Our Notes from Public Meetings with You
Here is the full complement of notes we recorded from our Kick-Off Meeting and Drop-In discussion sessions. You can click on a link below to go to a specific set of notes, or you can simply scroll down this page and you will be able to look at all of them. We have also included written comments that some of you provided on the individual sheets we made available for that purpose. Thank you for the thoughtful responses. Over the coming weeks we will be working to summarize what we have heard for presentation to you and the Planning Board.
To see all the notes from all the groups and meetings, you can simply scroll down this page. They appear one right after the other and you don't need to click on any links to see them all. To go to a particular set of notes from a specific group or meeting, click on a link to go to the one you want from the following list:
- Kick-Off Meeting, November 4, 2013
- Drop-In Session, Imagination Stage, November 6, 2013
- Drop-In Session, Writer's Center, November 14, 2013
Your Comments from the Kick Off Meeting on November 4
Well over 130 of you came - and stayed to talk and listen. We had 5 facilitated groups for discussion and one of them even decided to divide itself in two. We thank you for staying under the crowded conditions and intense buzz in the room. Here is what we heard in the form of raw notes, just as your scribe recorded them. Feel free to send clarifying comments if we did not get your thought quite right. We will be distilling what we heard from you and highlighting the main messages as we continue our work framing the issues that we believe the Bethesda Downtown Plan should address.
And you will be able to comment on that distillation as well when it is ready early in 2014. Stay tuned.
GROUP 1 Facilitator: Rachel Newhouse & Scribe: Elza Hisel-McCoy
LIKE
- I like that Bethesda is “urban – suburban”. The mixed use development means you get the best of both worlds
- Restaurants, theaters and movies
- Small shops
- Like the convenience of walking/public transportation – library , Barnes and Noble bookstore, café , easy access to causal restaurants
- Variety and accessibility
- Relative walkability, active on weekends , metro access, variety of mixed uses next to residences
- Urban/city feel
- Walkability, small town feel, Capital Crescent Trail, Landmark Theater
- Has the possibility to be urban mixed use
- Urban livable community
- It’s a mini city
- Walkability, Metro, public parking lots, buildings structured close to streets
- Urban feel, everything within walking distance, public transport, theater/movies
- The potential to work, live and play in a pedestrian friendly atmosphere
- Community, microcosm of a small village, walk everywhere, great transportation, access to social, cultural, civic, religious and volunteer work opportunities
- Diverse retail and services, street grid, walkability, metro and good transit access, busy streets and restaurants
- Can walk to stores, restaurants and Crescent Trail
- Everything, easy to walk to
- Nightlife and art venues, walkability/safety, open space/ streetscapes
- Convenience to basic services like grocery stores, hardware store, auto services, Metrorail
DISLIKE
- too many cars and more crossing
- traffic, difficult to park , parking cost, lack of cross promotion between businesses
- traffic congestion, late night loud noise from midnight to 2 am when bars let out
- traffic – speed of cars, noisy restaurants – late night service, very limited public gathering places/parks, realtor driven development
- pedestrian unfriendly drivers
- uneven brick sidewalks make walking difficult especially for disabled , poor street lighting in spots, shortage of green space
- barren back sides of buildings
- above ground parking structures
- houses on Montgomery Avenue, leaving CBD eastbound
- commuter traffic backups in and out of CBD
- it needs to bring in a younger demographic
- lack of a real urban park/gathering space
- too much traffic, bus connection don’t make sense for residents to access major arteries or metro, not enough parking, specific: St John’s Church at bottom has parking land users running through our buildings
- traffic especially Wisconsin Avenue , lack of parking, buildings near Metro could be taller, some architecture too bland, no parades, fireworks or ice rink
- architecture of 60’s – 90’s buildings , traffic flaws, blocks too large
- poor access, poor delivery systems of services, poor light, narrow sidewalks
- Woodmont Triangle needs a lot of work!
