HANDOUTS
- CLC Agenda, July 17, 2003
- June 19, 2003, Draft Community Liaison Council Meeting
Minutes
- National Institutes of Health Community Liaison
Council Members as of July 15, 2003
- NIH Building 33 Complex Site Logistics Plan (as
of 7-17-03)
WELCOME
Tom Gallagher, Ph.D., Director, Office of Community
Liaison, NIH, welcomed members of the Community Liaison
Council (CLC).
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Gallagher noted that a former CLC member, Dr. Kiera
Lueders, had been replaced on the Council by Tom Robertson
as representative from Parkwood Residents Association.
Both Dr. Lueders and Dr. Gallagher, as members of the
CLC, had been invited to discuss the new NIH Building
33 on a television program. Dr. Gallagher had declined
the invitation. Dr. Lueders and he had been informed
of a potential conflict of interest by the NIH Ethics
Offices about participation because Dr. Lueders is an
employee of the NIH, and it would not be possible to
differentiate whether she represented one entity or
the other. Further, Dr. Gallagher was advised about
the code and penalties of the Federal government's policy.
Because employees cannot represent both the NIH and
the community, Dr. Lueders resigned as her neighborhood's
representative to the CLC.
In response to concerns about the lighting of the perimeter
path along the south side of the NIH Campus, Dr. Gallagher
said there had been a temporary installation of three
types of lights to test brightness. These lights are
to be situated on the path that extends from the Metro
at Rockville Pike outside the south perimeter fence
to Old Georgetown Road. Dr. Gallagher said lights needed
to be bright enough to provide a safely illuminated
path for those walking and biking at dusk or at night,
but should not be so bright as to disturb the neighbors.
Dr. Gallagher said one type of light would flood straight
down on the path and the other two would provide more
illumination toward the wooded areas and the fence.
Dr. Gallagher invited representatives from neighborhoods
abutting the south side of the Campus to join him at
dusk over the upcoming weekend, weather permitting,
to view the three alternative types of lights at the
site. In particular, he encouraged Jack Costello, Bethesda
Parkview Citizens Association, and Scott Matejik, Edgewood
Glenwood Citizens Association, to join him to view the
path and lighting area.
PRESENTATIONS
Presentation: Updates on Master Plan and Gas Pipeline
by Stella Serras-Fiotes, Director, Division of Facilities
Planning, ORF, OD, NIH
Stella Serras-Fiotes reported that the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS) is currently reviewing
the Master Plan, and its release may take place in August.
After the plan is released, Ms. Serras-Fiotes said NIH
hopes to publish it in September and hold the public
hearing in October, after which it could be reviewed
by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC) in
December 2003 or January 2004.
Dr. Gallagher remarked that the DHHS comprises several
operating divisions, one of which is the NIH, and the
volume of the Department's current work has caused a
delay in the review of the Master Plan.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes, as she earlier had reported, said
a contractor for the gas pipeline had been selected,
and NIH is currently undergoing negotiations with this
company. She said after a contract is awarded an environmental
assessment firm will be contacted to conduct a survey.
Dr. Gallagher thanked Ms. Serras-Fiotes for her updates.
Presentation on Northeast Campus Construction, Stormwater
Management Facility, and Building 33 Site
by Kyung Kim, Project Officer, ORF, OD, NIH
Dr. Gallagher introduced Kyung Kim, Project Officer,
ORF, OD, NIH, who presented an overview of the projects
planned for the northeast part of the NIH Campus. These
include the underground stormwater management facility
(being installed as part of NIH's institutional stormwater
management plan for the campus), the Building 33 site,
and the multilevel parking garage. Mr. Kim said construction
of the stormwater management facility is scheduled to
begin in August 2003. The excavation for the other two
projects would proceed after NCPC approves the preliminary
building and final site/foundation plans. Mr. Kim introduced
the project manager Mike Donohoe of Whiting-Turner Construction
who provided detailed information about the construction
schedule and traffic flow during the construction of
the stormwater management facility.
