National Institutes of Health
Office of Community Liaison
Meeting Minutes April 16, 1998

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Core Community Working Group Meeting Minutes
4:00 p.m., April 16, 1998
Building 31 6C, Room 7
Draft

Ms. Janyce Hedetniemi welcomed attendees and members, and introduced the presenters:

• Margaret Kaii Ziegler, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission
• Susan Hinton, National Capital Planning Commission
• George Evans, National Capital Planning Commission
• Joe Merton, Office of Research Services, Division of Engineering
• Rick Gramlich, Bovis
• Glen Stonebraker, Office of Research Services, Division of Engineering

• Agenda
• M-NCPPC Mandatory Referral Process
• NCPC Report to the National Institutes of Health, April 2, 1998

Report on the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC): Margaret Kaii Ziegler, Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission, Susan Hinton, National Capital Planning Commission, George Evans, National Capital Planning Commission

Ms Hedetniemi introduced the presenters and described the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) and the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) as agencies that serve the vital purpose of design supervision and review and bridge the gap between government agencies and local communities and jurisdictions.

Ms. Margaret Kaii Ziegler, a community planner with M-NCPPC, described her work as part of a team of four planners that handles projects proposed by public agencies in the North Bethesda/Chevy Chase area. Ms. Ziegler's team is headed by John Carter and includes Bill Lamphier and CCWG liaison member Carolyn Hufbauer. The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission employs 145 on its planning staff that reviews all highway and construction plans for federal, state and local agencies in Maryland with a concentration in Prince George's and Montgomery counties. NIH, as a federal agency operating within this area, is required by Maryland Law #28 to submit all building projects to a Amandatory referral process.

Ms. Ziegler then described how the review process for NIH projects is conducted. The plans are first sent to NCPC which then sends them to M-NCPPC because they have local jurisdiction over federal projects in the Bethesda, Maryland area. At M-NCPPC, a review process is initiated that begins with scheduling public hearings and notifying the public. In reviewing NIH projects, the M-NCPPC is especially concerned with how plans affect the community vis-a-vis traffic congestion, noise and air pollution, and the maintenance of a buffer zone between NIH and the neighborhood. The M-NCPPC planners consider these questions and incorporate public comments from the hearings into their conclusions. When M-NCPPC completes the hearings and its internal review, it writes a formal report and conveys it to the NCPC.

The National Capital Park and Planning Commission (NCPC) is a federal agency with a staff of 55 operating from an office in downtown Washington DC. Their representative on the CCWG, Susan Hinton, reported that NCPC has approval authority on all federal building projects in the District of Columbia and a mandate to review all those in the six counties in Maryland and Virignia that surround the District.

Every 10 years, NCPC initiates a comprehensive plan for the region; every five years, it conducts a review of the 10 year plan. It has a similar schedule for conducting reviews of the NIH Master Plan. All project plans are reviewed in the preliminary and final stages taking into consideration the following factors: general land use, transportation, design guidelines, agency mission and programs, size, square footage, building or road function, proximity to public transportation, and other convenience issues. All reviews by NCPC consider the plan's conformance with: the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA); the National Historic Preservation Act; the NIH Master Plan; and the comprehensive regional plan. Compatibility of the design and materials used with those of the surrounding buildings is another primary concern of the NCPC reviewers. When hearings and the internal review is complete, NCPC makes its report and includes recommendations from M-NCPPC.

All NCPC meetings are open to the public; notices and tentative agendas go out at least three weeks before meetings. NCPC maintains a database of individuals who have asked to be informed of NIH projects. Ms. Hinton volunteered to put the CCWG members names on the list.

Ms. Hinton reminded the group again that NCPC and M-NCPPC do not grant approval to projects outside the District of Columbia. Both agencies only advise NIH and other federal agencies concerning their projects. Mr. George Evans said that NIH currently has the most active building projects in the region within a densely populated area. Ms Hedetniemi said that NIH is also the only federal agency with a citizen's advisory group; since 1995, the Core Community Working Group has been actively involved in reviewing and modifying the NIH Master Plan. Ms. Eleanor Rice said NIH has been open and willing to make alterations to its plans based on community comments.

