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Mayr &couel esting Date: Ober 7.2038 aca te Type: Public Hesing ‘Response sa ey Wash Subject Public Hearing on a Proposed Memorandum of Understanding Between Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and the City of Rockville for Operation of Soccer Fields and Lights at Julius West Middle Schoo), 651 Great Falls Road Recommendation Hold the Public Hearing, Discussion ‘Background In June 2016, the Montgomery County Board of Education approved a settlement agreement with Montgomery Soccer, Inc, (MSI), following a lawsuit. As part of this agreement, MSI contributes funding forthe construction of new artificial tur fields with fights at several schools within the County in exchange for access tothe fields wnen notin use by the schools. One of ‘the schools dented in the agreement is lulus West Middle School Mandatory Referral Review In February 2018, Montgomery County Public Schools submitted a Mandatory Referral application (ST2018-00340) to convert two natural grass fields into two artificial turf soccer fields on the north of the school, adjacent to -270. The proposal includes the addition of 10, poles of 60 feet to 70 feetin height to provide lighting for both fields. ‘The project location Is atthe northeast intersection of Falls Road and 1-270, with a Forest Conservation Easement separating the fields from the interstate, The larger of the two fields {totals approximately 103,490 square feet in area and will contain 6 lights with a maximum pole helght of 70 feet. The smaler of the two felds totals $8,441 square feet in area and will contain 4 lights with 2 maximum pole height of 60 feet. Other miscellaneous improvements include benches for the smaller fied, and modifications tothe existing “running loop” around the larger field. There is no plan to provide any signage, scoreboards, amplified sound systems or {randstands, nor are thereany improvements to the school building proposed as a result ofthe project. ‘The proposed soccer fields were shown on the mandatory referral site plan approved in 2018 forthe building addition to Julius West MS in the same location; however, there were no lights associated with the 2014 plan, The proposed lights willbe placed along the north and south sides of the two fields. lafermation provided with the 2018 application indicates that the project will comply with the Landscaping, Screening, and Lighting Manual requirement for an ‘average illumination of S0-foot candies for soccer flelds. The lights are designed to focus downivards to mitigate glace ond spillage onto adjacent properties. The closest residential properties to the proposed felds are the homes across Falls Road on Marcus Court in the Markwood neighborhood, which ate approximately 225 feet from the larger of the two proposed fields. The townhomes alang Blaze Climber Way in Rose Hills Falls are approximately 20 feet from the northwest corner of the smaller field ‘The prolect was reviewed and approved as a Mandatory Referral in accordance with applicable state law governing the construction of public buildings and structures. The Planning Commission's review determined consistency with the Plan as definad under Section 3.205 of the Land Use Anticle of the Annotated Code of Maryland, specifically as it relates to location, character, and extent of the proposed site development. [tthe Planning Commission meeting in Apil, 2028, here were concerns expressed by residents from surrounding neighborhoods that the new fields with artificial turf and lighting wil ead to an increased ulllzation of the fiekés. The concer 1s that the proposed improvements will ‘Significantly increase activity beyond the current usage, thus negatively Impacting surrounding neighborhoods in terms of additional traffic and parking on neighborhood streets, 35 well a5, Impacts from the lighting fivtures shining on residential dwellings. ‘The Planning Commission approved the mendstory ceferral application on April 4 2038, subject to certain conditions, Including that site Improvements be made in accordance with the plans submitted, and that all construction meet relevant code requirements (see Attachment A Pr lemorandum of ding MOU) ‘A condition of approval elso requires that MCPS enter into an MOU with the City to monitor Impacts associated with tratfic, nse, lighting, and to set limits on the hours of operation for the use of the fields. The MOU is to include joint mitigation measures to address future impacts ‘that may arse in any ofthe areas of possible impact, [MCPS and City staff have worked on the draft MOU dated September 25, 2019 (see Attachment 8) to address possible future impacts assoclated with traffic, parking, noise, lighting and hours ‘of operation. This MOU applies to the use ofthe soccer fields and has focused on their use by MSI, which will also enter into @ field use agreement with MCPS. Additionally, staff has discussed the use of the fields by other organizations, which is controlled by the County's Community Use of Public Facies [CUP] offic. & representative from CUPF has informed City staff that they dofollow the local requirements for use of the flelds. The required condition of approval from the Planning Commission and the éraft MOU apply to the use of the fields, regardless of the user. ‘The following is 2 summary ofthe primary components of the MOU: Project Contacts: The City and MCPS will designate Project Contacts who will oversee implementation of the MCU; the City and MCPS will also designate contacts to handle day-to- day operational issues Inadeition, the agreement provides access to a contact number that the ity and the public ‘may use after regular workhours regarding FIELDS use through the after-hours protocol for CCUPF, The CUPF website drects users to a phone number for concerns needing attention after hours. This number can be accessed atthe following link: htos://wwew.montgomerycountymd .ov/cupt/info-other /wforms/cupftrack. html Hours of Operation: The proposed hours of operation would be after school dismissal until 9:45, zm. on weekdays, and from 8:00 a.m. until 9:45 p.m. on weekends, holidays and school breaks. In discussions with staf to address community concerns, MSI has agreed that no games would begin prior to 8:00 a.m, although game preparations are permitted to occur prior to 8:00 a.m. In addition, the MOU states thatthe lights will