climate Action Plan, the Pedestrian Master Plan supports the Thrive Montgomery 2050 goal to “develop a safe, comfortable and appealing network for walking, biking and rolling.” The plan documents the pedestrian experience in Montgomery County today and makes recommendations in line with national and international best practices to improve the pedestrian experience, from more and better places to cross the street to a data-driven, equity-focused approach for the county's future pedestrian/bicycle capital investments.

The Planning Board’s public hearing will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023, in the Auditorium of the Wheaton Headquarters Building at 2425 Reedie Drive, Wheaton, MD. To check the approximate hearing time, or to sign up to testify, go to https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/agendas/. There is also an option to join the public hearing virtually with online streaming and public testimony. Online access can be found at the following link: https://montgomeryplanningboard.org/meetings/watch-online/.

Read the Public Hearing Draft at www.montgomeryplanning.org/walkinghere.

Historic Preservation Tax Credit

Village property owners who, during calendar year 2022, performed repairs, restoration, or preservation of exterior features on homes located within the Chevy Chase Village Historic District or on homes individually designated as a historic site may be eligible for both County and State historic preservation tax credits, but applicants must apply before April 1, 2023.

For more information about the Montgomery Planning Historic Preservation Tax Credit Program, visit their website: https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/historic/tax-credit-program/

Spring Toddler and Baby Music Classes

Registration Now Open

Meadowlark Music will begin its Spring 2023 Toddler and Baby Music classes on April 12. The class has become so popular with community residents that a third class has been added.  Please click on the linked image below for the full registration form. 

Save the Date: Wednesday, April 19 at 7:30 p.m. 
in the Chevy Chase Village Hall

Celebrate Earth Week with a presentation on RainScapes Gardening

“How to design a beautiful space that captures stormwater and creates a haven for nature year round”, presented by Ann English, RainScapes Program Manager at Montgomery County Dept. of Environmental Protection.

RainScapes is a landscape or design technique that helps reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties.  If you’re interested in learning more about this program, please visit the RainScapes website: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/water/rainscapes/

*Please remember that stormwater management projects require a Chevy Chase Village Building Permit.  Contact ccvpermitting@montgomerycountymd.gov for information.

-Presented by the Environment and Energy Committee

Impacts of the May 11, 2023 End to the
National COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Declaration

On January 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced it will end the COVID-19 public health emergency (and national emergency) declarations on May 11, 2023.  

The US Department of Health & Human Services has issued a Fact Sheet outlining the effects of this announcement.  CLICK HERE to view the guidance.

Access to COVID-19 Test Kits and N-95 Masks; 
 Vaccine Access & Information

In partnership with Montgomery County, the Village continues to provide COVID-19 rapid (antigen) test kits and N-95 masks at no charge.  Test kits are available at the Village Hall with a limit of two (2) boxes per person, per visit while supplies last.  

Residents can also obtain free rapid test kits at county libraries during regular operating hours. The nearest is the Chevy Chase Library, located at 8005 Connecticut Avenue, or go online to view the complete list of county library locations.  

For those who may prefer to receive them by mail, test kits are available to be delivered to your home by USPS through the federal distribution program by visiting https://www.covid.gov/tests or calling 1-800-232-0233 (limit one shipment per household).

The CDC recommends everyone stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines and bivalent boosters for their age group:

1. Children and teens aged 6 months–17 years
2. Adults aged 18 years and older
3. People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised have different recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.

To find COVID-19 vaccine locations, visit the  Maryland Department of Health website, or call 1-855-MDGOVAX (1-855-634-6829).   To view available testing sites in the county (government operated and private), visit: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/covid19/testing.html.

RainScapes Program Rebates

RainScapes is a landscape or design technique that helps reduce stormwater runoff from individual properties. From February 1 through March 31, the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection will accept online applications for rebates of up to $7,500 for RainScapes projects on residential properties .

Visit RainScapes.org for more information about the program and help in selecting and planning a project. Also see the FAQ page.

NOTE: Stormwater management projects on private property require a Building Permit from the Village.  If you are planning a project, please contact the Village at ccvpermitting@montgomerycountymd.gov for more information.

Help Village Staff Keep the Community Safe and Beautiful

Report Areas for Repair and Maintenance

Village staff prides itself on being responsive and working hard to ensure that the Village remains a safe, beautiful and welcoming community—but we cannot do it alone. While we are constantly on the lookout for areas that need to be addressed, we need the support of residents serving as our eyes and ears throughout the community:
 
Sidewalk Repairs
The Village maintains brick paver sidewalks throughout the community. The brick pavers are not mortared and are set on a bluestone base to allow the sidewalks to gradually move as adjacent tree roots grow.  Compared to the former concrete sidewalks, the dry-laid brick pavers are much easier for Public Works staff to repair by removing and resetting sections that have shifted.  This is ongoing maintenance that our crews perform throughout the year as trip hazards are identified by staff or are brought to our attention by residents.
  
Tree Maintenance
There are well over 2,500 “public” trees located within Village parks, greenspaces and public right-of-way.  The Village’s consulting Arborist and our Director of Public Works perform routine assessments for tree maintenance needs including areas for pruning, removals or treatments to improve a tree’s health.  These assessments supplement our ongoing response to observations made by staff and residents.
  
How to Report an Issue or Concern
Residents can use the Village’s online form system to report any number of issues or concerns, by visiting: https://www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/RequestTracker.aspx. From this page, residents can report sidewalk trip hazards and streetlight outages, and request public tree maintenance and recycling toters. 
 
As always, residents may also call the Village’s 24-hour Communications Center or email uests/concerns to the Village’s main email address at ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov (emails are then routed to the appropriate department).
 
Thank you for helping us to continue addressing the needs of the community! 

Join the Village Listserv on Groups.io

CCVillage (CCVillage@Groups.io), is the neighborhood mailing list (listserv) for residents of Chevy Chase Village.  CCVillage is a resource to allow neighbors to stay connected with one another other.  Click for more information and to join the listserv.