Ms. Hinton said that NIH usually follows NCPC's advice and makes requested changes, especially because the review process begins early when problems can be recognized and eliminated before much time and money has been expended. In response to a question, Ms. Hinton said that if a federal agency does not comply with its recommendations, NCPC can recommend that OMB refuse to fund the project. She also said congressional pressure can be brought to bear on non-conforming agencies.

In response to Mr. Jim Ward's question about whether the agency had sought approval for the renovated laboratory in Building 41A, Ms. Hinton said that NCPC and M-NCPPC do not review 1) interior renovations; 2) underground utilities; and 3) repairs or replacements in-kind.

She said that NCPC is generally more concerned with project design while M-NCPPC is concerned with reactions from the surrounding neighborhoods.

In response to a question, Ms. Hinton said that there are three commissioners appointed by the President; others are ex-officio representing the Mayor of the Washington, DC, the Department of Defense, and other agencies. Ms. Hedetniemi asked what other projects are presently under review. Ms. Hinton said the Friendship Heights development plan, the proposed new DC Convention Center, the Air Force and World War II memorials and the American Indian Museum are some of the large projects under current consideration.

Ms. Hedetniemi thanked Ms. Ziegler and Ms. Hinton for their presentations.

In introducing Mr. Stonebraker, Ms. Hedetniemi said he would describe what is in the Master Plan, but at present there are no funds budgeted for the animal research facility. Mr. Stonebraker described plans for the new animal building and how it will function. The proposed animal facility will be a multi-level structure of 200,000 net square feet, consolidating the animal facilities in buildings 14 and 28 that comprise 180,000 square feet. Since the new building will be several stories high, it will be larger, but have a smaller footprint on the campus than the present structures. Buildings 14 and 28 will be razed, and the Master Plan is to build three new labs and an underground garage in their place.

The proposed animal research facility will be 400 feet back from the south border of the campus and will be 100-120 feet in height. It will contain an animal holding unit, a receiving area, cages, a surgery room, a procedure area, and space for mechanicals and security. When funding is released for this project, further plans for the building will proceed. Mr. Stonebraker anticipated that the building would probably be completed in the first decade of the next century.

Ms. Eleanor Rice expressed concern about the new parking garage bringing more cars and traffic congestion to the campus. Mr. Stonebraker said that the garage would only be providing spaces to replace ones that will be removed when south surface parking is eliminated.

Ms. Hedetniemi said that NIH is constrained from overbuilding by its commitment to the Master Plan, but that planned development in Bethesda could add between 600 to 1,000 more parking places, indicating that quality of life considerations involve entities other than NIH.

Mr. Stonebraker said the animal research facility, like most NIH building projects, is needed to replace an old obsolete structure. For example, NIH formerly used the animal facility to supply animals for study to other organizations. Although NIH no longer does this, programmatically the building is designed for this obsolete purpose. The new structure will provide an up-to-date floor plan with greater flexibility for present and future uses. In addition to the three laboratories that will replace buildings 14 and 28, there would be a new engineers shop to replace one that will be torn down.

Mr. Frank O'Rourke asked if the neighborhood would be disturbed by dogs barking. Mr. Stonebraker said the outdoor exercise pen would be on the interior of the building. Mr. O'Rourke also requested that the service facilities entrance be on the east side of the building rather than the north side. Mr. Jim Ward asked about the height of the new building and was told that it could not be higher than called for in the Master Plan but, since designs have not been submitted, Mr. Stonebraker could not say exactly how high it would be.

Ms. Eleanor Rice asked how much bigger NIH could become; it seemed to be Amaxing out in the space available. She asked if growth was anticipated to go to Poolesville. Ms. Hedetniemi said that no more money is slated for buildings at this time and that there is no more space available in Poolesville. Ms. Hedetniemi said the added funding proposed for NIH would go to fund a larger proportion of grants.

The work on the penthouse is part of the Essential Maintenance and Safety Project (EMS) designed to prolong the life of the Clinical Center until the new Clinical Research Center is complete. As soon as the CRC is in operation, there are plans to remodel the Clinical Center. The goal of the penthouse project is to extend the life of the Clinical Center and maintain safe functioning of its utilities. The new mechanicals in the penthouse include new electrical switch gears, pumps and new air handlers for the heating and cooling system. Within the building new sprinklers, ceiling lighting and tiles, and telephones will be installed. All the old systems have to be removed, and new ones constructed.

