PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE
Residency Requirement for Access to the
Brookville Road Park Dog Exercise Area

The Chevy Chase Village Board of Managers will convene a Public Hearing during its regular meeting on Monday, May 13, 2019 regarding implementation of a residency requirement for access to the Dog Exercise Area at the Brookville Road Park.  The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.
 
Residents who reside directly abutting or near the park have voiced concerns regarding nuisances related to the Dog Exercise Area, including excessive barking from dogs and impacts on available parking on the abutting streets.  These neighbors feel that these impacts are a result of overuse of the park and that limiting access to Village residents will mitigate these impacts by lessening the number of people/pets that have access to the park. 
 
Residents who are unable to attend the Public Hearing on May 13 may submit written testimony for the record either by e-mail to ccv@montgomerycountymd.gov or directly to the Village office at 5906 Connecticut Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD 20815.

Tomorrow!
Please Join Friends of Chevy Chase Circle

Saturday, May 4, 9am-12noon, “Help Trim the Azaleas on the Circle” event. Grab a hand clipper and come on out. Sponsored by the Friends of Chevy Chase Circle and Chevy Chase BSA Troop & Crew 255. 

Saturday, May 25, 8:30am-12noon, BSA Troop 255 will be inviting the community to help pull the invasive ivy that has spread amongst the rose bushes and the azalea. Bring trimmers and wear long sleeves. 

For any questions, please email: info@friendsofCCC.org

Village Officials Formally Request Reevaluation
of the Pedestrian Crossing on
Connecticut Avenue at Lenox Street

For several years, the Village has been actively pursuing a safe means for pedestrians to cross Connecticut Avenue, as ours is the only municipality inside the beltway that is bisected by a State road. In 2016, the State Highway Administration (SHA) installed a pedestrian crossing and flashing beacon on Connecticut Avenue at Lenox Street, despite concerns and initial objections raised by the Village that the flashing beacons would be insufficient to ensure safe access for pedestrians.  Since the beacons were activated, the Village’s Police Department has actively enforced for driver compliance and conducted two focused enforcement stings, one of which was conducted with the assistance of the Montgomery County Police Department.  Nonetheless, the feedback received from many residents is that they continue to feel it is unsafe to cross and drivers comment that they either did not see the flashing beacons or weren’t aware that they were required to stop when a pedestrian is attempting to cross.
 
Last year, in response to these observations, the Village’s Pedestrian Safety Committee began meeting to discuss moving forward with a renewed request for a three-color signal (similar to the signal located near Connecticut Avenue and Woodbine Street) or a HAWK signal (this technology was installed by SHA in front of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School on East –West Highway).  This week, the committee submitted a letter to the SHA Administrator, Mr. Gregory Slater, formally requesting reconsideration for either a three-color or HAWK signal.  A copy of the letter can be viewed on the Village website by clicking on the below link:
 
Letter to SHA Administration
 
The committee hopes to receive a formal response from Mr. Slater in the coming weeks.  In the interim, residents are reminded to CROSS WITH CAUTION when using the pedestrian crosswalk on Connecticut Avenue at Lenox Street.  This pedestrian crosswalk is NOT A THREE-COLOR SIGNAL, therefore, THERE IS NO RED LIGHT that will signal drivers along Connecticut Avenue to stop.  Drivers are not required to stop for the flashing beacons nor are they required to stop while a pedestrian remains on the curb.
 
When using the crosswalk, please remember the following:

• Wait for a break in traffic.
• Press the button to activate the yellow flashing beacons.
• An audible message will play alerting you that the flashing beacons have been activated (please remove earbuds and headphones so you can hear this message) and will continue for the duration of the flashers’ activation: “Yellow flashers activated for Connecticut; cross with caution”.
• TRAFFIC IS NOT REQUIRED TO STOP unless a pedestrian is within the crosswalk.
• DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CROSS UNLESS YOU ARE SURE THAT IT IS SAFE TO DO SO. 
• The flashing beacons may stop flashing before you are able to completely cross Connecticut Avenue.  The beacons are programmed to flash for 32 seconds, which may not provide sufficient time for pedestrians to wait until it is safe to cross and safely do so.

 
Village Police continue to monitor for driver compliance, but it is abundantly important that pedestrians use the crosswalk with utmost care and caution and that drivers heed the flashing lights and remain alert for pedestrians in the crosswalk. 

Western Grove Park Fountain Plaza

Work Scheduled for the Week of May 6-10

Masons will be onsite at Western Grove Park next week (May 6-10) to make alterations to the plaza area immediately in front of the decorative fountain. Protective fencing will be in place and pedestrian circulation through the plaza should not be affected. The work is expected to last the week, weather permitting. Please observe the fenced area restriction and contact Municipal Operations Coordinator Ellen Sands at the Village Hall (301) 654-7300 if you have any questions.

Procedures for Disposal of Latex Paint

Latex paint cannot be disposed of within the regular trash, nor will the county accept it through its hazardous waste program.  For years, we have instructed residents to place kitty litter or other commercially available drying agents into the wet cans, wait for the paint to dry and then enclose the cans within their regular trash.  This process requires some effort and time.  Unfortunately, many latex paint cans have not been successfully dried prior to placement in the household trash, and these cans have leaked onto Village roadways and in the back of the trash trucks causing a mess and damage.
 