- Not enough mixed use, need more than just Bethesda Row
- Too little green space and its decreasing, more and more taller buildings, narrow sidewalks, especially when tables are set up outside of restaurants, no “affordable” storefronts, inconsiderate bicyclists, too few public recreation facilities
- Traffic congestion, endless construction, parking limited
- Odd juxtaposition of business district developing on only one side of street, old 6, Arlington, Wisconsin Avenue , Dysfunctional one way streets
- Parking problems, litter, crime, noise, too much construction, too much street work
IMPORTANT PLACES
- Restaurants
- Bethesda Row, green spaces
- Sport and health, we need another Bethesda Avenue of the east side of Wisconsin
- Artery Plaza, Bethesda Row, Air Rights
- Convenience shopping, dining, entertainment and parking
- Bethesda avenue, Woodmont and Capital Crescent Trail
- Grocery stores, auto services, hardware store, office supply store, drug stores, gas stations
- Retail on Bethesda and Woodmont Ave, Barnes and Noble, Theaters, Trails
- Bethesda Row, St. John’s Episcopal Church, Capital Crescent Trail
- Library, Barnes and Noble, Landmark Theater, Quartermains
- Round House Theater, Barnes and Noble, library , Safeway and CVS, 2 movie theaters, Our Lady of Laurels, Metro, restaurants
- Metro, Woodmont Restaurants, Farm markets, theaters – cinema and Round House
- Casual meeting places, Quatermain’s Coffee, late night restaurants – Tastee Diner, Twist and Shout, Metro
- B and N, People, movies, library, better restaurants
- Bethesda Farmer Women’s Market, Crescent Trail, Woodmont and Bethesda Ave’s , library, Unity Woods Yoga Studio, Fitness First, Landmark Beth Row movies
- Parking
- Metro center area, Bethesda Row, Veterans Park, gas stations, Georgetown Branch RR right of way, Bradley Shopping Center
- Space for fresh, local farm markets on a regular basis, maintaining open space for other outdoor events, art venues – theater, live music, etc., promoting helping to survive and thrive
- Restaurants, banking/investment facilities, stores, Cap Crescent Trail, library
- Outdoor seating
- Metro station, Capital Crescent Trail, Giant and Safeway, Pines of Rome, library, Round House Theater, both movie theaters, plaza outside Hampden Square
MOST PRESSING ISSUES
- Delivery services in alley system
- Lighting OG and Woodmont
- Woodmont Sidewalks
- Garage/RSC Woodmont Sidewalks – no animation
- Not enough space for public gathering (inside and out) , concerned St. John’s church will be isolated, real estate driving decisions
- Plan should have more/regulatory wt.
- Woodmont raceway
- Gathering space indoor/outdoor in Center
- Over development
- Infrastructure capacity/congestion
- Traffic and pedestrian congestion
- Late night noise bars and restaurants
- Too little parking, potential alcohol problems noise and crime, litter, disruptive construction
- Restaurants and bar noise late at night, traffic congestion, new residential development - is there infrastructure capacity to support (roads and parking) , loss of small independent businesses, over development
- Affordable residential and mixed use
- Traffic more uncontrolled
- Younger residents
- Movie, bars and restaurants
- Better pedestrian and bike access
- Transit access
- Parking and small businesses
- Higher rent hurts small business
- Lack of green space
- Link old/new Bethesda
- Parking , traffic and development process
- Gas stations, density, building heights, parking, lack of use of Metro Center Plaza, (i.e. ice rink programming) loss of current affordable units,
- 3000 more cars vs. BRT investment (a conflict?)
- Alleys, lighting, sidewalks, lack of lights around buildings,
- Construction is a positive sign and welcome feel, should be as compatible as possible to control noise , circulation and other impacts
- Balancing diversity and livability, creation of pocket parks in urban context, providing commercial for daily needs
- Better pedestrian/bike-ability, maintaining greater housing choice and affordability, mitigating commuter traffic issues in/out
- Transit in and out, parking , pressure of small biz
- Lack of diversity, too few young adults, lack of urban open space
- Residential needs to be more affordable to younger demographic
GROUP 2
Facilitator: Brooke Farquhar & Scribe: Robert Kronenberg
LIKES
- Movies
- Restaurants
- Walkability
- Good place to work
- Vibrancy
- Capital Crescent Trail
- Common areas (Veterans Park)
- Moderately priced restaurants
- Arts Festival -Taste of Bethesda
- Restaurants, movies work-ability, walk-ability Services
- Green space, parks, theater, local convenient moderately priced restaurants that are accessible, convenient shopping without a mall.
