Poolesville’s

 MASTER PLAN

 

 

Prepared For Adoption

February 7, 2005

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

Vision Statement………………………………………….2

 

Land Use………………………………………………….5

 

Business Community…………………………………….11

 

Transportation……..……………………………………..13

 

Community Facilities…………………………………….20

 

Infrastructure……………………………………………..27

 

Appendix A: Water Supply

 

Appendix B: Survey

 

Appendix C: Architectural Guidelines for the Commercial District

 

Appendix D: Streetscape Plan

 

Appendix E: Maps

 

Appendix F: Impact Fee Calculation

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

VISION STATEMENT

 

 

This Vision Statement is a joint product of the Poolesville Commissioners; Planning Commission; Parks, Recreation, and Streets Board; local Chamber of Commerce; and community input through a survey of local residents and a public hearing. The previous Master Plan served as the foundation for this plan.  The Vision Statement is the cornerstone of the Master Plan and contains an analysis of the goals of the Poolesville community and outlines specific objectives to support those goals.

 

The Town of Poolesville prides itself on being a caring community with small town values and character, which endeavors to ensure that present and future residents will be able to enjoy this lifestyle. The residents of Poolesville have expressed a strong desire that this small town character not be diminished.

 

The goal of this Master Plan is to establish a guide to ensure that the characteristics that make Poolesville unique are strengthened in future years.

 

A number of objectives are key to realizing this vision:

 

(1)   The opinion survey conducted for the Town attests to the strong desire of residents to maintain the small town or village characteristics that are the essence of Poolesville.  Residents also expressed the view that the Town should focus on several key objectives, including adequate sewer and water facilities and initiatives to ensure that area schools offer programs and classroom opportunities on par with schools in more populated parts of the County. Residents want to achieve these goals while maintaining the small town character of Poolesville. The Town considered all of the views it received and agrees that ensuring adequate sewer and water facilities and maintaining schools that have opportunities that are the equal of others in the County should be among the key objectives over the six-year life of this plan.  The Town believes that in order to successfully meet these objectives some growth is required.   For example, projections prepared for this Plan (see page 21) indicate that school populations in all of the Town’s schools will likely drop over the next few years.   School programming and resources are closely tied to student populations and without new families entering the Town, our ability to maintain the opportunities and advantages our students have today will be threatened.

 

(2)   The eventual population figure for the Town was set in the prior Master Plan at      7,500.  This remains reasonable given the Town’s constraints regarding sewage     capacity, water supply, and resident opinion.  In concert with the objective of      ensuring some growth while protecting Poolesville’s small town image, this plan       outlines steps that move toward incremental and limited growth and a population       number not to exceed 6,500 in the foreseeable future. When additional water capacity       becomes available, it should be allocated based upon the ranking of the current       allocation plan approved by the Town Commissioners.

 

 

(3)   Much of what gives Poolesville its character is the Town’s Old Town Center and associated historic structures. To enhance and maintain the Town, a Streetscape Concept Plan has been developed and approved (see Appendix D). Once implemented, this plan will go far to strengthen and improve Poolesville’s core downtown and business district.  Any future development in the Commercial District should be designed to enhance these desirable features and incorporate them into the design of new construction so that it is aesthetically consistent.  Additionally, the restoration of old structures is encouraged (See Appendix C) and guidelines are included in this plan to promote construction and upgrades of buildings in the Central Business and Commercial Districts that are in harmony with existing older architecture.

 

(4)   In keeping with the small town and town center concepts, this plan also encourages a strong focus on enhancing Poolesville’s historic resources.   Poolesville has a long history and roots that run deep, including local families whose ancestors lived in and settled the Town and its surrounding areas. The Town was a key crossroads during the Civil War and large encampments of soldiers bivouacked in and around Poolesville.  While Poolesville can never become a major Civil War destination like Gettysburg, its location in beautiful rural surroundings, its location on the way to other nearby points of interest such as Sugarloaf and White’s Ferry and it’s historical legacy could make it a weekend or day trip destination.   This plan provides support for initiatives to promote Poolesville as a day trip or weekend destination.   It is hoped that this focus in the plan will encourage continuing efforts to make Poolesville a Washington area historic and rural excursion site that becomes well known.  If successful, this effort could help area businesses and commerce grow and prosper.

 

(5)   In support of these efforts to build on the Town’s historic assets, Poolesville has adopted and should maintain designation as a heritage area, making it eligible for State assistance and support. Volunteer groups in Poolesville have developed initiatives to help support the Town once it achieves heritage area status and there should be plenty of assistance in the form of time and energy from Town volunteers to take advantage of available grants and programs.

 

(6)   The Town’s park system should continue to be improved and expanded consistent with the Plan for Park and Recreation Facilities. Neighborhoods need to be connected to recreational facilities and the commercial district by completing the planned pedestrian system, thus continuing the emphasis on creating a small town community that is pedestrian friendly.  In addition to facilities for active recreation, it is important to preserve, to the maximum extent possible, green space within the Town: by encouraging land uses and densities compatible with adjacent agricultural preserves; and by conserving sensitive natural resource areas.

 

(7)   Poolesville has been a leader in the use of impact fees to ensure that any new development does not impose costs on existing residents.  The Master Plan includes new calculations for impact fees that will ensure fiscal burdens are being shared equitably and are properly allocated. Consistent with the small town focus of this Master Plan and protection of the Town’s water supply, the State should prohibit the construction of the proposed Western Bypass through the agricultural preserve.

