June 30, 2009

Sara Green, Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner 4B01 - ANCSaraGreen@yahoo.com

PROPOSED TEXT AMENDMENTS TO THE 2006 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

Attachment One

1. Name of General Area/Location/Site affected by this proposed TEXT amendment

The communities within Advisory Neighborhood Commission 4B01, including Takoma and Upper Georgia Avenue, NW.

2. In which of the following "significant change" categories does the proposed TEXT amendment fail? - Economic Development

3. Description of Change and Text of Proposed Amendment

Streetscape Improvement Projects

The city's current tree planting program, while important, is not sufficient to provide needed improvements to city streets, and private efforts to add flowering plants on public streets are haphazard and inadequate.

Recognize that significant and high-visibility planting programs along underdeveloped main thoroughfares, including Georgia Avenue, encourage private investment. The city should fund more extensive and elaborate planting projects as part of the Great Streets Program and other city projects. Use the planting design to create a distinctive identify for each street. The city should encourage private developers to continue and maintain these plantings.

4. Element, Page, and Citation of Proposed TEXT Amendment

District Element, Action Number UD 3.1 B

5. How is the issue addressed in the 2006 Plan? If not in the 2006 Comprehensive Plan, please state why the issue should be included in the Plan.

The current action item does not propose increasing funding for more extensive planting programs.

6. Why is the proposed change the best way to meet the public need?

Current programs and policies do not do enough to encourage dramatic planting programs.

7. Please describe any other options for meeting this need.

City agencies could decide on a case-by-case basis when to do more than they are doing now.

8. Please describe the impact(s) of the proposed TEXT change. Why will the proposed change result in an overall (or net) benefit to the city or community?

Well-maintained rows of colorful tulips, pansies and other flowering plants have a dramatic and immediate impact on travelers, residents and business people. Other cities have invested in plantings and have noted the results. Driving along Georgia Avenue there is an immediate change at the city line. We have a few scraggly planters and no uniform floral design. Once you get into Montgomery County on Georgia Avenue, the plantings are magnificent. These plantings were part of the county's effort to encourage development in Silver Spring.

9. How does the proposed change conform to the goals, policies and actions of the current Comp Plan?

The Comp Plan seeks to provide policies that will spur development in emerging and underdeveloped communities and improve the quality of life for everyone.