Mr. Donohoe briefly explained the scope of the project:
rows of a large piping system would be installed underground
to control the flow of storm water. He said this project
is anticipated to take 6 months to complete. Mr. Donohoe
said working hours would be from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays
only. Additionally, he said that there would be minimal
lighting, and noise during the excavation and backfilling
with heavy equipment.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes noted that the stormwater management
facility project is completely independent from the
Building 33 project. Rather, she said it is more directly
related to the NIH Clinical Research Center project
and is part of the Maryland Department of the Environment
approval for NIH's stormwater management plan. She added
that the intention is to convert the paved parking space
management plan into a green area after the installation
of the facility.
Ralph Schofer, Maplewood Citizens Association, asked
several questions about how truck traffic leaving and
entering the site would be handled related to traffic
on West Cedar Lane and on Rockville Pike. Mr. Donohoe
said there would be traffic management provided by the
police, a flagman, and a traffic monitor. He does not
anticipate a backup line of trucks, because each truck
requires 3 to 5 minutes to fill with excavated material.
He added there would be little impact to traffic on
West Cedar Lane. Mr. Schofer asked how many loads of
soil and asphalt would be removed each day. Mr. Donohoe
replied that a total of 1,000 loads would be carried
for this storm water project, and during a 5-hour period
each day, each of five trucks would carry 20 loads,
or 100 loads per day. Mr. Schofer was concerned about
the mud carried on the truck and its tires onto local
roadways during this process. Mr. Donohoe said each
truck would undergo a wash-down on-site before departing
the Campus.
Eleanor Rice, Locust Hill Civic Association, related
that the creek situated on the opposite side of the
road and running underneath Rockville Pike toward the
northeast, has water shooting out like a firehose during
downpours. She said although concrete had been placed
around the edge in that location that it has not helped
the erosion. Ms. Rice said roots of some trees have
been compromised, and some trees have fallen. She requested
that this situation be monitored. Mr. Donohoe said that
the purpose of the storm water facility is to handle
20- to 30-year storms in which rain fills streams quickly,
and it should help the situation Ms. Rice described.
He said this facility would hold excess water and disperse
it slowly over several hours. Mr. Donohoe added that
during construction rainwater would be pumped into a
containment area and filtered before being released
into the stream. Both Ms. Rice and Mr. Schofer wondered
about sediment accumulating in the underground storage
pipes. Mr. Donohoe said this should not happen due to
the design and the 5-foot diameter of the perforated
pipes. He said some water will filter out, however the
facility is designed to protect the perimeter so water
would not percolate to the sides.
Mr. Matejik asked about the number of construction
workers at the site. Mr. Donohoe said there would be
10 to 12 workers on-site day in and day out, who would
be parking in remote locations off-campus and be bused
to and from the site. Dr. Gallagher noted that there
would be a number of parking spaces lost due to construction
on the northeast side of Campus. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said
this particular construction would result in the loss
of 350 parking spaces. She added that construction is
beginning in the summer months while Campus occupancy
is lower, but she said this would change in the fall.
She said there is great concern about the next 12 to
18 months, since hundreds of spaces would be lost until
parking garages are built in the northeast and west
areas of Campus. She reported that Dr. Elias Zerhouni,
Director of the NIH, had appointed an advisory committee,
headed by Dr. Michael Gottesman. Dr. Gallagher said
this committee is charged with finding solutions and
incentives that work throughout the campus, and finding
ways to mitigate the loss of parking space without moving
the problem into the local community. Randy Schools,
NIH Recreation & Welfare Association, requested
that information about the loss of parking space be
disseminated. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said communication had
already begun. For instance, she noted an article published
in the last NIH Record. She added that there
would be more articles and updates published and information
sent to the community.
Mr. Schofer asked if firms are under contract to construct
these parking facilities. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said the
contracts are close to being decided.
Dr. Gallagher thanked Mr. Kim and Mr. Donohoe for presenting
this information.
Presentation on the Visitor Center Concept
by Mayra Sequeira, Project Officer, ORF, OD, NIH
Ms. Mayra Sequeira, Project Officer, ORF, OD, NIH,
introduced Michael Sansaver, project architect from
IDB Architecture, Inc., the design firm for the Gateway/Visitor
Center complex. Mr. Sansaver provided an overview of
the area where visitors to the NIH will be processed
before entering the NIH Campus. He said the components
to this South Drive area include an underground parking
garage, an inspection station for visitors, a Visitor
Center for pedestrians who have parked their vehicles
or arrived by bus or subway, and a welcoming canopy
arm and/or museum corridor, depending upon budget verification,
which connects the Gateway Center and the internal Campus
shuttle bus area. He described the welcoming arm and
said the canopy would be congruent with the design of
the Metro canopy planned by Louri & Chenoweth Architects.