 

(8)      This plan is designed to ensure that development within and adjacent to the Town’s boundaries is compatible with its rural setting in an agricultural preserve and that the resources, health and safety of the Town are not adversely impacted.  Consistent with this goal, the Town should continue developing a Well Head Protection Program to protect local water resources.   The plan recognizes that this Program will need to be carefully adapted to the needs and characteristics of Poolesville, it’s water system and sole-source aquifer designation.

 

The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) is responsible for monitoring and managing the State’s aquifers. MDE and the Town work together to ensure that the aquifer continues to be a source of high quality water and that groundwater withdrawal rates are less than recharge. This partnership has been successful and Poolesville is fortunate to have a high quality of water that requires very little treatment.  Poolesville has taken and continues to take steps to provide adequate water to Town residents and businesses.

 

As noted above, a continuing concern to the Town and State is the protection of the wellhead areas to minimize the risk of ground water contamination. The Town must remain vigilant to ensure that existing Town Codes and Regulations limiting potentially detrimental activity in the wellhead areas are enforced and, if additional measures are needed, consider wellhead protection legislation. Continued monitoring of the wellhead protection area within the Town and in adjacent areas is of critical concern.

 

Similarly, the Town and State are concerned with wastewater discharge. The Town, in early 2005, completed improvements to its Wastewater Treatment Plant to reduce the level of contaminants entering Dry Seneca Creek.

 

 

 

 

 
LAND USE

 

 

Poolesville Today

 

Poolesville is not simply a suburb that sprouted around the outskirts of a major city. Instead, it is a true, independent community that has a long history.  Since the Town’s beginnings as a settlement in the colonial days, it has developed a supportive economic and cultural life that has made it unique in character from the other suburban areas ringing Washington, D.C.

 

In 1950, Poolesville was still a rural town with a strong agricultural base and only 58 single family dwelling units. Residential development increased only slightly by 1970, totaling 128 single family units. However, during the post-1970 period, the Town experienced its greatest expansion, growing by more than 900 housing units to 1,086 in 1977.   Subsequent to 1977, the Town has grown gradually and steadily.  The current residential development made possible by the increased availability of public sewerage and water, stands at 1,628 housing units.

 

Prior to 1968, the predominant activity in the area was farming. Today, most residents work along the 1-270 corridor, in Washington, D.C. or in northern Virginia.

 

Poolesville was recognized in 1999 by Washingtonian Magazine as one of the BEST SMALL TOWNS within a 100-mile radius of D.C. Clearly, current residents are blessed with good schools, diverse and desirable housing opportunities, locally owned businesses, and vibrant church and rural community values that are often not available to residents in other parts of the County.  With careful p1anning, we have every reason to expect a bright future.

 

Residential Land Use Today

 

Poolesville’s housing is predominantly single family, detached dwellings, with a smaller number of the housing units in townhouse developments. Old Town Poolesville’s housing was built incrementally over a period of many years and thus styles, lot sizes and densities vary considerably. This long development process has also resulted in a mixing of commercial and residential uses in some parts of Town, particularly along Fisher Avenue (Maryland Route 107). In addition, a few dwelling units are located in some of the commercial structures in the Old Town.

 

The housing that has been constructed in newer subdivisions over the last two decades is more uniform in size, style and lot size, in part, due to Town planning and zoning guidelines. Densities reflect the requirements in the Town’s Residential Zones for ⅓, ½, and ¾ acre minimum lot sizes for single-family homes.

 

Defining a “Village”

 

Residents want to maintain Poolesville’s small town or village character. It is important for this plan to incorporate a definition of what that concept means in order to ensure that the plan reflects Town priorities and is focused on how to achieve the objectives outlined in the Vision Statement.  A well-defined and supported vision statement can ensure that local residents, businesses and community leaders know what to expect when they become a part of the community.  A number of definitions of a “village” exist but they can be distilled into the following points:

 

•     A village is a predominantly residential area that has supporting commercial and public facilities normally lying near its center.

 

•     A village is compact compared to areas surrounding it and to traditional suburban tract development. It is easily distinguishable from the surrounding land which is usually farmland or forests.  It is usually located in the midst of rural or only slightly developed areas.

 

•     The density, mix and arrangement of land uses in a village generally encourages personal interaction and pedestrian movement among local origins and destinations wherever possible.

 

This definition of a “village” should help guide the development and planning activities of the Town.  It reflects the rural, small town environment that Town residents prefer.

 

Housing Needs

 

Poolesville’s housing stock is predominantly detached single-family homes with a substantial percentage of townhomes.  Poolesville citizens want to maintain this mix of housing but there is a desire to accommodate the needs of the elderly and encourage housing specifically designed to meet the needs of the elderly (e.g. Assisted Living/Managed Care Facilities or Independent Living Centers). There is no easy standard means of defining what types of housing fit this category, but it would include houses that are single story, compact, and close to resources and facilities needed by the elderly including medical assistance, easy access to pharmaceuticals, accessible transportation facilities and convenient grocery shopping. Future planning actions, such as water and sewer allocations, should recognize these features in development proposals whenever possible and should promote the continued availability of a mix of affordable housing types which is a hallmark of Poolesville today.