not be used between 8:45 p.m, and 8:002.m Lighting: Lighting will be centrolled by MCPS, and focused downward to eliminate spillage onto nearby properties. It wll automatically turn off at 9:45 p.m; there will be no dimming period prior to cut-off, The lighting is subject tothe criteria set forth inthe Landscaping, Screening and Lighting Manual related to soccer Ned lighting, Staff discussed with MCPS and MSI whether the lights could be cut off at an earlier time in response to residents’ requests. MSI responded that they need to keep the 8:45 p.m. ending, given their financial investmont in the fields. This ending time is one hour and fifteen minutes more restrictive than the 11:00 p.m. ending time that the City’s code currently allows. In Addition, this Is the same timeframe that was discussed during the Planning Commission discussion of this item in April 2018, It was noted during this discussion that other City and [MCPS athletic fields in Rachie are lt unt a late as 11:00 p.m. Porking: The use ofthe onsite parking spaces Isto be manimized for the MSI use ofthe field, as, 2 total of 240 spaces are provided, (including up to 108 spaces to be striped within the bus loop area). MCPS will require that MSI provide parking information to fold users, Including parking alternatives available. Bott MSI and MCPS will monitor game attendance and the related parking situation. For events that may exceed the use of the 240 onsite spaces, the MOU requires that 20 days advance notice be provided by MSI to the City and MCPS. The MOU Includes terms that require a plan for overflow parking and traffic management. Options for the plan may include the use ‘of offsite parking lots, 2 parking attendant, participant drop-off instructions and communication with partidpants at the event, implementing a shuttle service, and hiring an off-duty police officer to manage traffic along Great Falls Road. The plan must be provided to and approved by MCPS and the City Project Contacts. This wording has been modified to provide some flexibility on what options are used; however, the plan for managing parking and traffic must still be approved by the City. Noise: MCPS will require that MSI and any other users of the facility comply with the Montgomery County Noise Regulations, as these apply within the corporate limits of Rockville, Tere shall Be no amplified sound system used atthe falas. (Mitigation Processes: The partes commit to regular meetings and phone calls to discuss the issues and any other concorns. These would be held monthly forthe fist six months ofthe field use, and then the frequency would be adjusted as needed. The parties agree to monitor the Impacts of parking, lights, noise and communication, and to discuss any disagreements in these areas in good faith in order to reach a solution. The attached agreement refers to a single representative from Rose sil, Rose Hill Falls, New Mark Commons, Markwood, and West End Citizens Association who will be invited to participate in the regular meetings and/or conference calls Restroom Facilities: Portate toilets may not be used without approval of the City and MCPS. The use of restroom facilites within Julius West MS may be arranged through CUPF, and will be included in the Field Use Agreement with MSI Field Use Agreement with ASI: MCPS wil provide the City wth a copy ofthe executed Field Use [Agreement with MSI, as well as any changes. MSI's use schedule for the fields will also be provided. Staff supports the attached MOU. Staff belleves the MOU addresses many of the concems ‘expressed by the communty to date, and provides for mechanisms to address future concems as they arise, Mayor and Council History ‘hiss the fist time the iten is before the Mayor and Coun. Public Notification and Engagement Representatives from MCPS met with the Rose Hills Falls Neighborhood Association on January 23, 2018 and the West End Citizens Association on March 8, 2018. Concerns were expressed with regards to the proposed lighting, as well as the potential for impact from increased trafic and parking demand. It was expressed that the addition of lighting. at this location was a potential incompatibiity er the adjacent neighborhoods. At the City's request, MICPS provided written notification to surrounding property owners and homeowners associations in advance of the meeting. During the development of the attached agreement, the City staff held a meeting with neighborhood representatives from WECA and Rose Hil Falls at their request to hear concerns they had so we could share them with MCPS and MSI staff. We also attended a meeting hosted bby MCPS staff and these neighborhood representatives to review their concerns. MCPS also conducted a rublic meeting on Wednesday, September 18, 2018, and a number of ‘operational concems were expressed by residents, including parking on neighborhood streets and traffic congestion on Great Falls Road during events, access to restroom facilities, and establishing a more reasonable start time for use of the fields than sunrise. A continuing ‘concern was for the lghts and thelr hours of operation, with neighbors supporting a shut-off {ume of 8:00 pam. MCPS and MSI maintained that the proposed shut-off time should remain at 9:45 pum. Another concein was for security at games and tournaments, given the number of attendees that will be on the school property. CUPF responded that they have guidelines for ‘when users are required to provide security, and that any users ofthe fields would be required to follow those guidelines. If there are any safety issues that arise from the use of the fields, CCUPF can require the user to provide security. ‘An ad was placed in the Washington Post for this public hearing, and written notice to the Surrounding property owners was provided by the City. Boards and Commissions Review ‘The Planning Commission reviewed and approved the Mandatory Referral application STP2018. {00340 on April 4, 2018. implementing the MOU is 2 condition of approval. Next Steps Discussion and instruction: to Staff and Possible Approval ofthe MOU is scheduled for October 21, 2019, ‘Attachments Planning Commission Approval Letter (PDF) |MCPS-Rockville MOU DRAFT September 27, 2019 (D0CX) Attachments Planning Commission Approval Letter (PDF) IMCPS-Rockville MOU DRAFT (DOC) Jenny Kimball, i obciy chy Hanae Tos

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