MoCo 911 outage another sign of growth outpacing infrastructure

The failure of Montgomery County's 911 emergency system last night and early this morning is another indication that infrastructure is not keeping pace with residential growth. It also underlined how our elected officials continue to fail in providing the most basic services - removing snow from sidewalks, plowing County roads, properly displaying the American flag on County property, delivering adequate school and road capacity for the development they approve, and now, answering 911 calls.

Most stunning was that the County failed to alert the public, leaving police and fire officials to have to report the outage to citizens. Police and fire accounts tweeted throughout the night. But the official Montgomery County executive branch social media accounts on Facebook and Twitter were silent through the night. Only around 6:00 AM, nearly five hours after basic 911 service was restored, did the @MontgomeryCoMD account retweet a Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services tweet regarding the outage, which reportedly began around 11:15 PM.

Some on social media reported having problems with the 911 system as early as last Friday. No reason for the outage has been released as of this writing.

Given that official announcements from the police and fire social media accounts came more than an hour after callers were reportedly first receiving busy signals, it suggests that the current 911 system does not alert operators when it fails. Whatever the cause, the outage was a deadly threat to the public. When every second counts, in a heart attack or stroke, or in a burglary or a house fire, the extra time to look up the number of the nearest police or fire station could be fatal.

This is the latest example of County infrastructure not keeping up with rapid residential development countywide.

Four years after Councilmember Hans Riemer took office promising to make Montgomery County the cybersecurity capital of the world, it was discovered the County government was still operating on Windows 2000, one of the most vulnerable platforms in the world.

And a damning 2016 State of Maryland audit of Montgomery County Public Schools uncovered a staggering number of cybersecurity weaknesses, leaving student information easily accessible to hackers. Cyber intruders, the audit revealed, could access "any destination on the MCPS network." Eighty-six business partners of the school system improperly have "network-level access to the entire MCPS network." And the installed version of the database holding student information hasn't been supported by its developer since January 2012. Oh, and did I mention that 75% of the workstations tested by auditors didn't have the current security updates downloaded?

While the County clearly needs to get back to basics, what's needed even more urgently are elected officials who can deliver those basic services and functions we elect them to provide.

Montgomery County 911 service is down

Montgomery County's 911 emergency line, and non-emergency police lines are temporarily down, according to the Montgomery County Police Department. They are advising citizens seeking police help to call their district station directly, which can be found online. 240-773-6070 is the number for the 1st District station in Rockville.

For fire and rescue, call your closest station directly, using this site.

No cause for the outage has been reported yet.

Rockville construction update: Congressional Plaza (Photos)

 

There's some mystery work going on at Congressional Plaza in Rockville, possibly related to utilities. All shops are open during the construction.

Applicant seeks delay for new Rockville Pike car rental business

Enteprise Rent-a-Car is asking the Rockville Planning Commission to grant it an extension from its approved site plan for 702 Rockville Pike. The company plans to convert the former Century Ford commercial truck sales property to a car rental facility, and add a 1-story car wash to the rear.

When the commission gave Enterprise its site plan approval on July 23, 2014, it had two years to begin construction. Applicants can request two extensions, which together cannot exceed 18 months.

In this case, when the commission approved the site plan, the plan was configured to comply with a demand by the Maryland State Highway Administration that the existing curb cut on the Pike side of the property be permanently closed. Through negotiations with Enterprise since, the SHA has withdrawn its objection to Pike access for the rental business.

The delay is required to now reconfigure the plan for access from the Pike. To do that, Enterprise must first get approval from City zoning chief Jim Wasilak on a minor plan amendment it has filed. While Enterprise expects to receive approval, attorney Stuart Barr says, it cannot get it if the site plan period expires later this month prior to Wasilak's decision.

The commission will take up the request at its July 13 meeting, scheduled for 7:00 PM at City Hall. Commissioners will also issue a recommendation on a controversial small cell tower zoning text amendment that evening.

Ourisman Rockmont Chevrolet expected to move to Wintergreen Plaza by November

Construction on the future Ourisman Rockmont Chevrolet dealership at Wintergreen Plaza in Rockville continues, and it's now larger than the renderings suggested. The moving schedule is starting to firm up, as well. A source at the dealership says they will likely have completed their move by this November.

Here's the interesting twist: One might expect the land the dealership currently sits on at 15301 N. Frederick Road to go up for sale, potentially opening up a prime redevelopment opportunity at a major crossroads. Instead, the land is now for lease by Avison Young.

Will the landmark giant U.S. flag make the move south, as well? Stay tuned.

Limitless Garage takes over Fleming's building on Rockville Pike

A new tenant has taken over the recently-vacated Fleming's Ultimate Garage building at 1400 Rockville Pike. Limitless Garage, Inc. will custom-build, buy, sell, and consign vehicles, according to its new Facebook page. They should be opening soon.

Fleming's has moved north to Lofstrand Lane.

Senior housing proposed for former site of IBM building in Rockville

Developer IDI 50 Monroe, LLC, is proposing to build an apartment building for independent seniors at 50 Monroe Place in Rockville. This is the former site of the IBM Building, which was demolished in 2006, right behind the Americana Center. The site has sat vacant since.

A 13-story, 120' tall building with 175 seniors-only apartment units is proposed, along with 47 garage parking spaces, a 15' sidewalk area along Monroe Place, and new public-use space adjacent to James Monroe Park, which is directly behind the property. No retail space is mentioned.

A public meeting is being held by the applicant on Monday, July 18, 2016, at 7:00 PM, in the 1st Floor meeting room at the Rockville Memorial Library at 21 Maryland Avenue. The applicant hopes to receive approval from the City by the end of next year, break ground in early 2018, and anticipates delivery in the summer of 2019.

In addition to the July meeting, a Development Review Committee meeting has already been tentatively scheduled for August 18 at 10:00 AM at City Hall.

The IDI Companies is not new to senior housing developments in Montgomery County. The Arlington-based firm has developed 7 multifamily senior housing projects at Leisure World in Silver Spring.