 

Land Use and Zoning Actions

 

The Town must take a number of actions if it is to achieve its land use objectives. These actions are categorized as either: zoning, implementation guidance, or other related actions. All are described in the following sections.

 

Zoning

 

The Town has proceeded through an orderly process to revise and update the Town Zoning Ordinance and Code, review and adopt a new water allocation plan, and finish a comprehensive review of the Master Plan.  Land uses and associated zoning are identified in Appendix E.  They represent an attempt to achieve the following guiding principles:

•     Support an ultimate Town population of approximately 7,500 beyond the life of the Plan and move toward incremental limited growth to a population number from the current 5,167 to 6,500 in the foreseeable future (see Appendix F).

 

•     Provide for a Rural Zone with the restrictions of the current Rural Density Transfer (RDT) Zone.

 

•    Confine commercial uses in Poolesville — including retail, service, and office uses — within a central Commercial Zone, to reinforce the Town Center concept and to avoid strip commercial development along main roads within the Town.

 

•     Encourage decreasing residential density as development moves farther out from the center of Town and as available land gets closer to the surrounding agricultural preserve.

 

The Town should, during the life of this Master Plan, review again its policies on Cluster Zoning in order to ensure that housing is placed as much as possible on smaller lots and as much green space as possible is preserved.

 

Implementation Guidance

 

In addition to the land use and zoning designations provided in Appendix E, the following    principles are provided as guidance when making future land use, site plan, construction and building remodeling decisions:

 

•     Senior citizen housing, which provides related services, should be encouraged within the Town. Since the special facility needs of this type of housing are not likely to conform to existing zoning provisions, special exceptions or actions to provide such facilities should be given a friendly reception.

 

•     To the extent possible, any new public facilities such as town office space, meeting and community facilities should be located within the Town Center (Fisher Avenue inclusive of the Central Business and Commercial Districts). Reinforcing the Center within the total Town context will help both the Center and the Town retains its identity. This Plan recommends the ultimate development of Town Center to include a Town Hall and/or Community Center that can be the central focus for community activities. The building(s) should be designed to incorporate historical features characteristic of Poolesville. The Center of Poolesville could then promote the identity of the Town.   The existing Town Hall is a part of the Town’s historic past and all efforts should be made to find ways to extend its utility and incorporate it into the Town’s future.

 

•    No expansion of the Commercial District should be considered until the existing zone is effectively utilized.  If commercial uses do not materialize, residential uses should be encouraged in the Commercial District.

 

•     The architectural and streetscape guidelines shown in Appendices C and D should be consulted for all new construction or major renovations within the Commercial District.

 

•     All utilities associated with new or renovated commercial structures or major residential developments should be placed underground.

 

•     No properties should be rezoned for residential development unless there is a reasonable expectation that they could be developed during the life of the plan and the rezoning is consistent with the goals of this plan.

 

Historic Preservation

 

The Town of Poolesville has historical roots that are long and rich. Even with the modern development that has occurred in recent years, the Town continues to contain many older, historically significant buildings.

 

The Town should continue to emphasize the importance of protecting historic structures within its limits. Such actions as requiring the developments of Tama, Hunter’s Run, and Elizabeth’s Delight to preserve and integrate existing structures into the development plans are good examples of historic preservation. Likewise, actions such as the restoration of the old Town Hall are in keeping with this philosophy.

 

Additionally, future developers are encouraged to review the report by the Historic Medley District showing various architectural themes prevalent and appropriate for Poolesville. That report is available in the Town library.

 

Properties of particular historic significance are shown in Appendix E, Map 3.  Proposed impacts to these properties should be given careful consideration during the site plan review process.

 

Heritage Program


The Maryland Heritage Areas Program is designed to promote the economic potential of the State’s many historic, cultural, and natural resources.  This is accomplished through grants, loans, and State tax credits provided to individual property owners within a designated area (Target Investment Zone).  Unlike some historical designation programs that use long term covenants to ensure continued participation in a program, properties in the heritage program are not so encumbered.  Additionally, there is no requirement for property owners within the Target Investment Zone (TIZ) to participate in the program. Recipients are held to the terms of individual grant agreements, which vary from project to project.  If a property owner disagrees with the terms of a grant agreement, the grant can be declined.

 

The Poolesville Master Plan adopts, by reference, the approved Montgomery County Heritage Area Management Plan, November 2002, including all the recommendations and implementation strategies.  The Town looks forward to active participation in the heritage area as a Target Investment Zone.  Poolesville’s designated TIZ is identified in Appendix E, Map 13.

 

 

 

Land Development Regulations

 

 

Poolesville has a recently revised and well-developed body of land development regulations including a State approved Forest Conservation Ordinance. In addition, the Town is actively working with the State to develop a Wellhead Protection Plan for the Town as noted earlier.

 

Table 3 indicates the amount of undeveloped/unimproved acreage existing within the Town’s boundaries.  In 1998, the Planning Commission completed a comprehensive rezoning of the Town. The main objective of the rezoning was to be consistent with the concept of increasing residential housing density near the Town Center and decreasing density as the distance from the Town Center increases. The Planning Commission is satisfied that the current zoning is consistent with the existing Master Plan and no other rezoning is needed.

