Fillmore supporters turn out for council’s final meeting of summer

Lawmakers pressed to break impasse over zoning changes

Under current rules, the Planning Board may accept or reject public-use space offered to the county as an amenity by developers at the end of a project in order to increase a project’s density in central business districts. Under Leggett’s proposal, the board no longer would have that discretion when the county executive accepts a property offer for arts or entertainment use. Also, the developer offering the land would receive project and site plan approvals for up to 15 years.

In the Fillmore deal, Lee Development Group, which owns the land on Colesville Road, would give the property to the county as an amenity before nearby land it owns would be developed.

The Planning Board voted against the recommendations during a meeting two weeks ago, agreeing on the need for a music hall, but disagreeing with Leggett’s process.

‘‘If proposed by another application, this would not pass the laugh test,” Hanson said Tuesday.

A group of residents wearing ‘‘Finish the Fillmore” stickers jeered Hanson’s comments from the back of the council chambers in Rockville.

Councilwoman Valerie Ervin, who represents the Silver Spring area, called some of Hanson’s testimony ‘‘far- reaching.”

‘‘It seems to me that this is about who had discretionary powers,” said Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring. ‘‘This shouldn’t be put in the ongoing crosshairs of a turf struggle going on between the executive branch and the Planning Board.”

Hanson disagreed.

‘‘I wouldn’t classify this as a turf struggle,” he said. ‘‘... This is not a good idea. The Fillmore is a good idea. Achieving it is a good idea. This is not a good mean to that end.”

In a letter dated Tuesday, Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) urged the council to approve the zoning amendments. The state is funding $4 million of the project; this county is putting in $4 million.

‘‘The state funds are contingent upon the county’s adoption of the requisite zoning text amendments,” O’Malley said in the letter.

A worksession on the zoning amendments is scheduled for Sept. 29 in the council’s Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee.

Almost two dozen speakers also turned out for a public hearing on land-use and density requirements included in a draft Twinbrook Sector Plan. A PHED Committee session is scheduled for Sept. 8.

WSSC changes

Council President Michael J. Knapp said the time is ripe to change the way the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission governs itself.

‘‘We need to get an outcome that allows the organization to move forward instead of getting to a stalemate month after month,” said Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown.

Council members met with the county’s lobbyists on Tuesday morning to discuss potential legislation when the WSSC matter came up. The bicounty agency is governed by a six-member commission, with three members from Montgomery County and three from Prince George’s County. For years, personnel and policy issues have mired the WSSC, which provides water and sewer to 1.6 million customers.

Knapp and other council members had no specific recommendations for the commission’s future, although the council president mentioned that other boards allow alternate members to vote. WSSC has no alternate members.

The governor could appoint a seventh member, Knapp said.

‘‘I’m agnostic,” he said.

Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park offered: ‘‘The concept that no decision-making body should have an even number of members is a simple one.”

Taxi fee extended

Also Tuesday, the council extended until Nov. 25 a $1.50 fuel surcharge imposed charged by taxis. The surcharge is intended to offset rising fuel prices and was set to expire Aug. 27.

Leggett requested the 90-day extension while his office rewrites taxi rate regulations that will incorporate the surcharge.