The county’s five-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP) includes a few projects which could improve the Potomac area.
The CIP was the topic of discussion at the West Montgomery County Citizens Advisory Committee. The CIP designates major capital projects, meaning construction or renovation, which are prioritized for completion over the next five years.
The committee, and the four other committees in the county, each develop a list of their top 10 priorities and bring them to the county executive in July for inclusion in the CIP next year.
“The executive cares quite a lot to get the input that you are developing,” said Martha Lamborn of the Office of Management and Budget.
The Recreation Department is moving ahead with its North Potomac Community Center. The center has been pushed back one year on the list and is due for completion in 2008, but land acquisition is going forward. There are 12 properties and eight owners said Lamborn.
“We expect to have all of that in the next several weeks,” she said.
Also discussed as options were a renovation of the Scotland Community Center, a renovation and expansion of the Potomac Library, renovation of the Cabin John Fire Station 30 on Falls Road, and rehabilitation of the Watts Branch.
Most of the citizens who came to the June 16 meeting were there to advocate a new sidewalk along a stretch of Bradley Boulevard in Bethesda. “There’s really no reason why there’s no sidewalk on that street,” said resident Steve Handelsman.
Other residents came to ask that the school modernization remain high on the list, and that the county take over the grounds of Brookmont Elementary School and join it to Sangamore local park, which it abuts, when its current tenants vacate the building.
The most spirited testimony of the evening, however, came from a man who wants something not to be done. “This is my 25th year working on the Montrose Parkway,” said Lee Peckarsky. He said that spending $61 million on the road is wasted money. He described the Parkway as, “the road that goes nowhere and does nothing.”