 

Table 3

Existing Zoning (In Acres)

 

Developed

Undeveloped

Total

RDT

 

818.94

818.94

Residential (3/4 Acre)

 

 

 

238.1

 

238.1

Residential (1/2 Acre)

 

326.76

 

103.48

 

430.24

Residential (1/3 Acre)

 

217.77

 

103.25

 

321.02

General Commercial

39.97

7.78

47.75

CBD

14.87

1.57

16.44

Townhouses

31.80

2.11

33.91

Misc. parcels, Churches, Schools, Pool, etc.

655.71

 

655.71

Total

1,286.88

1,275.23

2,562.11

 

 

Sensitive Area Element

 

It is the goal of this plan to ensure that all future development is planned, designed and constructed in a manner, which will conserve sensitive natural resources and promote a healthy and sustainable environment for present and future residents.  This will be accomplished by application of existing Town Ordinances, reviewing plans to ensure that all County, State and Federal regulatory program compliances have been obtained and by proposing new or modified ordinances from time-to-time as needed.

 

Environmentally sensitive areas are depicted in Appendix E, Map 10.  They generally consist of wetlands, flood plains, forested areas, and the wellhead protection areas.  Sensitive areas depicted in Map 10 are for planning purposes only.  Neither the scale depicted nor the methods employed to identify the resources are sufficiently accurate for final determinations.  Future development plans must identify each of these resources at a level of detail consistent with applicable Town, County, State and Federal regulations prior to submittal to the Town for approval.

 

Mineral Resources

 

Water is the only mineral resource that has been identified within the boundaries of the Town. The aquifer from which the Town’s water is supplied is discussed in Appendix A.

 

Water provided to the Town wells is generally of very high quality. The blanket of soils that overlie an aquifer acts as a purifying filter. Because there is only a thin mantle of overlying soils in the vicinity of Poolesville, the threat of groundwater contamination is very real. The State periodically evaluates Poolesville’s Water Supply and has continued to refine a wellhead protection area (i.e., areas of greatest potential threat to groundwater contamination). The Town should develop a Wellhead Protective Program.  This effort would ensure that a safe and adequate water supply continues

 

Forest Conservation

 

The Town plans to continue implementation of its Forest Conservation Ordinance (Chapter 7-1 – 7-30, Poolesville Code), which is in full compliance with the Maryland Forest Conservation Act (Natural Resources Article, Sections 5-1601 – 5-1612, Annotated Code of Maryland).  All plans submitted for development must have a Forest Conservation Plan consistent with the Town Code.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BUSINESS COMMUNITY

 

 

Poolesville Businesses

 

The business community in the Town of Poolesville is composed of businesses that provide goods and services primarily for the benefit of Town residents.  Some of these businesses are medical offices, banks, day cares, a grocery store, a drug store, automobile service and gas stations, restaurants, and shopping.  Other businesses located in the Town provide services on a regional level and provide employment and other benefits to Town residents.

 

 

Role of the Business Community

 

The business community is vital to the Town, both as a source of basic goods and services and as a major factor in improving the quality of life in the Town.  The distance of the Town to other sources of goods and services makes it necessary for the Town to have its own source of businesses that can provide Town residents with their basic needs, such as shopping and dining.

 

The business community contributes to the small-town character of the Town.  The businesses provide a place for interaction among residents, support activities of local charities, sponsor children’s athletics, and engage in many other worthwhile activities for the Town and its residents.  The business community offers employment for many Town residents, including first jobs for the Town’s teenagers.

 

 

Cooperation with Business Community

 

The Town understands the vital role the business community holds and understands that Town residents have expressed their desire to improve the quality of life in Town by having more restaurants and shops.  It is necessary for the Town to have a strong business community in order to meet the needs and expectations of its residents.  It is important for the Town to work with the business community to ensure that these needs and expectations are met.

 

 

Creation of a Community and Economic Development Committee

 

The creation of a Community and Economic Development Committee within the Town government is an excellent means of working with the business community to ensure that the needs and expectations of Town residents are met.  The Committee would be composed of a cross-section of Town residents, Town government staff / officials, and members of the business community.  The Committee could address all issues relating to the community and economic health of the Town, including such matters as:

 

 

 

 

 

TRANSPORTATION

 

 

Poolesville’s current street pattern is based upon the outward expansion from a rural town center located primarily between the intersection of Fisher Avenue (MD Rt. 107) and Elgin Road (MD Rt.109) and the intersection of Fisher Avenue and Cattail Road.  The Town’s current street system is comprised of approximately 21.5 miles of roads, the majority of which serve residential homes built within the last twenty-five years.  Approximately 17.3 miles of streets are owned and maintained by the Town with the remaining roads being owned and maintained by the County and State.  The State currently owns and maintains Routes 107 and 109.  The County owns and maintains West Willard Road, Budd Road, Hughes Road south of Westerly Avenue, Westerly Road, Jerusalem Road, Whites Ferry Road west of MD Route 109, and Cattail Road from the intersection of Kohlhoss Road north to MD Route 28.

 

The Town should consider requesting the County to transfer ownership of Westerly Avenue. This would allow the integration of sidewalks, curb and gutter and provide uniformity throughout the Town. 

 

Appendix E, Map 4 illustrates the Town’s existing streets. Elgin Road and Fisher Avenue function as the Town’s major highway arteries linking Poolesville with other communities.  Wootton Avenue, West Willard Road, Hughes Road, Westerly Avenue, Hoskinson Road, Spates Hill Road, Cissel Manor Way, Cattail Road, Jerusalem Road and part of Tom Fox Avenue function as collector / distributor streets, with the remaining road network being local streets.