Both to assist our residents and to prevent paint cans from leaking, the Village has established the following policy to ensure latex paint cans are sufficiently dried prior to disposal:

• When you are preparing to dispose of latex paint cans, proceed to add either kitty litter or another commercially-available drying agent (available at local hardware stores) to the can.
• Once you feel that the paint can has sufficiently dried, contact the Village Communications Center or visit the Village website to complete a Public Works Order form to request a “paint can check”.  The can(s) must be placed in an easily accessible exterior location (in the vicinity of your refuse/recycling containers or on your driveway is best).
• Once your request is received by the Village, a Public Works employee will be sent to your home, typically within two business days, to determine if the cans are sufficiently dry.
• If the can is sufficiently dry, Public Works staff will place a green sticker on the top of the can approving it for safe disposal.
• If the can is not sufficiently dry, Public Works will affix a red sticker to the top of the can indicating that either additional time or application of more kitty litter or drying agents are necessary.
• Once a can receives a green sticker, you may proceed to place the can in a bag along with your regular household trash.

 
Should you have any questions regarding this policy, please contact the Village office.  Thank you for your cooperation.

Beach Drive Rehabilitation Project: Wise Road through 

Rock Creek Park to be Closed Beginning April 27 

The three year project to completely rehabilitate Beach Drive is in its final phase. 
 
Wise Road NW between Oregon Avenue NW and Beach Drive NW has now been closed to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists until fall. The closure is to allow construction on Beach Drive and to completely resurface Wise Road. The road will stay closed until the Beach Drive Rehabilitation project is complete. The project is scheduled to end in fall 2019.

Beach Drive is currently closed from Joyce Road NW to Wise Road NW and from Wise Road NW to the Maryland - District of Columbia Border. The closure applies to drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.  Look under Work Updates on the Park Service’s trail closure map for alternate routes.

For more information including alternate route maps, visit:

https://www.nps.gov/rocr/learn/management/beach-drive-rehabilitation.htm

Sustainable Maryland, an initiative of the Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland, is pleased to invite residents of Montgomery County homeowners associations, civic associations, neighborhood groups, congregations, businesses and engaged residents to attend the second.

Beware of Mulch Volcanoes

As landscape crews begin spring garden cleanups, please be sure they do not create the infamous “mulch volcanoes” which cause damage to trees. 

Deciduous trees can benefit from the application of a 2-3” layer of mulch around the base of the tree. The mulch can help maintain moisture, reduce weed germination and protect trunks from lawn care equipment. Mulch materials can be shredded hardwood, pine bark, pine fines or compost. Unfortunately, over-zealous landscape crews frequently apply too much material and mound mulch against the trunk of the tree, hence the term “mulch volcanoes”. This is detrimental to the health of the tree and can cause serious decline. Remember not to pile the mulch around the stem of the tree.

Visit the following website for tree care tips, including an article detailing proper mulching technique:

http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/mulching.aspx

Please be a Considerate Owner/Handler at the
Brookville Road Dog Park

Are You Prepared?

As we have experienced during various seasonal events, it is important to be prepared for local weather emergencies. In order the assist residents in their preparedness, the Village in partnership with the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) offer a number of helpful tools, plans and free alerts to assist and keep you informed.

Village Website and Blast Email System – Have you signed up for the Village’s blast email system? This is the Village's primary method of communication with residents. The Village has 2 email lists you can sign-up for:

Urgent News Alert – include messages such as criminal activity, neighborhood disruptions such as water main breaks, power outages and road closures and major weather events.

General News Alerts – include messages about Board and committee meetings, community events, changes in public services such as refuse/recycling collection schedules and upcoming road closures.

To sign-up for the blast email system visit the Village website at www.chevychasevillagemd.gov and click on the tablet icon at the top of the Village’s homepage.
 

Alert Montgomery – Alert Montgomery is the official emergency communications service for Montgomery County, MD. During major crisis, emergency or severe weather events, Montgomery County will send event updates, warnings and instructions directly to you on any of your devices. To sign-up for Alert Montgomery please visit the OEMHS website www.montgomerycountymd.gov/oemhs and click on the “Alert Montgomery” link at the top of the page.

Family and Community Preparedness Information – Emergencies can take many forms and occur with or without warning. By taking a few simple steps now, you can ensure that you, your family and your community are better prepared to handle emergencies. To assist in your family planning, please visit the Village’s emergency preparedness page, www.chevychasevillagemd.gov/emergencyprep for helpful tools and links. Another important tool the Village has created to assist you in your preparedness efforts is our House Check Program. Always request a House Check when you are leaving town and ensure that your emergency contacts are up to date with the Village office.

For additional information please visit the Village’s website at www.chevychasevillagemd.gov and click on the “Are you prepared? – Emergency Preparedness Tips” link listed in the Quick Links on the homepage.

Emergency Contact Sheet

EMERGENCY - 911
 
Chevy Chase Village Police 
Non Emergency/24hrs - 301-654-7300

Montgomery County Police 
Non Emergency/24hrs - 301-279-8000

Bethesda - Chevy Chase Rescue Squad - 301-652-0077

Chevy Chase Fire Dept
(Opposite Columbia Country Club) - 240-773-4707

Bethesda Fire Dept
(Wisconsin Ave and Bradley Blvd) - 240-773-4706

National Capital Poison Center
(George Washington University Hospital) - 800-222-1222

Utilities
 

Potomac Electric Power Company (PEPCO)

Emergency-Live wires down, power failure - 877-737-2662

Customer Service - 202-833-7500

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission

Emergency - 301-206-4002

Complaints, Leaks, Information - 301-206-4001

Washington Gas

Emergency - 703-750-1400

Information & Customer Service - 703-750-1000

Comcast - 800-934-6489

Verizon - 800-837-4966

**A cut out sheet is also located on page two of the January 2019 Crier.

You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to receive general news updates from Chevy Chase Village. Did you know the Village sends out urgent news updates as well, click here to sign-up.