Mr. Merton described how the outside walls of the Penthouse actually Afloat on the surface of the building in a series of panels called EIFS or Exterior Insulated Finish System. This system allows for maximum use of building space while minimizing the weight of the walls. The EIFS provides the necessary insulation and protection for the new systems without adding the weight of masonry walls. The project is 70 percent complete with February 1999, the target date for completion. The remaining steps before completion involve caulking; the delivery and installation of the air handlers (the new system will allow for 6 more air changes per hour); and installation of new roofing (designed to withstand 90 mile-per-hour winds).

Ms. Hedetniemi reminded the CCWG that they were notified before the huge cranes were brought in for this project and that she wanted the group to know that the schedule calls for the cranes to be removed in October 1998. Ms. Hedetniemi asked if the group could tour the Penthouse area sometime in the near future. Mr. Merton said he would ask his supervisors.

The structural steel for the new South Entry to Building 10 (Clinical Center) is in place. A committee is viewing samples of bricks to be used on the facade. Dirt from the excavation will be moved from the back of the Clinical Center to provide landscaping in the front of the new CRC, part of which will include 26 willow oaks to be planted around the drive. The I-beams for the shell and the underground pipes have been delivered and are scheduled to be installed soon.

Ms. Hedetniemi announced that work on the utility tunnel should be completed on schedule in August 1998.

Tours were held on March 28 from 9 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. and accommodated about 70 people, in groups of six. Participants received a short briefing and saw a film of the hepafilter system used in the laboratory before going on a tour conducted by the staff of Drs. Robert McKinney and Deborah Wilson. Ms. Hedetniemi acknowledged the presence of several Core Community Working Group members on the tours as well as representatives from the press - the Bethesda Gazette and the Montgomery Journal. Ms. Hedetniemi received a number of suggestions from the participants and answered a number of questions from others following the tour. She said Core Community Working Group co-chair, Ginny Miller, was a member of the first group that reviewed the protocol for the laboratory. Ms. Hedetniemi is on the final review committee that will review and approve the protocol prior to its being conducted within the laboratory.

Ms. Eleanor Rice said she had sent representatives from her neighborhood to the tour and their only request was that security of the laboratory be reviewed if it were ever used to study diseases other than MDR tuberculosis. Ms Hedetniemi said in response to questions about terrorism, that there was nothing of sufficient quantity in the lab to warrant it being either a target or a threat.. She said the surveillance and security systems in the building are excellent..

Share the Health: A NIH Community Forum on Health Promotion is scheduled for June 13 from 9:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. in Natcher Conference Center. There will be four seminars on subjects related to health awareness: Substance Abuse, Nutrition, Diabetes and Heart Health. The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will do a series of workshops on movement and health, and a number of Institutes will provide exhibits and handouts.

The May meeting will have presentations on stormwater management, wildlife habitat, and final plans for Building 37.

Mr. Frank O'Rourke of Whitehall Condominium thanked NIH for continuing to plant trees on the land that borders their property and the Building 41 parking lot area.

Mr. Randy Schools of R&W announced that tickets to the Orioles game on July 23 are available through R& W. There will be an open house at Children's Inn on June 27. NIH will hold another outdoor movie festival this summer.

 Ms. Eleanor Rice asked if anyone had heard about the proposed Atransit village on the Parkview side of Grosvenor. She said she would like to ensure that it is truly designed for people using public transportation and does not include many new parking spaces

Ms. Rice said she is a member of the advisory group for a Beltway HOV. She wants to turn this around to include a beltway mass transit link that could be an asset to NIH.

See if a tour of the Penthouse area is possible.

Janyce Hedetniemi, Director, OCL, NIH
Ginny Miller, CCWG Co-Chair, Wyngate Citizens Association
Jeanne Billings, Wisconsin Condominium Association
George Evans, NCPC
Morton Goldman, Luxmanor Citizens Association
Jeanne Goldstein, Chevy Chase View Citizens Association
Rick Gramlich, Bovis
Dick Grote, Bethesda Parkview Citizens Association
Margaret Kaii-Ziegler, M-NCPPC
Joe Merton, Division of Engineering Service
Frank O'Rourke, Whitehall Condominium
Robert Resnik, Huntington Terrace Citizens Association
Glen Stonebraker, Division of Engineering Services
Jim Ward, Ayrlawn Citizens Association

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