 

All traffic control in Poolesville is currently accomplished with signage.  All of the Town’s streets are paved with asphalt and are generally in good to excellent condition, with the exception of Fyffe Road and Beall Street, which are expected to be paved when Whalen Commons receives funding for the second parking lot on the West side of the park.   Most of the Town’s roads and residential areas are illuminated at night.  The posted speed limit for the Town’s roads is 25 mph with the exception of several segments of Fisher Avenue, which is posted as high as 40 mph.

 

With the exception of three streets (Fyffe Road, Beall Street, and part of Westerly Avenue), all of the Town’s roads adhere to current American Association of State Highway and Transportation Official’s (AASHTO) planning and design guidelines.  The Town’s roads consist of both open section (no curb and gutter) and closed section (curb and gutter) with the majority of the new roads being closed section.  It is the Town’s current policy to require all new roads to be closed section and have concrete curb and gutter, which comply with the American Disabilities Act.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transportation Issues

 

Moving people and vehicles around and through the Town efficiently is important to the future of Poolesville.  Three principal objectives should be addressed in coming years:

 

1. Pedestrian movement: Completion of the major sidewalk construction initiative with priority

given to sidewalks along major arteries and high traffic areas, and continued support for the    Streetscape Plans for Fisher Avenue.

 

2. Regional Transportation issues: Continued and determined lobbying of County and State

    officials to make badly needed improvements to the transportation infrastructure outside the

    Town. Also, to the extent possible, support telecommuting, public transportation (bus and train

    service) and car-pooling.

 

3. Local Transportation issues: Employ engineering techniques and strategic traffic law

    enforcement to improve the safe and efficient movement of vehicular traffic within and

    through Town.

 

Pedestrian Movement

 

Poolesville is committed to maintaining a “Town Center” to benefit residents and foster a greater sense of community.  To achieve this goal and to enhance the safety of its residents and visitors, the Town should continue to implement a multi-year construction program so pedestrians can comfortably and safely walk to schools and parks, to visit friends, shop, and attend cultural events.

 

Bicycling

 

Bicycling is a supported form of transportation in Poolesville, and we should strive to promote a bicycle-friendly message to our community.  Our goal is to support the safe co-existence among bicycle, vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Support efforts should include:

 

·        Courtesy/Safety reminder signage on County and State roads in the Poolesville vicinity and on the Town’s multi-purpose trail system.

 

·        Bike racks strategically located in the commercial area.

 

·        Safety/Courtesy messages in the Town Newsletter and through Chamber of Commerce sources.

 

Traffic Volume and Distribution

 

During 1995 and 1997, forty-eight (48) hour continuous traffic counts were taken at twenty-six (26) locations within Poolesville.  Automated traffic counters measured the volume of traffic in hourly intervals.  In addition, four (4) intersections were identified as critical to traffic flow in Poolesville and were subsequently selected for evaluation.  The intersections selected were: Elgin Road  and Fisher Avenue; Wootton Avenue and Fisher Avenue; West Willard Road and Fisher Avenue; and Spates Hill Road and Fisher Avenue .  Turning movement traffic count data was manually collected at each intersection. The study indicated that the majority of the Town’s local streets currently experience low to moderate (under AASHTO guidelines) traffic volumes.  As expected, most of the Town’s collector / distributor and arterial streets experience moderate to heavy traffic volumes for a rural area.  The highest traffic volumes in Poolesville occur on the eastern portion of Fisher Avenue, on Elgin Road North and MD Route 107 West (Whites Ferry Road).  The existing Town Center (Fisher Avenue  & Elgin Road) experiences the highest volume of traffic and it is relatively continuous throughout the daylight hours.  The Wootton Avenue and Fisher Avenue  intersection is not far behind.  A complete analysis of the study results is included in the Town of Poolesville, Maryland Transportation Study dated November 1995.  The major findings are summarized below, and the Town will continue to study traffic counts and perform studies as needed.

 

Existing Roadway Capacity

 

According to AASHTO, the theoretical capacity of a street to handle vehicles is generally considered to be between 1,200 to 2,000 vehicles per hour per lane.  All of the Town’s roads currently have adequate capacity.  Only one road in Town (Fisher Avenue between its intersection with Elgin Road  and Cattail Road) appears to be nearing full capacity as currently constructed.  The multiple commercial entrance lanes and the narrow portion of road adjacent to Town Hall reduce the capacity of this section of road.

 

Critical Intersections Capacity

 

The capacity of the Town’s four critical intersections was analyzed utilizing a standardized level of service evaluation technique.  Six levels of service are defined with “A” representing the best condition and “F” representing the worst condition.  The results indicate that in general, all four critical intersections currently operate at level of service “A” in both AM and PM peak hours.  However, certain turning movements associated with the Fisher Avenue  & Elgin Road , Wootton Avenue & Fisher Avenue, and Spates Hill Road & Fisher Avenue  intersections operate at level of service “B” and “C”.  In addition, application of standardized techniques indicates that none of the four intersections warrant the installation of a traffic signal at this time.  This latter conclusion is consistent with a 1994 study conducted by the Maryland State Highway Administration.

