September CJCA Meeting & the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative
NOTE: We will NOT meet at CBNRC this September & the hearing meeting location has been changed to Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School; registration required.
The September Cabin John Citizens Association Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, September 25 will NOT BE HELD at Clara Barton Neighborhood Recreation Center. Instead, we will do a CJCA meeting “field trip” to the hearing on the Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative to be held at the Bethesda – Chevy Chase High School (4301 East-West Highway, Bethesda), from 7:00 to 9:00pm Sept. 25th. Register by noon on September 21 to attend:
https://mcgmd.wufoo.com/forms/z1x6zubk1qub83c
The Attainable Housing Strategies Initiative is a set of potential zoning modifications prepared by the Montgomery County Planning Department and recommended to the county council in June by the Montgomery County Planning Board. The modifications would allow property owners to have the option to build a wider range of housing types in areas of the county that have only allowed one single-family detached home per lot for decades.
This is an important and interesting initiative. More information at https://montgomeryplanning.org/county-council-and-montgomery-planning-to-host-community-listening-sessions-on-planning-board-recommendations-to-help-address-the-countys-housing-crisis/
If you would like to attend but need transportation, we will be putting together carpools – contact cjcapresidents@gmail.com.
The October CJCA Meeting will be held, as usual, on October 23 at CBNRC at 7:30pm.
Public Works Corner – Beltway/Commuter Updates
Another Village News issue and yes, another update on the Beltway. Commuters who travel regularly over the American Legion Bridge to Virginia will note–and be annoyed by–the construction just south of the bridge. Virginia is extending the HOT (High Occupancy Toll) lanes northward to just south of the GW Parkway interchange. When this is completed, Virginia will have almost 90 miles of HOT lanes across three areas: the I-95/I-395 lanes running from the Stafford area to the D.C. border; the Beltway lanes running from the Springfield Interchange to just south of the GW Parkway; and the I-66 Express Lanes from Rosslyn to Gainesville. One might be interested to know that an SUV towing a one-axle trailer from CJ out to Manassas and beyond will incur over $75 in fees if using the HOT lanes the entire journey. The two new miles of HOT lanes from the Dulles Toll Road to just south of the GW Parkway will open late 2025, assuming the project remains on schedule.
But what of the American Legion Bridge and potential Beltway expansion in Maryland? The public-private partnership agreement previously in place fell apart, so Maryland has essentially restarted the process, including the collection of public input and establishment of a funding approach. Here’s what’s known:
1. The Maryland Department of Transportation (MDOT) has conducted a land survey in Maryland and Virginia in preparation for a new bridge.
2. According to MDOT only 6 years of use remain before the bridge will need refurbishment or replacement.
3. Wes Moore and MDOT have emphasized potential multimodal improvements to the bridge to include new bicycle and pedestrian access as well as toll lanes and widening.
4. Pushback against the widening continues based on environmental and other concerns, some of this generated from our community given the impacts it would have on Cabin John.
5. The funding required for such a significant project is not in place with some grants approved, others still under consideration and at least one grant outright denied.
6. Virginia and its local county governments are very supportive of a new bridge, but their construction is about to end.
7. Any new expansion project would start 2026 or later and would not be complete until 2032 or later.
Village News Seeks Layout Editor
Cabin John’s hometown newsletter has kept CJ’ers connected and informed for 58 years, and to make it to 59, we need someone to volunteer to help us put it together.
If you can use Word, PPT, Google Docs, or similar software — you can do it! Graphic design experience is a plus, but you can also learn on the job.
Please contact VN editor Shelly McKenzie at vneditorial@gmail.com to find out more.
CJ House Tour 2025: WANTED – Homes/Gardens to Show!
It has been a long time since the last CJ House Tour: 2008! We are seeking homes to be showcased during a tour to be held on a Saturday or Sunday in May or June 2025. We would appreciate hearing from you if you might like to have your home included on the tour. Does your home have architectural or historic features of interest? Do you have beautiful or unique interior design? Do you have art, hobby or crafts collections in your home that you are willing to show off? Do you expect to have a gorgeous spring garden to share?
Please contact Marcy Harrison, marcyharrison@earthlink.net, 301-908-8906, to discuss. Thank you!