Positions on Issues
of Deborah A. Vollmer, Candidate for Town
Council, Town of Chevy Chase
Mansionization. The builders and
developers, and the real estate agents who represent them, have
entirely too much control over our Town. We need to have a Town
Council that is willing to stand up to development interests, to
protect the unique character of our Town. Existing ordinances
simply do not provide sufficient protection to residents from the
ravages of teardowns and new construction, which continues, even as
nationally the market for new homes has cratered.
Many good
people put in many long hours and a lot of hard work to craft the new
building ordinance. Yet, while I submit that the new ordinance is
a positive step forward, I do not believe that it goes far
enough. Homeowners are completely helpless, when a
builder/developer decides to build next door, with total disregard to
for the rights of the owner of the adjacent property. The PrePAC
meetings are of little help, as the homeowners on adjacent land have no
real input into the decision as to what is to be built next door to
them, but can only listen to the plans as set forth by the
builder/developer.
Our tree
canopy is being destroyed bit by bit; the neighbors of the new huge
houses are being deprived in some instances of sunlight and in some
instances, the established use of shared driveways is seriously
impaired by the new construction. We are also losing much
of our history as, one after another, older, well-built, modest-sized
houses are demolished to make way for huge monstrosities. One
would think that this trend would have been curbed by the downturn in
the housing market, but in fact, the trend continues, to the detriment
of our Town.
Some of the
changes to the building code that I have in mind include:
procedures to give homeowners of properties adjacent to contemplated
new construction more of a voice in opposing projects which have a
negative effect on that homeowner’s right to quiet enjoyment of his/her
property. I would strengthen provisions protecting our tree
canopy, and I would codify the right of a homeowner not to have
sunlight blocked unreasonably by new construction. I would
reaffirm in the code the right to unobstructed access via shared
driveways, and ban the construction of such abominations as a two-car
garage fronting at a right angle to a six foot wide shared driveway, to
replace a one-car detached garage. I would strengthen the rights
of a homeowner to oppose building permits that have an adverse effect
on that homeowner’s rights, and on the environment, generally.
Historic
Sites. I would develop a
program for designating properties within our Town to be historic
structures, worthy of preservation. Residents would have a
procedure whereby they could petition to have well-built, older homes
preserved. This would supplement the already existing procedure
for historic designation in
Appointment
of Commission to Study and Make Recommendations: re: Affordable Housing. Many of our older
homes, if they could be preserved, just might be affordable to some of
the folks we like to have around, but who cannot afford to live
here. I am thinking of people like school teachers and
firefighters, who do not happen to be independently wealthy. We
should make it possible for people like this to rent or buy within our
Town, and the older homes that have been well-maintained just might be
suitably affordable to some of these people. The Commission would
study just how such a program might be implemented, and make
recommendations to the Town Council.
Voting
rights in Town Elections. To be eligible to
vote in Town elections, a person must be a
Dog Parks. There is a lot of
interest in this Town for the establishment of a dog park, where dogs
could be allowed to run free, while their human companions
socialize. Opponents are concerned about such issues as dog poop,
trampled grass, and fencing. Proponents say that all of these
problems can be addressed, and that dog parks can be kept clean and
enjoyable. I would encourage the proponents to gather relevant
information regarding the feasibility of having a dog park in our town,
and having it managed in such a way that it is an asset to our
community. If elected to the Council, I am willing to work with
the proponents toward the end of establishing a dog park. As park
land in our Town is limited, I would explore the option of having fixed
hours, allowing for multiple uses of the chosen park.
Saving the
Trail. I support the
efforts of our Town Council to save the
Some
consideration should also be given to the fact that the consolidation
of Walter Reed with Naval Medical (BRAC) may well mean that it would
make more sense to have any transportation link be with the Medical
Center Metro rather than downtown
In the long
run, I would be open to considering an underground Purple Line, but
only if the need in terms of actual ridership is established, and only
if the political will exists to spend the money necessary to make it
happen.
Conversion
to Digital Television. I was concerned and
disappointed recently when I switched on one of my favorite television
stations (Maryland Public Television, Channel 22) to watch the
Newshour, and to discover that all I could receive was “snow!” I
have expressed my disappointment to Channel 22 for making the digital
switch early, depriving those with analog televisions and without
converter boxes of this programming. It makes no sense to require
people who have cable (in my case, Comcast) to get a special box in
order to receive one station, when (we are told at least) all one will
need to do when the switch by all of the stations to digital is
complete is to keep one’s current cable hook-up.
I think
Channel 22 was very shortsighted to take the step of switching early,
but I also think the blame is to be shared with Comcast Cable and the
Federal Communications Commission. I am also concerned that the
cable companies offer us a huge number of channels, but relatively
little real choice. I anticipate that there may be future
problems as we move closer to the digital switch, and the Town should
be ready to advocate for the residents of our Town, if such problems do
arise.
Regulation
of the use of Propane and LPG heaters at construction sites. The fire in January
of this year at the construction site on
While the
information circulating on the “grapevine” was that the explosion and
fire were caused by an LPG heater that was left unattended
overnight. I have been informed by Mayor Strom that the
investigation that was conducted was inconclusive.
If the
cylinders were indoors, then the County law was violated. If the
cylinders were outdoors, then the County law was not violated, but if
that was the case, it also is true that the use of these LPG heaters
were the cause of the fire, which would indicate that existing laws on
the subject are inadequate to protect the residents of our Town.
I would press the Fire Marshall for more answers, and I would consider
enacting a new Town ordinance banning the use of these heaters, or
establishing strict regulation of them, if in fact there are procedures
which, if in place, would make the use of them at construction sites,
safe. Certainly, heaters like this should never be left
unattended. But I do not know whether they can be used safely at
all, and if they cannot be used safely, the use of these heaters at
construction sites should be banned altogether.
These are
just a few ideas that I have, that I would pursue if I am elected to
the Town Council. Please feel free to contact me by e-mail at dvollmer@verizon.net,
or by telephone at (301) 652-5762 if you have any questions.
Thank you.
Deborah A. Vollmer
Candidate for Town Council,
Town of