Glenmont Civic Association, Inc.
Five Reasons Not To Build Metro
Garage West of Georgia Avenue
Five Reasons Not To Build Metro
Garage West of Georgia Avenue
REMARKS OF
MICHAEL MCATEER, PRESIDENT
GLENMONT CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED
MEETING WITH DOLLY KILDEE
REPRESENTATIVE OF COUNCILWOMAN NAVARRO
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND
JUNE 25, 2009
Thank you, Ms. Kildee, for the this opportunity to discuss the 1200 car garage Montgomery County plans to build on the residential
west side of Georgia Avenue in Glenmont.
The Glenmont Civic Association, Incorporated (GCIA) opposes this garage being built on the west side. Our civic association
represents the residential west side of Georgia Avenue in Glenmont. We also have members from the east side. These include
businesses, churches, and individual residents.
We believe that if a second Metro garage is built in Glenmont, it should be placed east of Georgia Avenue, somewhere near the
current Glenmont Metro garage, which has the capacity to park about 1800 cars. We believe that a second Metro garage should not
have a capacity for more than 600 cars. If a second garage is built for 600 cars, that would give the Glenmont Metro station a parking
capacity of over 2,500 cars: 1800 in the current garage; 100 surface lots; and 600 in a second garage.
Five Reasons
We believe there are five reasons why a Metro garage should not be built west of Georgia Avenue in Glenmont.
First, a six story, 1200 car parking garage on the residential west side is not consistent with the Montgomery County Master Plan.
The Glenmont Sector Plan of the County Master Plan was updated as recently as 1997. It says the three acre open space near the west
side Metro entrance should be used for the following: a minimal Kiss and Ride (built), a possible child care center, and for townhouses.
A significant portion of the area, including wetlands and a significant growth of tall trees, should be preserved as a “natural park.”
Going back in time, I should note that the west side of Georgia Avenue has been a residential area since single family homes were
built there just after World War II. If the west side garage is built, it will be surrounded by three streets with single family homes –
Urbana Drive, Flack Street, and Denley Road.. If built, the garage will be the only non-residential structure west of Georgia Avenue in
Glenmont.
Besides going against the Sector Plan, the west side garage is opposed by the Montgomery County Planning Board. On April 27,
2006, the Planning Board voted 5 to 0 to locate the new garage on the east side. It said if the (west side) garage is built, it must not be a
stand alone structure; it must not destroy the existing green area, and it must be surrounded by townhouses, as part of a mixed use
development. In this regard, former Planning Board Chairman Derrick Berlage said a free standing garage on the west side is
“incompatible with adjacent land uses”… and inconsistent with the County’s goal of promoting smart growth near Metro stations.
The west side garage is also opposed by the Washington Regional Networks of Liveable Communities. It favors creation of a transit
village in Glenmont with emphasis on walking and biking to public transit. Others opposed to the west side garage are, the Georgia
Avenue Baptist Church (in Glenmont), the Montgomery County Civic Federation, and the Coalition for Smarter Growth. All have taken
public positions against the west side garage.
Second, the planned west side garage will be massive, concrete, ugly and an eyesore. It will abut Georgia Avenue, and it will
measure 350 feet in length, longer than a football field. It will be 186 feet wide. The garage will rise up six stories, plus towers on four
corners, plus light poles. These pole lights will invade the surrounding neighborhood and light up single family homes. Being placed on
one of the highest elevations in the area, the garage will dominate Glenmont. It will be a witness to the County Council’s failure to
protect a neighborhood that surrounds the west side entrance of the Glenmont Metro station.
Third, GCIA believes a west side garage will bring crime to the residential west side. In 2008, Metro published a “Five Year Crime
Report 2003 –2007.” That Report said most crimes in Metro are committed in parking lots (garages) at end of line stations. Glenmont is
an end of line station.
According to the Report, “Part I” crimes -- arson, aggravated assault, burglary, homicide, larceny, auto theft, attempted auto theft,
rape, and robbery – increased from 1,259 to 1,475 in the period studied. “Part II” crimes, all others, increased from 2,848 in 2003 to
3,546 in 2007. Metro’s Report says Glenmont ranks 22 out of 86 Metro stations studied in the number of crimes reported. Also,
Glenmont is in the upper tier for highest number of crimes when compared with other Montgomery County Metro stations. I asked
Metro personnel what crimes and how many were committed in the Glenmont Metro station. They said it was not their policy to answer
such questions.