Mr. Sansaver said the pedestrian facility would be situated
adjacent to the present Metro escalator/elevator area
in order to bring all visitors to the same point. Mr.
Sansaver said all components may be built in phases,
with completion in August 2005.
CLC members Lucy Ozarin, M.D., of Whitehall Condominium
Association, and Mr. Schofer, and Ginny Miller and Dr.
Gallagher, CLC Co-Chairs, asked for clarification about
which entrances would be used by visitors and for non-commercial
vehicle inspections and which by employees. Mr. Sansaver
said the location of the inspection station for visitors'
vehicles would be south of South Drive, and he added
this location had been revised as the planning process
had proceeded. Others said the gate area is being reworked
at the South Drive entrance, and the gate for employees
in the southeast area would remain at the current location
at Center Drive, across from Jones Bridge Road, and
Rockville Pike. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said some paid visitor
parking would be accessible near Natcher Center. However,
she said another interior road would be constructed
to access it from the inspection area. She said this
sub-surface parking area would be used by visitors having
a need to bring a vehicle on the Campus. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said she does not anticipate a high demand for parking
there, because there are 350 parking spaces planned
at the Gateway Center parking garage.
Mr. Giron said no inspection would take place for those
using the visitor parking garage, which will be situated
outside the perimeter fence. Marilyn Clemens, Maryland-National
Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), asked
about the inspection of cars which drop off passengers
at the Metro Kiss 'n' Ride. Mr. Giron said that Metro
buses and cars dropping passengers at Metro would not
pass through gates or be inspected. He said the internal
NIH shuttle buses remain on Campus inside the perimeter
fence and gates and pick up passengers after they are
processed at the Gateway Center or at the employee pedestrian
gate. Ms. Miller emphasized the need for signage to
assist visitors in finding the location where they could
park or be dropped off.
Mr. Schofer hoped there would be no need for additional
traffic signals on Rockville Pike to access these areas.
Ms. Sequeira said she did not believe this would be
necessary. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said there is a separate
vehicle inspection station where commercial vehicles
would be processed at a location north of the Gateway
Center complex. Mr. Giron noted that there is a plan
under consideration to provide another separate entrance
for patients to the Clinical Center at West Drive and
Cedar Lane or Old Georgetown Road and Center Drive.
Ms. Miller said she hoped that there would be no more
signals added between Jones Bridge and West Cedar Lane
because it already is a bottlenecked area. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said the planning emphasis is on what will make the
traffic work, and that NIH is not necessarily asking
the State of Maryland for additional signal lights.
Mr. Matejik asked how left turns would be made into
the Campus from Rockville Pike. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said
this was being worked on by traffic planners with the
State. She said in presenting the schematic concept
of this area that she wanted the CLC members to be briefed
on how normal functions would work in response to their
questions about interference with current operations.
She thought this design solution would work well, while
assisting with construction, and would enable quicker
restoration of this area to its original use.
Dr. Gallagher thanked Ms. Sequeira and Mr. Sansaver
for their presentations.
Presentation on Traffic Abatement and Traffic Control
by Ophus Robertson, NIH Police, and Corporal A. Kerr,
Montgomery County Police
Dr. Gallagher said his office frequently receives phone
calls about police traffic assistance approaching and
passing the NIH, and he had invited both the NIH and
Montgomery County (MC) police officers to answer questions.
Ophus Robertson, of the NIH Police, said that he was
pleased to be invited back to address the questions
of the members of the CLC about NIH directing traffic,
and, in particular, about vehicles exiting the Campus
in the safest manner possible. He said delays in construction
until the end of August had affected the completion
of the exit at Wilson Drive and Rockville Pike, where
NIH police officers direct the exit of cars to synchronize
with the traffic signals on Rockville Pike. Officer
Robertson said new officers had been hired over the
last three weeks and are being trained to assist in
traffic management.