- We like the cultural amenities. We like the mix of uses and economic vitality.
- Walkability
- Proximity of Bethesda Elementary and High School (kids walk to school)
- Easy access to supermarkets and other retail stores (Modell’s) that doesn’t require driving.
- Walkability
- Public transportation options.
- “I do not “love” anything. I like the mix of houses, the vitality of the area, and the cultural amenities.
ISSUES
- Through traffic
- Better trail access
- Older “tired” buildings need to redevelop to make more of a place
- mixed use
- Improve bike connectivity
- More opportunities for young professionals
- More mixed use walkability
- Not enough park spaces
- Density has overwhelmed Norwood Park which has most useful space
- Roads and how can road capacity be increased to handle necessary traffic?
- Housing for workforce-teachers, police, firefighters, young professionals, older urban service workforce
- Parking
- Traffic around Metro
- Narrow sidewalks
- More and diverse gathering places in addition to Barnes and Noble fountain
- New mixed use development with new sub centers
- “Metro capacity? “ How many trips can current station handle? Does Metro plan to expand capacity?
- Need connection of residential area to trail
- The diversity of commerce available
- Restaurants, movie theaters
- Need:
- To retain businesses to improve what they have and stay here
- hotels
- Build for 2nd generation
- New sub-centers, (gathering places)
NEGATIVES
- Empty office
- No long term (?)
- Boomers
- Your XM? of more diversified hotels/ diversified holistic approach
- Parking Issues –not enough
- Empty office buildings
- Start with good solid market analysis to give scale to planning effort.
- Align economic development policy with land use policy
- Public infrastructure commit to providing for land and funding to follow through
- Reconvene large meeting like tonight’s when staff draft plan is ready to find out from community whether staff “got it right”
- Bethesda is not Friendship Heights.
- Do we want the step down? Yes
- Transportation
- Connecting Bethesda
- Inconsistent development
- Cumulative impact post development studies
- Formulas are off
- Adjust the CBD boundary to reflect the way it actually functions.
- Sidewalks are narrowed too much - dining tables impinge.
- Pedestrian safety - Arlington Road traffic is too fast and sidewalks are too narrow and too close to the street.
- Traffic and public transportation.
- Uninspired architecture and lack of any coherent plan. Lack of compliance with the Sector Plan.
- Adjusting the CBD boundary to reflect the way it functions. Creating gatherings places for social interaction. Greater density and building heights.
DISLIKES
- Traffic, lack of historic buildings, image of the community only for the rich. Too many new buildings.
- Expanding too fast for roads and metro.
- There is a need for more park/open space in the CBD
- Should have higher density and building heights in areas near metro stations
OPPORTUNITIES
- More restaurants near Round House Theater
- Make the entire planning sector vibrant (east of Wisconsin)
- Make Bethesda more attractive to young professionals
- The bike path on Woodmont. More bike paths
- Capital Crescent Trail –widen the trail.
- Rest areas, benches
- Please pool the public spaces to create larger and better gathering places
Taller buildings on/near public transportation (Metro Center, southern portal) - Increase building heights throughout the CBD
Expand the density transfer beyond Woodmont Triangle - If there was more density it would function better as an urban place
- Economic development for County
What Places in Downtown are Important to You?
- Open space/park areas
- Bethesda Row
- Montgomery Lane and the public library.
- I propose relocating above ground parking garages underground and constructing parks above the underground garages. We are losing open space in Bethesda and need to create additional space for parks. I am talking about relocating public garages underground such as the Elm Street garage and the large public garage on Woodmont near the Lionsgate and Black Restaurant; Financing for the relocating of the garages underground could come from developers’ contributing to a relocation fund in exchange for higher density and building heights. Parks could include a skating rink, water park, space for concerts, art shows etc.
- Round House Theater
- Bethesda Row
- Public parking facilities
- Movies
- Restaurants
- Services
- Metro Station
We also discovered we had "summary notes" from one of you for Group 2. So here they are!