Fourth, besides being opposed by GCIA, the west side garage is also opposed by the Georgia Avenue Baptist church. That church is
situated east of Georgia Avenue in Glenmont immediately next to the east side Glenmont Metro station and garage. Church leaders say
that since the current Metro garage is situated alongside and behind the church, if a new west side garage is built across Georgia Avenue
in front of their church, it will overshadow them and their church. They believe the planned west side garage will “hem them in.” If a
second garage is necessary, they prefer a smaller garage be built east of Georgia Avenue adjacent to the current Metro garage.
Fifth, the Glenmont Metro Garage is not being used to capacity. As you may know, County officials have said the garage is full to
capacity. Also, Metro’s 2008 Parking Utilization Report says the Glenmont garage utilization rate was 106 percent. In the case of
Metro, its Report is inflated and grossly misleading; and the County statements are inaccurate.
The real parking numbers in Glenmont and nearby public garages are another story. In April 2009, members of the GCIA conducted a
survey of empty spaces in the Glenmont Metro garage. The survey was conducted between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. over two periods
of time, from April 7 to 9, 2009, and from April 14 to 17, 2009. We counted empty spaces in “reserved” “non-reserved” and
“handicapped” parking areas. Empty spaces in the Glenmont Metro garage are as follows: April 7, 221 empty spaces; April 8, 244
empty spaces: April 9, 276 empty spaces. The following week’s numbers are similar, April 14, 190 empty spaces; April 16, 195 empty
spaces; April 17, 299 empty spaces.
We did similar surveys in recent years in the Wheaton Metro garage and the Montgomery County Wheaton garage. We added up
empty spaces on an average work day in two Wheaton garages plus the Glenmont garage. The number came to 1,350 empty spaces.
Given the number of empty parking spaces in Glenmont/Wheaton, is it possible for the County to justify building another garage in
Glenmont? We have pictures of all these empty spaces which we will publish on our website, saveglenmont.org in the near future.
Summary
In conclusion, our association believes we have been seriously short-changed with the plan to build a west side garage. I served on
the Glenmont Sector Plan committee when the Sector Plan was written and approved. It was signed by the County Executive and all
members of the County Council. A west side garage was never even mentioned for consideration.
Also, we are deeply concerned with the crime that exists in all Metro garages and especially end of line garages. It is wrong to build
such a garage as planned in a residential community.
Esthetically, the west side garage will be a shipwreck. A council member who votes for that will be identified as “not a friend of
Glenmont,” at least in our community. For us, this is a game changing event, and we have hired legal counsel to help us.
We seek your support in opposing and defeating a west side garage in Glenmont.
Thank you.
MICHAEL MCATEER, PRESIDENT
GLENMONT CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INCORPORATED
MEETING WITH DOLLY KILDEE
REPRESENTATIVE OF COUNCILWOMAN NAVARRO
ROCKVILLE, MARYLAND
JUNE 25, 2009
Thank you, Ms. Kildee, for the this opportunity to discuss the 1200 car garage Montgomery County plans to build on the residential
west side of Georgia Avenue in Glenmont.
The Glenmont Civic Association, Incorporated (GCIA) opposes this garage being built on the west side. Our civic association
represents the residential west side of Georgia Avenue in Glenmont. We also have members from the east side. These include
businesses, churches, and individual residents.
We believe that if a second Metro garage is built in Glenmont, it should be placed east of Georgia Avenue, somewhere near the
current Glenmont Metro garage, which has the capacity to park about 1800 cars. We believe that a second Metro garage should not
have a capacity for more than 600 cars. If a second garage is built for 600 cars, that would give the Glenmont Metro station a parking
capacity of over 2,500 cars: 1800 in the current garage; 100 surface lots; and 600 in a second garage.
Five Reasons
We believe there are five reasons why a Metro garage should not be built west of Georgia Avenue in Glenmont.
First, a six story, 1200 car parking garage on the residential west side is not consistent with the Montgomery County Master Plan.
The Glenmont Sector Plan of the County Master Plan was updated as recently as 1997. It says the three acre open space near the west
side Metro entrance should be used for the following: a minimal Kiss and Ride (built), a possible child care center, and for townhouses.
A significant portion of the area, including wetlands and a significant growth of tall trees, should be preserved as a “natural park.”
Going back in time, I should note that the west side of Georgia Avenue has been a residential area since single family homes were
built there just after World War II. If the west side garage is built, it will be surrounded by three streets with single family homes –
Urbana Drive, Flack Street, and Denley Road.. If built, the garage will be the only non-residential structure west of Georgia Avenue in
Glenmont.
Besides going against the Sector Plan, the west side garage is opposed by the Montgomery County Planning Board. On April 27,
2006, the Planning Board voted 5 to 0 to locate the new garage on the east side. It said if the (west side) garage is built, it must not be a
stand alone structure; it must not destroy the existing green area, and it must be surrounded by townhouses, as part of a mixed use
development. In this regard, former Planning Board Chairman Derrick Berlage said a free standing garage on the west side is
“incompatible with adjacent land uses”… and inconsistent with the County’s goal of promoting smart growth near Metro stations.