Dr. Gallagher posed a question on behalf of nearby
neighbors about illegal parking in residential permit
zones. Cpl. A. Kerr, MC Police, said that the parking
enforcement division is an entity within the County
government under Bill Rockwell, a former officer (retired)
from the Bethesda Police District, who is familiar with
the Campus and surrounding neighborhoods. He said the
Parking Enforcement Commission handles incidents in
residential areas of the County almost to Twinbrook
on Rockville Pike to the north, Seven Locks Road to
the west, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and
all along the Metro, and Chevy Chase at Western Avenue
to the south. Sue Garges, Battery Park Citizens Association,
asked for further information on who to contact about
enforcement. Ms. Jean Gries, of the Montgomery County
Department of Public Works and Transportation, offered
a telephone number to report illegal parking with the
parking division: (240) 777-8740. Ms. Garges asked if
the vehicles that parking enforcement uses are the little
white ones, and added that she had never seen one in
her Battery Park neighborhood. Also, she asked if the
enforcement staff consisted of police officers. Cpl.
Kerr said police patrol officers would respond through
the County emergency dispatch number for situations
such as vehicles that were blocking a fire hydrant;
other parking issues, directed to parking enforcement,
would be handled by division staff, because officers
have other priority issues in which to respond.
Dr. Gallagher told Officer Robertson that members were
also interested in whether there is traffic coordination
between Bethesda, National Naval Medical Center (NNMC),
and the NIH. Officer Robertson said the NIH and MC police
reached an agreement where NIH directs the traffic of
personnel exiting the NIH; however, if there is an accident,
the County Police would be notified. In addition, Officer
Robertson said there had been communication with Lieutenant
Munden at the NNMC about timing and coordinating exit
traffic during peak hours.
Ms. Serras-Fiotes remarked that there is communication
and coordination between the NIH and Montgomery County
Transportation Management Center about incidents impacting
travel in the area. She said the County monitors situations
on their traffic cameras and notifies the NIH about
any particular areas of concern. In addition, she said
the County had provided videotapes to use for traffic
planning and management and enforcement, especially
after September 11, 2001. Mr. Schools said that emergency
preparedness had been discussed at joint meetings of
the police department, the Chamber, and Bethesda Rescue
Squad that affects the NIH, NRC, and MC school system.
Ms. Miller noted there is a glut of traffic on Rockville
Pike at the NIH, causing bottlenecks at evening rush
hour, and she wondered whether the lights could be timed
to help the flow of traffic. Officer Robertson said
that the traffic signals are set for an extended distance
throughout the Metro area that cannot be altered. He
said there would be bottlenecks during rush hour due
to the volume of vehicles on the road at those times.
Officer Robertson and Ms. Serras-Fiotes said there would
be only a few more months of gate construction after
which the rush hour at Campus exits should improve.
Marilyn Mazuzan, Town of Oakmont, asked the purpose
of the cones placed in the right turn lane that impede
traffic heading east on West Cedar Lane and turning
south onto Rockville Pike. Officer Robertson said this
placement of the cones was temporary to deter vehicle
parking, and the cones were no longer in use at that
location.
Officer Robertson said that his office responded to
noise complaints received about the use of jackhammers
by construction crews on Campus an hour before it is
allowed. He said the department had interacted with
the contractor. If there were issues to report, Officer
Robertson said neighbors could call (301) 496-2387 during
business hours, and that he would supply a telephone
number to use during off-hours.
Dr. Gallagher thanked Officers Kerr and Robertson for
answering the CLC members' questions.
Presentation on Design of Vehicle Gates
by William Stratton, LSY Architects
William Stratton, LSY Architects, displayed two renderings
of the NIH vehicle gates, one for the South Drive entrance
from Rockville Pike, the other for the Center Drive
entrance from Rockville Pike. The South Drive gate rendering
showed a stone retaining wall on either side of the
entrance with signage identifying the NIH, a curved
glass roof, and other elements including a guard booth,
and sliding gate. The Center Drive gate rendering showed
a simple guard booth and sliding gate arrangement without
stone walls. He noted that the sliding gate would be
open during ordinary business hours and closed and locked
during nonoperating hours. He said that vehicles would
activate this gate when approaching from the interior
side. Mr. Stratton said installations similar to the
Center Drive gate would be situated at Center and South
Drives at Old Georgetown Road, and at Wilson and North
Drives at Rockville Pike.