Summary of Likes
- Movies/theaters
- Restaurants
- Capital Crescent
- Trails
- Biking opportunities
- Common areas
- Veterans park
- Area by Barnes and Noble
- Walkability
- Schools
Summary of Pressing Issues
- Pedestrian safety
- More vibrancy in Bethesda
- Better trail access
- Better connectivity
- More open spaces
- Improve bus routes
- Through traffic
- Not enough parking spaces
- Metro capacity
- More attention to attracting young professionals
- More holistic approach
- Attract employees
- Support diverse hotels – boutique hotels
- More hubs – sub centers
- New gateway places
Summary of Dislikes
- Traffic
- Too many new buildings
- Through traffic
Summary of What is important?
- Round house
- New station
GROUP 3 Facilitator: Matt Folden & Scribe: Scott Whipple
LOVE
- That it is changing
- Urban
- Lively
- Retail
- Metro
- Bethesda character
- High quality BUP maintenance
- Multi-generational
- CCT
- Sidewalk cafes
- Schools
- Diverse housing
- Walkable
- Diversity
- Restaurants
- Bikeable
- Intercity transportation NYC
- Arts and entertainment options
- Size and scale of buildings
- Public/private partnerships
- Public parking
- Public art
PRESSING ISSUES
- Not enough business open during day
- Traffic in general
- Affordability
- Pedestrian safety
- Purple Line (wants it)
- School capacity
- Metro area uninviting
- Unsafe/poorly defined open space
- Want redevelopment with character
- Wisconsin avenue traffic
- New development overburdens parking
- More walkable streets/better public space
- Inconsistent streetscapes
- Lack of green space (space we have isn’t used)
- Not enough playing fields
- Attracting next generation
- Bike facilities/connections
- Lack of diversity
- Protecting /fixing street grid
IMPORTANT PLACES
- Arlington Road
- Art galleries
- Barnes and Noble
- Plaza
- Farmers market
- E/W-Montgomery Avenue
- Character of Woodmont Triangle
- Bethesda Row
- Lack of retail diversity
- Old post office
- Madonna of the Trail statues
- Fountains/churches
- Capital Crescent Trail
GROUP 4 Facilitators & Scribes: Susanne Paul & Tina Schneider
Group divided into two parts - Part 4A
- +Lively urban area/
- -Mixed use on same property.
- +Woodmont responds to demand.
- -Concern re 17 stories (Arlington Virginia) -8 yr/ (?)
- +Buffer areas impt/-work well (see Leland)
- o Infrastructure impt.
- +1994 plan-success
- +Walkability
- -Traffic problems
- + Green areas-exist ones well used
- -CVurrent open spaces in interior of blocks
- -Wise/OGT intersection is mess
- -Probs w/Metro Plaza
- Type retail impt. Want mix local/major
- +Parking –bad – good
- +Best part
- community feeling
- Metro
- access
- don’t need `to use car if
- -Low income housing not here
- -More diversity
Part 4B
- Connections –upper level, street level
- Bicycles
- Edges under utilized
- Keep local business
- Affordability
- Community-based development /services (grocery, library etc.)
- Expand circular bus services
- Consider demand parking
- Consider parking alternative – outside central area
- Metro
- Public access
- Green building
GROUP 5 Facilitator: John Marcolin Scribe: Meaghan Flynn
WE LOVE
- Restaurants and amenities
- Walking destinations
- Mix of ages
- Free bus
- Small businesses
- Public transit
- Mix of density
- Capital Crescent Trail
- Metro access
- Bethesda Row retail
- Some architecture
- Street trees
- Women’s Farm Market
- Safety
- NIH
- Economic vitality
- Bikeshare
- Sidewalks
- Mixed use
- Pocket parks
- Vitality
- People-watching
- New residents
- Circulator
- Library
- Proximity to DC
- BUP
- Density
PRESSING ISSUES
- Traffic
- Parking
- Vitality cuts off
- Electric car parking
- Tired buildings
- Disappearing open space
- Ugly high-rises
- Boring architecture
- Poor street lighting
- Not enough (affordable) places to live
- Not enough amenity diversity
- Ugly Metro Station
- Not enough Metro (ask facilitator )
- Unsafe for pedestrians and bikes
- High property values
- Density
WHAT DOES MNCPPC NEED TO KNOW
- Not safe to walk
- Bad residential options for families
- Sidewalks too narrow to share w/commercial
- Need age diversity
- Expand circulator
- Why does Woodmont go one way?