The west side garage is also opposed by the Washington Regional Networks of Liveable Communities. It favors creation of a transit
village in Glenmont with emphasis on walking and biking to public transit. Others opposed to the west side garage are, the Georgia
Avenue Baptist Church (in Glenmont), the Montgomery County Civic Federation, and the Coalition for Smarter Growth. All have taken
public positions against the west side garage.
Second, the planned west side garage will be massive, concrete, ugly and an eyesore. It will abut Georgia Avenue, and it will
measure 350 feet in length, longer than a football field. It will be 186 feet wide. The garage will rise up six stories, plus towers on four
corners, plus light poles. These pole lights will invade the surrounding neighborhood and light up single family homes. Being placed on
one of the highest elevations in the area, the garage will dominate Glenmont. It will be a witness to the County Council’s failure to
protect a neighborhood that surrounds the west side entrance of the Glenmont Metro station.
Third, GCIA believes a west side garage will bring crime to the residential west side. In 2008, Metro published a “Five Year Crime
Report 2003 –2007.” That Report said most crimes in Metro are committed in parking lots (garages) at end of line stations. Glenmont is
an end of line station.
According to the Report, “Part I” crimes -- arson, aggravated assault, burglary, homicide, larceny, auto theft, attempted auto theft,
rape, and robbery – increased from 1,259 to 1,475 in the period studied. “Part II” crimes, all others, increased from 2,848 in 2003 to
3,546 in 2007. Metro’s Report says Glenmont ranks 22 out of 86 Metro stations studied in the number of crimes reported. Also,
Glenmont is in the upper tier for highest number of crimes when compared with other Montgomery County Metro stations. I asked
Metro personnel what crimes and how many were committed in the Glenmont Metro station. They said it was not their policy to answer
such questions.
Fourth, besides being opposed by GCIA, the west side garage is also opposed by the Georgia Avenue Baptist church. That church is
situated east of Georgia Avenue in Glenmont immediately next to the east side Glenmont Metro station and garage. Church leaders say
that since the current Metro garage is situated alongside and behind the church, if a new west side garage is built across Georgia Avenue
in front of their church, it will overshadow them and their church. They believe the planned west side garage will “hem them in.” If a
second garage is necessary, they prefer a smaller garage be built east of Georgia Avenue adjacent to the current Metro garage.
Fifth, the Glenmont Metro Garage is not being used to capacity. As you may know, County officials have said the garage is full to
capacity. Also, Metro’s 2008 Parking Utilization Report says the Glenmont garage utilization rate was 106 percent. In the case of
Metro, its Report is inflated and grossly misleading; and the County statements are inaccurate.
The real parking numbers in Glenmont and nearby public garages are another story. In April 2009, members of the GCIA conducted a
survey of empty spaces in the Glenmont Metro garage. The survey was conducted between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. over two periods
of time, from April 7 to 9, 2009, and from April 14 to 17, 2009. We counted empty spaces in “reserved” “non-reserved” and
“handicapped” parking areas. Empty spaces in the Glenmont Metro garage are as follows: April 7, 221 empty spaces; April 8, 244
empty spaces: April 9, 276 empty spaces. The following week’s numbers are similar, April 14, 190 empty spaces; April 16, 195 empty
spaces; April 17, 299 empty spaces.
We did similar surveys in recent years in the Wheaton Metro garage and the Montgomery County Wheaton garage. We added up
empty spaces on an average work day in two Wheaton garages plus the Glenmont garage. The number came to 1,350 empty spaces.
Given the number of empty parking spaces in Glenmont/Wheaton, is it possible for the County to justify building another garage in
Glenmont? We have pictures of all these empty spaces which we will publish on our website, saveglenmont.org in the near future.
Summary
In conclusion, our association believes we have been seriously short-changed with the plan to build a west side garage. I served on
the Glenmont Sector Plan committee when the Sector Plan was written and approved. It was signed by the County Executive and all
members of the County Council. A west side garage was never even mentioned for consideration.
Also, we are deeply concerned with the crime that exists in all Metro garages and especially end of line garages. It is wrong to build
such a garage as planned in a residential community.
Esthetically, the west side garage will be a shipwreck. A council member who votes for that will be identified as “not a friend of
Glenmont,” at least in our community. For us, this is a game changing event, and we have hired legal counsel to help us.
We seek your support in opposing and defeating a west side garage in Glenmont.
Thank you.
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