 

 More recently, the State Highway Administration evaluated the Fisher and Elgin Road  intersection to see if a four-way stop could be provided.  The study indicated that a four-way stop was not warranted at this time, but the Town lobbied the State to reconsider and a four-way stop was installed in 1996. Town Traffic Planners and residents have found the four-way stop satisfactory to address concerns for pedestrian safety and efficient vehicular flow. In 2003, the Town’s request for a four-way stop at the intersection of Fisher Avenue  and Wootton Avenue was rejected. This intersection represents the location of greatest contact between pedestrian and vehicular movement. Town Planners believe that a four-way stop at this location will provide an added measure of safety and enhance the pedestrian movements of our Elementary school attendee’s. The Town should continue its efforts to obtain signage at this intersection.

Future Traffic Management Recommendations 

 

Because the potential for limited residential or commercial development could exist during the next six years, some changes in traffic conditions or patterns are expected.  Although all roads within the Town have sufficient capacity for limited growth, there are some safety and congestion issues, which will need to be addressed in this Master Plan’s timeframe. There is also the need for improving subdivision access and new proposed roadway extensions that are detailed in Appendix E, Map 4.  It is realized that any new connections and extensions for Cattail Road and Elgin Road and West Willard Road and Fisher Avenue may additionally warrant intersection design changes and new traffic management strategies.

 

 

Future Road Extensions and Improvements

 

Road extensions and major improvements could be implemented in the future to improve the Town’s vehicular transportation system.  Recommended road extensions are generally proposed for areas with poor traffic circulation and / or limited access.   Residential areas with only one point of access risk being cut-off from emergency vehicles should the single access point become blocked or closed. All road extensions should be design to discourage through traffic. Major road improvements are also recommended for areas with existing safety hazards and / or chronic drainage problems.

 

All of the road extensions and improvements enumerated below are identified in Appendix E, Map 4.  Funding for the proposed road extension projects should be provided through impact fees.

 

The Town has long had the goal of removing unsightly telephone and electric cables and poles from Town Center,  thereby reducing the risk of accidents and injury with adjacent vehicle traffic.  Although not always economically feasible, underground placement of utility lines are still recommended and included in the Streetscape Plans for Fisher Avenue.

 

Vehicular Speed

Excessive speed on the roads and streets in Town is a potential threat to Poolesville’s citizens. In addition to Town residents leaving and entering residential areas, Fisher Avenue has an ever-increasing number of through travelers from the north and west of Town, including ferry traffic from Virginia. In working with State and County officials to establish reasonable and safe speed limits on Fisher Avenue, the perspectives of both residents and through travelers should be considered.

 

A variety of methods should be utilized to control vehicular speeds such as; installing additional signage, rumble strips, speed bumps, raised brick crosswalks, or traffic circles.  In addition, new developments should avoid the use of straight roads that encourage speeding. New methods recommended by highway engineers to control speed, such as lane narrowing and trees on medians, should be studied for possible adoption in the Town.

 

To enhance the Town traffic flow, the Town should apply the design standards of the  “Poolesville Vicinity Master Plan” recommendations for right-of-way and pavement widths within Town boundaries, to the extent that the environment and character of the Town are not negatively impacted. Streetscape plans are also to be integrated in planning.

 

Safe and Efficient Traffic

 

For Safer and more efficient movement through Town:

 

 

 

 

For improved access to subdivisions, particularly for emergency vehicles:

 

 

 

 

 

To enhance public health and safety by protecting Poolesville’s wellhead areas from possible chemical and fuel contamination, reducing excessive noise pollution, and safeguarding Town roads from damage:

 

 

To beautify the road systems:

 

 

 

Relationship to County Roads

 

The Town should vigorously lobby County and State authorities for improvements to the commuter roads on which the Town’s residents depend.  Further complications for safe vehicular

travel on Western-County roads are the extensive use of roads in and around Poolesville by local and visiting bicyclists and those transporting horses in trailers. These factors, combined with the historic heavy use by agricultural equipment, also suggest that that County roads need to have additional improvements to be reasonably safe.  Typically, the improvements that may be required are wider lanes, adequate shoulders and appropriate sight distances.  Any decisions between rustic road standards and safety should be biased towards the consistent goal of providing reasonable safety for all users.

 

Safety Concerns

 

The Town has identified drainage concerns along Fisher Avenue between Spates Hill Road and Hersperger Lane, specifically on the south side of the roadway. This drainage problem exists when significant steady rainfall occurs.

 

There are two segments of MD Route 107 just east of the Town limits, which currently experience chronic accident problems.  The first location is at a sharp horizontal curve located approximately ½ mile east of the Town limits. Recent drainage improvement to this curve, conducted by the State in 2001, helped with wet weather safety; but, a significant number of vehicles still misjudge the severity of the curve.  Poolesville thereby supports a request to the SHA to redesign this portion of  MD Route 107.

 

 The second location is at the MD Route 107 and Partnership Road intersection. These road segments have been identified by Montgomery County as warranting safety improvements.  However, the Maryland State Highway Administration, which owns and maintains MD Route 107, currently has no funding allocated to improve the safety of the road segments.

 

Another problematic area in proximity to Poolesville is the Partnership Road and Sugarland Road intersection.  This intersection has very limited sight distance for drivers in all directions and has an extreme elevation change. These problems pose a major safety hazard given the relatively high volume of traffic that utilizes Partnership Road.  The Town should encourage the County to modify this intersection to improve its sight distance characteristics.