- One-ways in general too wide, too fast
- Create two Bethesda’s? Woodmont and Old Georgetown too divisive
- Little record for history
- Becoming plasticized
IMPORTANT SPACES
- Community gathers
- Linear parks
- Farmers market
- Sidewalk tables/outdoor eating
- Metro plaza-opportunity
- Shady areas
- Apple store
- Movie theaters
- Capital Crescent Trail
- Bethesda Row
- Imagination Stage
LEAST FAVORTIE PLACES/WHAT DO WE LIKE LEAST
- Not funky
- Wisconsin Avenue – dangerous, no sense of place, bike unfriendly
- Ugly buildings
- Incorrect perceptions about tall buildings = tax base
- Old Georgetown Road
- One way roads
- Post office
- Front door deliveries
- Housing the homeless population
- Sidewalks too narrow
- Planning Board too sympathetic to developers
- Retail doesn’t stay open late enough
- Distance between NIH and Bethesda Station
- Lack of south Metro entrance
- Construction disruption
- Building not tall enough
- Orphan (?) buildings on Bradley Boulevard
- Lack of dog parks
- Lack of free wifi
- Subterranean bus drop off
OTHER COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUAL CONVERSATIONS AND ‘COMMENT CARDS’
Love
- Safety, great place to work. Theater. Cafes. Metro. Walkability, safety, schools, businesses
Issues
- Better connectivity with bike lanes
- Better access to trails and to businesses
- More diversity in Hotel Choices in Bethesda. Need for boutique hotels.
- Need for long term stay hotels to support businesses –employer
- Need to look holistically at Bethesda. New “hubs” “sub-centers” for people to gather, go to restaurants.
- Developers do not know the market.
- Read Berkeley, CA research on economic benefits of agglomeration of Transit Investment Districts. Goldie Rivkin
- examples like DFW.
- Economic Policy/Transportation Policy/Land Use Policy
Likes: Restaurants, theaters, Writer’s Center. I use a power wheelchair and the sidewalks in many parts of downtown Bethesda are wider and better constructed than in parts of DC and Rockville for example. Access to public transportation Metrorail, Metro bus and Ride On are keys to my economic participation in the world. Sky bridges: these structures enable me to go out from my home during the blizzards of 2010. Taste of Bethesda, BUP and its hosting of events, Dance Bethesda, dance concerts, and outdoor movies. Access to grocery stores close by.
Issues: I worry that this area is beginning to offer too much unaffordable housing unless you’re super wealthy. I think that these kinds of changes will create much more traffic and make Bethesda a much less convenient place for me to live. Stores that are within rolling distance will continue to close and I will continue to lose places to shop. (Safety of crossing street is also a concern for me.)I want more elevators at the Bethesda Metro Station. Torn up or narrowed sidewalks can be very hazardous to me in my wheelchair.
Important Places: Transit center, movie theaters, Round House, restaurants, Writer’s center, library, sidewalks (safe and not blocked by snow or construction), sky bridges, and grocery stores near my home within walking distance.
St John’s Episcopal Church -
- Biggest problem no surface parking – need to own parking
- Church used every day of week
- 1,000 households are part of church from all over
- Are having to park in neighborhood
- Congregation is growing
Your Comments from the Drop In Listening Meeting on November 6 at Imagination Stage
What Do Love About Bethesda?
- Getting more urban
- Amenities
- Metro access
- Artistic beat
- Movies/restaurant
- Apple/destination shop
- Metro
- Parking for existing businesses and movies
- Current parking capacity is inadequate
- Local circulator not as convenient; how do I know about it
- Buildings should self-park
- Population projection: 300,000 folks
- Bigger draws mean finite parking less available
- Employee parking
- Security
- More extensive/connective circulator network
- Overflow parking for events – highlight signs
- Taste of Bethesda – street closing price
- Premium for inconvenience
- Reduced service
- Civic venue in Bethesda for graduations, etc.
