Past Issues
Within considerations to maximize the preservation and use of agricultural land, SCA supports the conservation of existing forested land under the current Maryland State and Montgomery County Forest Conservation laws.
It’s one of those things that drive us all a little crazy—seeing plastic and styrofoam cups and food containers on the side of our roads, in our lakes and rivers, at our parks, and bulging out of garbage cans in fast food restaurants and at public events. I
A zoning text amendment which would change the definition of a winery and allow it to have 6 events” by right” every year. Currently, a winery is permitted by right in most agricultural zones if limited to two public events per year.
Sugarloaf Citizens Association, Montgomery Countryside Alliance. and Audubon Naturalist met with the Department of Permitting Services in May of this year on the problems in the Up-County regarding the Special Benefits Permit.
Due to the efforts of citizens in all three affected states, this unnecessary line will not be built. Without citizen opposition, the PATH project would already be under construction and PMJ would have not run the tests that have proved the absence of need.
On Thursday, December 2, 2010, Park and Planning approved the special exception providing that Dr. Gillespie is able to get a waiver from the Department of Environmental Protection on the County Noise Ordinance. The airstrip did not meet the requirements of the County Noise Ordinance. S.C.A. intends to work with affected neighbors to petition the DEP not to grant this waiver.
Breaking News: The Maryland Court of Appeals has reversed the Circuit Court and affirmed the Board of Appeals decision against Melody Butler Landscaping Design. SCA will monitor the M.C. Permitting Office to make sure that this business, which has been operating illegally for over four years, will finally be shut down.
On October 26th, 2010, the Montgomery County Council adopted ZTA 10-12, Child Lot Standards with amendments. The new law will go into effect on November 15, 2010. Here is the link to the ZTA as adopted.
Zoning Text Amendments (ZTA) that allow special permission to operate outside the rules governing the Agricultural Reserve create areas of Spot Zoning that chip away at the foundation of laws and regulations established to preserve the area.
On November 17th, the Frederick Planning Commission voted to cease the Planning Commission’s involvement with the Frederick County’s County Commissioners plan to review the 2010 Master Plan and to support the existing 2010 Plan without changes. For more information please see the two news articles below.
SCA supports limited development of the Equestrian Park for recreation purposes for local citizens but not for hosting major events which could strain water resources, interfere with agricultural production and/or cause major increases in traffic on rustic roads.
MARC Brunswick Line train service through our community---with station stops at Boyds, Barnesville, and Dickerson---should be maintained and improved as a vital commuter link between upper-county residents and their jobs and as a convenient way to access down-county and Washington, D.C., services and attractions.
In a February 19, 2007 memo to the Montgomery Parks and Planning Board, SCA reviewed and made comments on the Final Report of the Ad Hoc Agricultural Policy Working Group, published January 2007.
One of the most consistent threats to the integrity of the up-county started long before the AgReserve was formed. No less than six feasibility studies were conducted to determine a route for a superhighway to connect Virginia and Maryland with a new bridge over the Potomac.