Mr. Schofer asked the distance from Rockville Pike
to the gate at South Drive. Mr. Stratton said it would
be 600 to 800 feet. Ms. Rice thought the stone wall
with the facility sign should appear closer to Rockville
Pike. Mr. Stratton said all the sorting of people, including
Metro bus traffic and queuing of vehicles, would be
accommodated in this large area at South Drive and Rockville
Pike, and the gate would be positioned beyond that.
Dr. Gallagher asked about accommodating employee pedestrians
at this gate. Mr. Stratton said there would be a sidewalk
next to the driveway for pedestrians and that there
would be a checkpoint monitored by security guards with
a card entry turnstile for employees. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
added that the turnstiles would not be open after working
hours. Mr. Stratton said that the exception is at the
South Drive gate which is a 24/7 entrance. Dr. Gallagher
wanted to know about the design of the pedestrian-only
entrances. Mr. Stratton said the entrance would consist
of a sally port arrangement in the fence that forms
a vestibule between two gates accessible by a swipe
card. The vestibule will have cameras that will be monitored
by guards.
Dr. Ozarin asked if a vehicle inspection station would
remain at the Natcher Building garage. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said there would be inspection because that parking
facility is built beneath the building. Dr. Ozarin said
a neighbor had complained about a bright light shining
after business hours. Mr. Giron said that the garage
closes at 6 p.m., so the light should not remain on.
He said he would check on this and have the light turned
off in the evening.
Dr. Gallagher thanked Mr. Stratton for his presentation.
Presentation and Questions and Answers on Residential
Permit Parking, and Traffic Abatement and Control
by Jean Gries, Montgomery County Department of Public
Works and Transportation
Dr. Gallagher welcomed Jean Gries, from Montgomery
County Department of Public Works and Transportation,
who presented information about a proposed new pedestrian
crosswalk on West Cedar Lane near Cedarcrest Drive,
and follow-up on parking permits for residential areas.
Ms. Gries noted that there is an existing marked crosswalk
at West Cedar Lane and Rockville Pike; however, she
said already there are pedestrians crossing west of
that intersection to get to the NIH and to Metro. She
said when the NIH pedestrian access gates are installed
that she anticipates the need for additional crosswalks
due to the volume of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic.
She described a proposed crossing which, in addition
to pavement markings, would include an elongated center
refuge island in West Cedar Lane's 44-foot wide roadway
west of Cedarcrest Drive. This island would accommodate
pedestrian traffic crossing West Cedar Lane to NIH's
Garden Lane pedestrian portal that is replacing the
NIH vehicle parking access on the north side of Campus.
Ms. Gries said there had been a study conducted to
determine neighborhood traffic movement in that area
during the hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. in May 2003. She
reported a total of 79 vehicles using this intersection
to make left turns out of Cedarcrest Drive onto West
Cedar Lane during these 12 hours. Between 7:45 and 8:45
a.m. there were 10 vehicles making left turns from Cedarcrest
Drive onto West Cedar Lane. There were 46 vehicles turning
left onto Cedarcrest Drive from West Cedar Lane during
this 12-hour period. She said the busiest hour was from
5 to 6 p.m. when 13 vehicles turned onto West Cedar
Lane. Mr. Schofer expressed concern about liability
associated with "zebra" [marked] crosswalks
and about fire truck access to the Maplewood neighborhood.
He asked Ms. Gries to describe the refuge island. She
replied that the elongated island would be raised and
placed in the center of the roadway on West Cedar Lane,
prohibiting left turns at the intersection. She said
that emergency and neighborhood access points would
need examination. Ms. Gries said she wanted to have
input from the community before presenting this concept
to her department. Without community support, she said
she would not present this concept, but at this time,
she did not have an alternative to recommend. Mr. Schofer
recommended that the concept remain under discussion
until he consulted his Maplewood neighbors.
Dr. Gallagher asked for clarification of where entrance
to the northeast parking garage area would be. Ms. Serras-Fiotes
said that the parking garage would be accessible from
Rockville Pike, not Cedar Lane. In addition, she said
that there would be fewer NIH surface parking spaces
beginning in the fall in that area due to the construction
of the storm water facility.
