Thursday, April 30, 2015
Rockville homeowners forming solar energy co-op
The meeting will be at 7:00 PM, and you can register online.
This is only one of many alternative energy options out there. Homeowners should examine these programs carefully, and consider the pros and cons - as well as the age of their existing roof - before signing anything or installing solar panels.
Clark Reed, a Rockville Environment Commissioner, says that reverse metering will be available, and that residents who sign up in May will be able to get solar panels installed by September or October.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Twinbrook reelects citizen association officers, sets agenda for coming year
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
It's alive. Again. APFS proposal to return for "possible" vote in Rockville
Monday, April 27, 2015
Miso Café posts Coming Soon signage at Rockville Town Square (Photos)
Friday, April 24, 2015
Rockville Planning Commission grants schools waiver to hotel converting to senior housing
Commissioner Charles Littlefield expressed concern that the development, while limited to seniors, would impact the city's most overcrowded school, College Gardens ES, if it somehow ever generated any students. Erica Leatham of Ballard Spahr, LLP, the applicant's attorney, said that the only residents under 62 who could live in the building would be caregivers.
One related question to that was, what if sneaky parents try to use the former hotel's address to enroll their kids at College Gardens? Commissioner Jack Leiderman asked if the city could communicate to Montgomery County Public Schools that anyone applying from the address of 1380 Piccard Drive should be rejected by the school system. Staff Liaison Andrew Gunning affirmed that could be done.
Littlefield asked if the applicant intended to operate the housing once it opens. Leatham said it does for the immediate future, but added that it is impossible to speculate about a future transaction a decade down the road.
Commissioner David Hill questioned the demand for senior housing at that location. Leatham said that her own parents had recently applied to the Ingleside senior residence at King Farm, and were told it would be a 5-6 year wait. "There's clearly a pent-up demand," she said. Commissioner Anne Goodman noted that a friend of hers was accepted at Ingleside in only 7 months. Leatham jokingly said she would have to take that up that apparent discrepancy with Ingleside.
Thoughts on the hotel's current parking lot were mixed. Hill felt the opportunity exists to reduce parking in favor of more green space around the building. But Leiderman said that would not be advisable. It turns out there are only 216 parking spaces for the 203 units. That could easily be filled if only 13 residents had two cars. And that does not begin to include parking for caregivers and visitors. If anything, it appears parking would be at a premium.
"I don’t see a lot of seniors who are going to give up driving to live out by 270," Leiderman said, citing the poor access to rapid transit at the site alongside Interstate 270.
Otherwise, commissioners were in agreement on the main points of the waiver request Wednesday night. They voted unanimously to approve the waiver, which required a supermajority for approval. The motion was made by Commissioner John Tyner, and seconded by Goodman.
Thursday, April 23, 2015
Police seek more victims in Rockville sexual assault investigation
Montgomery County Police have arrested and charged a suspect in a February sexual assault in Rockville.
Warren Matthew Giddings, age 23, of the 11900 block of Castle Pines Way in Waldorf, has been charged with three counts of First Degree Sexual Assault, three counts of Second Degree Sexual Assault, 3 counts of Vulnerable Adult Abuse, and Theft under $1,000. He is currently being held on a $150,000 bond.
Giddings is accused of sexually assaulting a 20-year-old woman who has cognitive learning disabilities. He met the victim through an online dating website, and the assault took place at the victim's home in Rockville, police allege. They also accuse Giddings of stealing the victim's tablet computer while in the home.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes she may be a victim of inappropriate contact by Giddings (pictured below), or anyone who has additional information about this case, to contact Montgomery County Police-Special Victims Investigations Division at 240-773-5050.