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The Montgomery County Planning Board on Tuesday presented its semiannual report, which included a schedule of completion for 19 master plans and a pledge to condense the development review process — cutting the time it takes to navigate the process by two-thirds.

"I think that we should do everything we can to reduce the amount of time people spend before county government while not reducing the adequacy of review," said Council President Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg.

The council voted Tuesday to remove the Clarksburg master plan from its schedule, saying that an ad hoc water quality committee also formed by the council Tuesday might be able to resolve the issues that would have been addressed in a master plan review.

The Planning Board had recommended a revision of the Clarksburg master plan to address water quality issues in the Ten Mile Creek watershed. Councilman Michael J. Knapp (D-Dist. 2) of Germantown introduced the idea to form the water quality committee.

The council also approved a motion by Councilman George L. Leventhal (D-At large) of Takoma Park to move up planning for the light rail's Purple Line. The Planning Board had proposed a deadline of 2013, but council members voted Tuesday to receive the planning draft in 2011.

Planning Board members said Tuesday that council staff recommended moving the date to 2013 because the issue was too "politically sensitive," but Leventhal said the 2011 date should stand.

"There will be a Purple Line," he said. "There will be stations."

Council members, Leggett make case for top bond rating

Two Montgomery County Council members, Executive Isiah Leggett (D) and several county staff members traveled to New York on Friday to help ensure the county maintains its AAA bond rating — the highest rating available.

A bond rating is an indicator of the security of the county's financial debt, such as bonds. A rating agency examines the county's rating annually.

Andrews and Councilwoman Duchy Trachtenberg (D-At large) of North Bethesda, chairwoman of the council's finance committee, made the trip, along with Leggett.

Andrews said the county's AAA bond rating saves taxpayers millions of dollars each year in financing capital projects.

A decision by three of the country's major bond rating agencies — Moody's Investor Service, Standard & Poor's and Fitch Rating — is expected in the next few weeks, and Andrews said he is "hopeful" that the county will retain the AAA rating.

Council discusses fate

of ‘orphan roads'

The Montgomery County Council is considering who should be responsible for maintenance and services on public roads that are not considered county roads.

For the 240 so-called "orphan roads," residents along what often are dirt or gravel roads have been responsible for maintenance and services, such as snow removal.

The council considering three approaches for needed improvements along the "dedicated but unmaintained" county roads:

-Self Build/Self Maintain: Residents would collaborate on funding improvements, but the road would be private;

-Self Build/County Maintain: Residents would collaborate on funding improvements to county standards, at which point it would be accepted for maintenance by the county;

-County Build/County Maintain: Residents would fund in equal shares improvements to county standards.

Councilwoman Nancy Floreen (D-At large), chairwoman of the committee discussing the policy, said officials are attempting to bring more "consistency to the system."

Berliner holds town hall meeting

Montgomery County Council Vice President Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac will speak with the public Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in North Bethesda as part of his "Conversations with Councilmember Berliner" series.

The event will be held at the Mansion at Strathmore, 10701 Rockville Pike. Berliner's district includes Bethesda, Cabin John, Chevy Chase, Friendship Heights, Garrett Park, Glen Echo, North Bethesda, Potomac, Randolph Hills and Somerset. 

For details, call 240-777-7828.