Dr. Gallagher said he would appreciate having suggestions
to deter illegal parking in nearby neighborhoods by
NIH employees and contractors. He wondered if the NIH
could fund a County enforcement officer to monitor parking
in nearby neighborhoods. Ms. Serras-Fiotes said that
she believes government funds cannot be appropriated
for a non-government activity, and lawyers would need
to be consulted. Ms. Gries said the neighborhood permit
parking program is crafted to allow permit holders to
park anywhere within the permit boundary area and not
to restrict permit holders to park only on their own
particular block or street. Ms. Gries suggested Dr.
Gallagher talk to Rick Siebert who is chief of the Parking
Operations Section for the County. Because there are
55 residential permit parking areas, she said there
is no way an officer could be in any one location everyday.
Dr. Gallagher informed the CLC that NIH can only request,
not order, employees to refrain from parking in nearby
public areas.
Dr. Gallagher said that due to the forthcoming temporary
loss of parking spaces in the northeast section of the
Campus, a new group, formed to address the effect on
the workplace and the neighborhoods, would convene for
the first time on Monday, July 21, 2003.
Pat Southerland, Huntington Parkway Citizens Association,
said his neighborhood is considering a parking permit
program and wished to receive information about the
procedures. Ms. Gries mentioned that Tim Briscoe or
she would assist him. She offered to send a copy of
the regulations, which are undergoing revision. Ms.
Gries said the program now costs residents $20 per vehicle
for a two-year permit and one transferable guest permit
for short term parking use. Ms. Gries noted the residential
parking program is a very successful system, including
parking enforcement.
Mr. Matejik wondered what incentives NIH provides for
encouraging observation of parking restrictions. He
reported that he spotted vehicles parking in his neighborhood
which carried four construction workers in one vehicle,
whereas NIH employees' cars carried only the driver.
He added the few public spaces in his neighborhood fill
up quickly and early in the morning. Mr. Southerland
wondered if, when the fence is installed, NIH could
trace who is originating their trip, for example, from
Frederick and then entering Campus at a pedestrian gate.
Dr. Gallagher and Ms. Serras-Fiotes said there would
be no way to determine whether someone had been dropped
off by another driver on their way to another location
or had parked nearby. Dr. Gallagher said his office
has made efforts to deter NIH contract and employee
parking in neighborhoods, including placing leaflets
on cars and providing copies to neighbors to place on
cars. Mr. Southerland concluded that the residential
parking permit program would be the only enforceable
system to deter parking in nearby neighborhoods.
Presentation on NIH Highway Advisory Radio
by Thomas Hayden, Transportation Planner, ORF, OD,
NIH
Dr. Gallagher introduced Thomas Hayden, Transportation
Planner, ORF, OD, NIH, who announced that the NIH is
establishing a new 10-watt AM radio station that will
be used to advise employees and others about traffic
backups or incidents on Old Georgetown Road and Rockville
Pike or in the vicinity. In addition, it will be used
to advise travelers to take arterial roadways, or to
notify employees if the Campus or a particular entrance
is closed. He said the system is comprised of three
components: 1) the radio, 2) flashing beacon signs,
and 3) variable message sign boards. Each of these will
serve to advise employees to listen to broadcasts regarding
traffic near the NIH. He added that the NIH will be
working with the Council of Governments and the Maryland
State Highway Administration through their CHART office
to incorporate this system possibly into a more regional
emergency broadcast system for regional emergencies.
In response to Dr. Gallagher's query, Mr. Hayden said
it would be possible to use the radio system to inform
drivers about parking and the potential of ticketing
in restricted parking areas. He said the station is
prohibited from airing commercial messages. Mr. Giron
noted the range of the radio signal is limited. Mr.
Hayden said that the signal reaches a 6-mile radius
reaching the south side of Bethesda to the I-270 corridor.
He reported that NIH will be testing the system once
all the components have been installed, and the target
date for operating the radio station in the Campus area
is mid-/late August. He said that expanding the service
to the Rockledge and using a repeater system extending
the signal to the Executive Boulevard area is under
consideration and would benefit the entire NIH workforce.
He noted it would be possible to use the system on a
24-hour basis if needed.
Tony Clifford of NIH's Office of Research Facilities
Development and Operations (ORF), emphasized that this
system will be valuable to employees by providing real-time
information during snow storms and other inclement weather
conditions. He said NIH would be able to announce additional
entrance or exit lanes being open or closed as well.
Ms. Rice encouraged the NIH to provide information to
the neighborhoods about the radio station. Mr. Southerland
recommended an NIH traffic information scroll be displayed
on the County TV station when intersections near NIH
are on shown on camera.