 

Farther east, is the intersection of MD Routes 28 and 107. Reconfiguration is needed to improve visibility and safety. The Town should jointly request that these safety enhancement projects be added to the State’s Capitol Improvements list of projects.

 

These safety improvements should continue to be emphasized irrespective of constraints imposed by the County’s Rural and Rustic Roads program.

 

Two additional existing roads with chronic drainage problems are West Willard Road in the vicinity of Old Town Hall, and the intersection of Fisher Avenue  and Wootton Avenue.  These

roads experience large areas of ponding water after storm events and pose safety hazards during winter months when the water freezes into ice. 

 

The Town should continue to request the State and County to make improvements to these areas.

 

 

COMMUNITY FACILITIES

 

 

While public facilities provide the necessary support for proposed land uses, they can also place heavy demands on government budgets.  Provisions for major facilities such as sewerage treatment, water supply, and schools should be well timed and located so that the needs of a growing population can be properly met without fiscal complications.

 

The Town of Poolesville has established a policy that high quality public facilities are a priority.  Those facilities that benefit the public, at large, should be paid for through the general or other appropriate funds.  Those that benefit specific landowners or developers should be paid for by the beneficiaries of those improvements.

 

The following sections describe the current inventory and future needs for public facilities and parks and recreation.  Appendix E, Maps 5 through 7 depict existing and proposed public facilities.

 

Schools

 

The Town of Poolesville is served by four public school facilities: Poolesville Elementary school, Monocacy Elementary School, John Poole Middle School, and Poolesville  High School.  These schools form the Poolesville Cluster of the Montgomery County Public Schools. As such, they serve not only Poolesville and the immediate vicinity, but also portions of other planning areas.  The majority of the students at the Poolesville schools reside within the Town.

 

Poolesville High School, the core of which was built in 1911 as an elementary school, was expanded and partially modernized in 1978.   Poolesville Elementary School, constructed in 1960, has been upgraded with air conditioning and expanded, but never modernized.   Due to the small size of the Poolesville cluster and the fact that the cluster is far from large population centers, Poolesville’s schools have always faced a challenge in ensuring adequate student populations to allow for diverse program offerings and extracurricular activities.   In fact, low student population levels even threatened the continued existence of the high school in the 1950’s and 60’s. 

 

In 1988, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) established the Poolesville Cluster Task Force, which was comprised of volunteers from the Western Montgomery County community and dedicated school administrators and teachers. The tasks force’s purpose was to identify a means by which the high school student population could be increased and to determine if the student population could support a separate middle school. To increase enrollment, the task force recommended the establishment of a special program at the high school, which MCPS adopted, resulting in the creation of the high school’s Global Ecology Studies Program (GESP). GESP has been successful and nearly 200 out-of-cluster students participate in the program. Although the task force’s findings and recommendations for a separate middle school were initially rejected, through the community’s efforts, John Poole Middle School opened in September 1997.

 

 

This illustrates, however, the continuing challenge of ensuring adequate student populations in order to protect and enhance the schools in the Poolesville Cluster.  The charts below show projected student populations for the four schools as well as a comparison of school utilization

rates (how much classroom space is used compared to how much exists in a given school). 

 


Projected Enrollment Poolesville Cluster Schools          School Utilization Rates

 

 


Source: FY03-04 CIP Budget, Montgomery County Schools                                    Desired Range-80%-100%

 

 

The numbers demonstrate yet again the challenges the cluster will continue to face in order to ensure adequate student populations.   For all but the high school (and just barely in its case), projections are that enrollments will be below the range of utilization levels considered to be desirable.  Protecting and enhancing our schools is a major goal of the Town leadership.   This will require continuing efforts to ensure adequate enrollments.  These trends demonstrate why the population of Poolesville is a key to its future prosperity.   Good schools are a major factor in the Town’s prosperity and protecting them from losing student enrollments is a major goal of this Master Plan.

 

 

Parks and Recreation

 

There are several goals that have been established by the Parks, Recreation and Streets Board.  They form a framework upon which the general guidelines in this plan were developed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Park Inventory

 

Beaver Pond (Snake Lake)

 

Location: Across from main entrance of Halmos Park on Hoskinson Road.

 

Facilities: Fishing and Open Space

 

Bodmer Park:  1 Acre

 

Location:  Abutting Halmos Park on the south and Bodmer Avenue on the north.

 

Facilities:  Tot lot.

 

Brooks Park:  1 Acre

 

Location:  Just off Wootton Avenue at the south end of the Wesmond townhouses.

 

Facilities:  Tot lot.

 

Campbell Park:  2 Acres

 

Location:  On the south corner of Wootton and Fisher Avenues.  Part of the park runs behind several homes located between Wootton Avenue, Fisher Avenue and Hempstone Avenue.

 

Facilities:  Open space.

 

Collier Circle Park:  4 Acres

 

Location:  Between Collier and Dowden Circles.  Abuts Dry Seneca Creek.

 

Facilities:  Open space, Recreation Trail and holding pond.

 

Dry Seneca Creek Parkland: 24 Acres

 

Location: Between TAMA and the Woods of TAMA

 

Facilities: Open Space, Recreation Trail and holding pond.

 

Halmos Park:  15 Acres

 

Location:  Running along the southern edge of Bodmer Avenue from Hoskinson Road to

Hughes Road

 

Facilities:  Tennis courts, basketball court, baseball fields, soccer / football field, 20 car parking lot, concession stand, picnic tables, grills and bathrooms.