- Parking capacity of downtown overall
- Wisconsin is difficult to cross
- Better signage for parking lots/garages
- Local retail convenience parking
- Lacking infill development on Wisconsin
- Panhandling/permit/security
- Streetscape onto Arlington and Bradley
- Street level retail and good lighting
- Hotel and #### walkers
- Extend feel of Bethesda Lane to Arlington
- Store hours – evening
- Apartments and single family homes
- Between Bradley and Leland should be considered for redevelopment while making provisions for affordable housing
- Arlington Road district disconnected from Bethesda Row
- District treatment
- Outdoor public pool/Rec
- Indoor play space
- Common space for food trucks/biergarten
Your Comments from the Drop In Listening Meeting at the Writer's Center November 14
- Traffic calming techniques should be incorporated
- Chevy Chase neighborhood should be protected from increased development pressures
- Interested in R-60, R-90 changes, what procedures are there for process?
- Residential character should be preserved
- Concerns of lack of open space
- Concerned that zoning rewrite will go into effect before master plan – thus limiting the opportunity – the two processes are not well timed.
- Environment Impacts – what are we going to do here is not well reflected in zoning rewrite
- Not enough provisions for green space and public amenities; acquisition of land for sidewalks
- Expand Elm Street park – Need for more parks – Create a large green space
- Variety of commercial shopping in Bethesda
- High end shopping is taking over; there are less family stores
- Sidewalks are crowded and narrow- too difficult to navigate with tables and chairs
- Enjoy low buildings and feeling of open space – Woodmont Avenue and Bethesda Avenue area
- Like the building character differences on either side of streets
- North Bethesda is less cohesive, but that is its appeal
- Retain diversity like Woodmont Triangle - like Bethesda Row too; it’s nice to have both kinds of neighborhood character
- Love green space, walkability and is in favor of mass transit. Public transit is a good thing. CCT is a great feature to escape the busy area of the city
- Love biking and walkability
- How to redevelop and also retain the character of the smaller development – Bethesda Row vs. Woodmont Triangle
- Commercial growth should be limited
- Commercial rent increases should be limited
- In favor of store diversity and walkability
- Don’t like traffic and crossing Wisconsin Avenue
- Crossing Wisconsin Avenue is hazardous
- Increase timings of pedestrian signals to cross streets
- Intersections are not well designed – like the Willow Street intersection
- Problem of inactivated blocks, dead zones; there is no incentive to walk
- ‘Monty’ project on 4900 Fairmont is an example of poor design where loading zone is not well placed and doesn’t allow for good use of space and discourage active streetscape. Loading dock is an obstacle
- There is lack of lighting throughout the community; even at Bethesda Row and at intersections. Crosswalks are not visible to the traffic
- Woodmont Avenue and Fairmont Avenue has a crosswalk but cars don’t see the pedestrians due to on street parking.
- Expand the opportunities for biking and walking; when construction occurs there is not enough thought for pedestrians.
- Community residents do not have any knowledge of existing public spaces
- Not enough green space is available in the community
- At critical juncture; very concerned with the future of the community
- Public space is not easily accessible because some are above street level
- Should consider a new zone – if under three acres there is no open space requirement; what little we have is not usable
- Comparison of similar density and open space requirements should be conducted
- Would the zoning rewrite override the master plan?
- The community wants to know whether the new zone will influence the Plan too much
- Parking prices are too expensive and bizarre
- Community is opposed to what is being done now
- Very concerned that the new zoning will override the new sector plan
- How can the community get more engaged and involved if they are not at the community meetings?
- Community meetings should be well publicized
- Community should be given more access to the public meetings
- Involve neighborhood associations like East Bethesda Citizen Association
- Public meetings must be scheduled at a regular basis
- Legislative expansion of the public participation requirement
- Density increase – how much and where; community wants to know up front so that they can work with density
- How much influence does the community have in development decisions?
- Artery Plaza and open space/ pocket parks make Bethesda livable.
- Folks are too busy to participate in the planning process
- Major infrastructure projects should be thoroughly discussed by the community
- A comprehensive list of major developments should be put together
- Developers don’t need an incentive to be in Bethesda
- Community should get more public benefits from various development projects
- Importance of the 3rd dimension
- Community should be informed about the impact of zoning rewrite project on Bethesda downtown
- Community wants a livable and human scale Bethesda; not a Crystal City
Last updated: March 27, 2014