Other Items
Dr. Gallagher remarked on the progress made by the CLC
and NIH on issues presented during this meeting. He
reminded members that the pathway lighting would be
turned on this weekend for evaluation by neighbors.
He said the choice should allow enough light for those
using the path to be safe. Mr. Schofer said the decision
would be a compromise, and he urged the first consideration
be to maximize security and the second consideration
would be any inconvenience to neighbors regarding the
brightness of the lights. Mr. Matejik noted that there
had been three-foot high lights with reflectors used
before.
W. David Dabney, Bethesda Urban Partnership, announced
the location of the [former NIH] Farmers Market at Norfolk
and Auburn Avenues in Bethesda. He said the market is
open on Tuesdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Dr. Gallagher and Ms. Clemens announced the next meeting
of the M-NCPPC on Monday, July 21, 2003, at 7:30 p.m.,
in the Planning Board Auditorium, where the meeting
topic is the plan for NIH Building 33.
Dr. Gallagher noted there would be no August 2003 meeting.
The meeting was adjourned.
ACTION ITEMS
- Dr. Gallagher invited the representatives from
neighborhoods abutting the south side of the Campus
to join him at dusk over the upcoming weekend, weather
permitting, to view the three alternative types of
lights being considered for lighting the path between
Metro and Old Georgetown Road on the south perimeter
of the Campus.
- Mr. Giron said he would check into an exterior
light at the entrance to the parking garage at Building
45, Natcher, that should not remain on after closing
hours.
- Officer Robertson will supply a number for communication
after hours to report incidents to the NIH Police.
- Mr. Schofer offered to provide feedback to Ms.
Gries about the concept for a pedestrian refuge island
she proposed for Cedar Lane across from the NIH pedestrian
gate.
- Ms. Rice encouraged the NIH to provide information
to the neighborhoods about the NIH's Highway Advisory
radio station.
Next CLC meeting: September 18, 2003.
ATTENDEES
CLC Members
- Lorraine Bell, Palladian Partners, Inc.
- Jeanne Billings, Ph.D., Wisconsin Condominium Association
- Shari Book, Kensington Estates Civic Association
- Marilyn Clemens, Maryland-National Capital Park
and Planning Commission
- Anthony Clifford, ORF, OD, NIH
- Jack Costello, Bethesda Parkview Citizens Association
- Kimberly Cragg, OCL, OD, NIH
- W. David Dabney, Bethesda Urban Partnership
- Tom Gallagher, OCL, OD, NIH
- Morton Goldman, Luxmanor Citizens Association
- Jeanne Goldstein, Montgomery County Civic Federation
- Sue Garges, Battery Park Citizens Association
- Marilyn Mazuzan, Town of Oakmont
- Ginny Miller, Wyngate Citizens Association
- Walter Mitton, OCL, OD, NIH
- Lucy Ozarin, M.D., Whitehall Condominium Association
- Eleanor Rice, Locust Hill Civic Association
- Tom Robertson, Parkwood Residents Association
- Ralph Schofer, Maplewood Citizens Association
- Randy Schools, Recreation & Welfare Association,
NIH
- Stephanie Sechrist, National Capital Planning Commission
- Stella Serras-Fiotes, ORF, OD, NIH
- Deborah Snead, Bethesda-Chevy Chase Services Center
Alternate Members
- Scott Matejik, Edgewood Glenwood Citizens Association
- Pat Southerland, Huntington Parkway Citizens Association
- Adrienne Young, Camelot Mews
Guests
- Ken Courtney, Spaulding & Slye
- Nancy Decker, Spaulding & Slye
- Mike Donohoe, Whiting-Turner Contracting
- Jean Gries, Montgomery County Department of Public
Works and Transportation
- Tom Hayden, ORF, OD, NIH
- Cpl. A. Kerr, Montgomery County Police
- Kyung Kim, ORF, OD, NIH
- Ven Kott, Food and Drug Administration
- Chris Molivadas, Spaulding & Slye
- Ophus Robertson, NIH Police
- Michael Sansaver, IDB Architecture
- Mayra Sequeira, NIH/OD/ORF
- William Stratton, LSY Architects
- Shelley Wendt, LSY Architects
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