TOWN CENTER PHASE II, BIKEWAY MASTER PLAN ON ROCKVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA FOR OCTOBER 22

A new 6-story, mixed-use apartment building with 6000 SF of ground floor retail is on the agenda for the Rockville Planning Commission next Wednesday, October 22. The 275-unit building replaces the historic Suburban Trust Building, tragically demolished earlier this year at 255 N. Washington Street. It is one of several Town Center Phase II projects underway, with others by JBG and Brightview also moving forward.

The meeting will also include a work session on the Rockville Bikeway Master Plan, the results of which will impact automobile travel and parking in the city as much as cyclists. Wednesday's meeting will be at 7:00 PM, in the Mayor and Council Chambers at City Hall, and also broadcast live on Channel 11.

WATTS BRANCH PARKWAY CLOSED BETWEEN HURLEY AVE. & INGLESIDE COURT FOR WATER MAIN BREAK IN ROCKVILLE

A water main break will keep Watts Branch Parkway closed between Hurley Avenue and Ingleside Court for up to several days. No customers are without water at this time, says the City of Rockville Public Works Department, which is currently repairing the break. Running cold water will help flush any discoloration of water away, they say. Should air become trapped in your pipes, they suggest slowly turning on all faucets in your home, starting on the highest floor and working downward.

NEW SPECIALS AND EVENTS AT 82 STEAK-OUT IN ROCKVILLE

82 Steak-Out in Rockville Town Square has several new specials, and October promotions, you'll want to check out.

First, there are 5 new lunch Sandwich Specials: The Adrian, Leaving Las Vegas, A Fish Called Wanda, The Italian Job, and The God Father - all under $9, and they include a side order of hand-cut fries.

There are 4 new weeknight promotions, as well:

Monday Night- “Thirst and 10” - Happy Hour specials available all night long.
4:00pm-9:30pm

Tuesday Night-“Penne Night” - $11.82
Choose your sauce: Bolognese, Amatriciana, Pesto, Quattro Formaggi and Salmone (includes mixed green salad).
4:00pm-9:30pm

Wednesday Night- “Wine Down” - 50% off of all wine bottles.
4:00pm-9:30pm

Thursday Night-“Thirsty Thursday” - Happy Hour specials available all night long.
4:00pm-9:30pm

Finally, don't miss these special days coming up this month:

Tuesday, October 21: National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day. Home-made pumpkin cheesecake served all day.

Wednesday, October 22: National Nut Day. Subscribe to, and mention, their newsletter, and you'll get a free Dark Chocolate Brownie with vanilla bean ice cream and walnuts.

Friday, October 24: National Bologna Day. They'll be celebrating with Lasagna Bolognese, rather than sandwich meat - and Italian wines with that lasagna will be 50% off.

Saturday, October 25: National Pasta Day. They'll be offering the Tuesday night Penne Night specials on a rare Saturday, from 5:00-10:00 PM. Mention the newsletter again to get the deal.

82 Steak-Out

101 Gibbs Street, #C 

240.428.1295

MONTGOMERY COUNTY COUNCIL AT-LARGE DEBATE (VIDEO) + HOW TO REGISTER TO VOTE

Montgomery Community Media and the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County hosted a Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Forum last night. You can watch the debate in its entirety here. Candidates from the Democratic, Green and Republican parties participated in the forum, which included transportation, Bus Rapid Transit, the Silver Spring Transit Center debacle, and affordable housing among its topics.

Today is the deadline to register to vote in the November 4 election. You can register today online or go to the Board of Elections office in person at 18753 North Frederick Avenue, Suite 210, Gaithersburg, MD 20879. If you have questions, call 240-777-8500.

Early voting will be available for all registered voters between October 23 and October 30 at these early voting sites around the county.

ROCKVILLE CONSTRUCTION UPDATE: THE UPTON/CAMBRIA SUITES (PHOTOS)

Things are coming along quite nicely at the construction site of the future Cambria Suites hotel and Upton apartments in Rockville Town Center.

TACO BELL ROCKVILLE STARBURST STRAWBERRY FREEZE REVIEW (VIDEO)

Rockville's Taco Bell has a brand new Freeze beverage, and it's another collaboration with a major food brand. The Mexican fast food chain has teamed up with Starburst candy to create... the Taco Bell Starburst Strawberry Freeze. A slush-style frozen beverage, the Starburst Freeze is available in regular size and large. Does it really taste like a Starburst, and is it worth heading to Rockville Pike for? Watch my review and find out!

ROCKVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION REJECTS DUBALL PLAN FOR MORE DENSITY, LESS PARKING IN TOWN CENTER

The new building would be
on the site of the parking lot
pictured at upper left

The Rockville Planning Commission is recommending the Mayor and Council reject proposed changes to the second phase of the Duball project in Rockville Town Center. Duball has filed a request to nearly double the number of units in its planned apartment building at 198 E. Montgomery Avenue from 222 to 400, while reducing parking by 25%. The building would rise on the second half of the former city parking lot in front of the Regal Cinemas.

Commissioners were convinced it was too much, too soon for Rockville Town Center. Chair Don Hadley said he would not necessarily oppose the change at a later date, but not at this stage of the town center's development. One central question was whether the nature of the town center has been fully defined or realized yet. It seems to be primarily a dining destination right now, and just how urban it should become - compared to Bethesda, for example - is not yet determined, in Hadley's assessment. Parking is felt to remain a concern in town center, and was the developer's albatross at last night's meeting.

Ultimately, the Commission voted 4-1 to recommend non-approval of the request, with the motion being made by Commissioner Jack Leiderman. Commissioner John Tyner, the lone dissenting member, argued that the increased density would be essential to the commercial viability of Rockville Town Center. Several tenants have vacated, or been evicted from, Rockville Town Square over the last few months. Some have blamed rising rents, while others feel the parking situation is responsible, relative to the free and easy parking offered by nearby competition like Rio/Washingtonian Center.

Duball's phase 1 project is already under construction across from the proposed new building site, featuring The Upton apartments, and a Cambria Suites hotel.