ROCKVILLE RESIDENTS DIVIDED ON LONGER COUNCIL TERMS AT PUBLIC HEARING

Rockville residents had the opportunity to address the Mayor and Council on the proposed lengthening of 2-year elected terms to 4 years at a public hearing last night. A majority of city voters supported the proposal on last November's ballot. Far fewer turned out to speak at the hearing Monday night at City Hall.

Former city councilmember Mark Pierzchala testified in favor of the change, but lamented the "construct" of the less than 17% of registered voters who voted speaking for the other 83%. Pierzchala, an expert on surveys and statistics, urged the mayor and council to put a second issue - moving city elections to presidential years - back on the ballot again in 2015. That particular calendar change was rejected by city voters in 2013. This time, Pierzchala suggested, the ballot question language should include a statement explaining the benefit intended by the initiative's supporters - namely, increasing voter turnout.

Resident Joe Jordan, who served on the Rockville Charter Review Commission, noted that the majority of voters who didn't turn out last November had the same chance to vote as those who did. Jordan also spoke in support of 4-year terms Monday night.

Twinbrook Civic Association President Christina Ginsberg was more skeptical of the change. Ginsberg said elected officials' efforts to avoid frequent elections, and put forward additional changes that would favor incumbents, were "very dangerous." She recommended the council take the opposite approach, and make changes that would reduce the advantages of incumbency. Such changes, she said, could motivate new challengers to run. Ginsberg mentioned several ideas, including public financing, campaign finance reform, and a limit on how many mailings city candidates could send out.

Another resident, who lives in the Rockshire neighborhood, said she and her husband specifically chose to move to Rockville 37 years ago for its frequent elections, which she believed made municipal government more accountable.

The Mayor and Council are now expected to act on the change to 4 year terms, on the basis of voters' recommendation last November.

CENTRA CARE INSTALLS SIGN ON ROCKVILLE PIKE (PHOTOS)

Adventist HealthCare's urgent care facility, Centra Care, has posted a coming soon sign at its future home on Rockville Pike. The no-wait, no-reservation clinic is expected to open in late 2014 at 750 Rockville Pike.

Artist rendering of the future
Centra Care urgent care center

Top photo: RockvilleNights.com
Bottom photo courtesy Adventist HealthCare

DORITOS JACKED TEST FLAVOR 404 REVIEW (VIDEO)

It's time to try out the second of 3 mystery Doritos Jacked "test flavors." This time, it's the yellow-label Doritos Jacked Test Flavor 404. The ingredients include molasses, brown sugar, onion, garlic, and two kinds of citrus. What does that add up to?

Watch my review and find out! Plus our expert tells us what he's doing to get ready for the World Cup games.

ROCKVILLE PIKE PLAN VOTE DELAYED

The Rockville Planning Commission delayed its scheduled vote on the new Rockville Pike master plan at last night's meeting, in order to give the Mayor and Council, the public, and other interested parties time to study the finished draft. Given that an official transmission of the draft would trigger a 60-day review by the Mayor and Council, several commissioners expressed concern that summer would not afford the maximum time and attention to review of the document.

Following two hours of discussion, the commission voted unanimously on 3 straw votes, worded by commissioners David Hill and Jack Leiderman. The first vote was to direct the planning department to draw attention to the publication of the final draft plan on the city website. Second was to delay the formal vote in order to allow all interested parties time to review the many changes to the final draft. A final vote asked the Mayor and Council to provide "timely" advice regarding the timeframe in which it is prepared to begin the formal 60-day review process. This would likely include at least one public hearing.

Planning staff sought a more formal directive from the commission, but Assistant City Attorney Marcy Waxman backed the commissioners' decision to rely on a straw vote. Several commissioners said they wanted to avoid any sort of formal vote before giving elected officials a chance to review the plan. Now the exact calendar will be determined by the Mayor and Council's response to the commission's action. Commission chair Don Hadley requested the planning staff assist him in drafting a communication to the Mayor and Council regarding the body's decision.

Commissioner Dion Trahan expressed some disappointment in the delay of the plan's approval, saying enough feedback had already been received on the plan. "I have to work in the summer," he added, suggesting the vacation season shouldn't impact the work of city officials. He and Commissioner Charles Littlefield both stated that municipal governments need to be efficient in their land-use decisions. Leiderman noted that many significant changes had been made, and that all affected parties needed sufficient time to review what is essentially a new document.

The next move will be determined by the Mayor and Council. It certainly makes sense, given that it is difficult to get any meaningful public participation during the summer vacation months.

WHAT'S LEFT OF THE HISTORIC PINK BANK IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

What's left? Not much. The demolition of the historic Suburban Trust Building at 255 N. Washington Street may well be the most shameful land-use decision by the city since its disastrous "urban renewal" of the 1960s. Virtually the entire historic downtown was demolished back then, in contrast to Maryland cities like Frederick and Hagerstown, who have maintained their original downtowns as desirable assets. This recent demolition was opposed by Rockville's Historic District Commission, as well as by historic preservationists in the city.

The demise of the "Pink Bank" not only cost Rockville a rare example of New Formalist architecture, and a historic building that represented the primacy of the suburban lifestyle that defines Rockville. It also eliminated the "sense of place" developers often cite facetiously. Whether you liked the Pink Bank, or not, you knew exactly where you were when you passed it. The same cannot be said of the cookie-cutter town centers around the DC area, with few exceptions. All the same restaurants, shops and indistinguishable architecture leave the visitor puzzled and unimpressed. Why go "there," when all the same stuff is "here?"

Remnants of the bank's
drive-thru

The bank's drive-thru gate
is still standing

Just a pile

Mixed-use development
will replace the Pink Bank

SIGNAGE INSTALLED AT EVEN HOTEL IN ROCKVILLE (PHOTOS)

Construction workers were busy in the lobby, but some major outdoor work had already been accomplished at the soon-to-open EVEN Hotel on Rockville Pike. Permanent signage has now been installed, so this is how it will appear to busy travelers driving along the Pike (MD 355).

The completely-renovated hotel at 1775 Rockville Pike was most recently known as the Legacy Hotel. Now Rockville has bragging rights to one of the first EVEN hotels in the country, a new IHG brand marketed as upscale lodging for health-conscious travelers. A second hotel, Cambria Suites, is currently under construction in Rockville Town Center.

NIGHTSWATCH: ROCKVILLE CRIME UPDATE

Here's a roundup of crimes reported across Rockville on June 13, according to crime data:

Theft. 1500 block Rockville Pike.

Theft. Unit block of W. Montgomery Avenue.

Vehicle burglary. Beall Avenue at Gibbs Street.

Assault. 300 block Prettyman Drive (King Farm).

Theft. 300 block Martins Lane.

Theft from vehicle. 100 block Rockville Pike.

Assault. 1500 block Rockville Pike.

Stolen car. 11600 block Nebel Street.