L.M. Stevens Park:  7.5 Acres

 

Location:  Off Seneca Chase Park Road in the Seneca Chase Subdivision.

 

Facilities:  Soccer field, basketball court, playground, baseball field, concession stand, 40 car parking lot, picnic tables, tot lot, and recreation trail.

 

Lori Gore Park: .5 Acre

 

Location: McKernon Way

 

Facilities: Tot lot

 

Old Methodist Church Property: .62 Acres

 

Location: West Willard Road.

 

Facilities: Memorial Cemetery.

 

Westerly Avenue: .5 Acre

 

Location: North corner of Westerly Avenue at its intersection with West Willard Road.

 

Facilities: Open space.

 

Whalen Commons: 3.76 Acres

 

Location: Fisher Avenue

 

Facilities: Gazebo, pathways and open space.

 

Willard Practice Field:  1 Acre

 

Location:  South corner of Westerly Avenue at its intersection with West Willard Road.

 

Facilities:  Practice Soccer field.

 

Wootton Heights:  ½ Acre

 

Location:  Abutting Wootton Heights Townhouses.

 

Facilities:  Tot lot.

 

 

 

 

 

County Swimming Pool:

 

Location:  North side of Fisher Avenue heading west from the Town Center.

 

Facilities:  Lap pool, recreation pool, kiddie pool, bathhouse, etc.

 

There are a number of public recreational facilities and parks within the region immediately

surrounding the Town.  These include Owens Park in Beallsville, which has a softball field,

three tennis courts, a tot lot and a multi-purpose recreation building; the Poolesville Public

Golf Course, which has a public golf course, meeting facilities, a picnic pavilion and soccer

field; and the elementary, middle and high schools, which together have five softball/baseball

fields, three soccer fields, eight tennis courts, a football field and track facility. 

 

Multi-purpose Trail System

 

A comprehensive multi-purpose recreational trail system was first proposed in the Town’s Comprehensive Master Plan prepared in 1990.  A multi-purpose trail system will principally

provide our Town’s residents with healthy alternatives independent of the automobile. Secondly, a multi-purpose trail system will provide safe off-road transportation facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists seeking our community’s schools, facilities and businesses. Third, nature segments of the trail system will additionally provide wide-ranging active and passive recreational opportunities for residents of all ages and abilities.

 

Because the Master Plan guides development in Poolesville, recent subdivisions have also included dedicated land and/or right-of-ways for the proposed trail system. Examples of these newly dedicated trails can be found in Hunter’s Run, Tama, Woods of Tama, and Elizabeth’s Delight. As of 2001, three segments of the multi-purpose trail have been constructed, including Collier Circle Pond to L.M. Stevens Park, Whalen Commons to Tama, and Tama to the Woods of Tama that include a pedestrian bridge and a section of raised boardwalk that crosses existing wetlands. The Hunter’s Run trail should be built within the life of this Plan.

 

A map of the proposed and existing multi-purpose trail system for Poolesville is included in Appendix E, Map 11. This exhibit was recently updated to reflect current conditions and the up-dates and revisions suggested by the Recreation Trail Review Group of 2001.  The trail system consists of Class I, II and III type trails depending on the existing topographic and physical feature conditions.  Cross sectional plans for each class are provided in the traffic assessment completed by the Town Engineer. 

 

The total trail system would be approximately 15.0 miles long and consist of 8.0 miles of Class I, 4.5 miles of Class II and 2.5 miles of Class III trails.  The trail alignments shown on the exhibit are approximate and general only, with specific locations to be determined during the design stage. Trails shown in areas of development should be constructed in conjunction with other infrastructure for that development. Trail segments to be constructed by the Town should be constructed in phases as easements/right-of-ways are acquired and funding becomes available. The Town should pursue grant funding currently available through the Maryland State Highway Administration for transportation facilities of this type.

 

The Trail Review Group of 2001 also discussed the materials to be used to construct the multi-purpose trails. Typically within Town, Class I trails are asphalt placed over stone, Class II trails are widened concrete sidewalks, and Class III trails are part of the asphalt roadway. It is noted that trail placement and construction should be appropriate to its environmental surroundings. The group also discussed the potential for construction of a more rustic “Nature Trail” as a subset to Class I trails, which may be appropriate in certain

areas due to terrain and/or ecological concerns. Nature trails are typically narrower and steeper than more typical “Hiker/Biker” Class I trails and may be constructed of crushed stone or wood chips. By waiving the asphalt designation, Nature Trails would limit some trail users and would therefore only be approved for special applications. In addition Nature Trails would require special review and additional approval by both Parks, Recreation and Streets Board, and Planning Commission.

 

Major Needs in the Future

 

There is a continuing need for a Town facility that would serve the multi-purpose administrative and recreation needs of the Town. Ideally, such a facility would be located along Fisher Avenue somewhere between Elgin Road  and Wootton Avenue. The facility could combine Town administrative offices with multi-purpose spaces that could serve both meeting and recreation needs. If designed with architecturally sensitive features and surrounded with appropriately landscaped open space, such a facility would serve as the focal point of the Town Center.

 

Poolesville is located a long distance from major population centers in Montgomery County.  For that reason adequate recreational facilities should be established in order to reduce excessive travel distances, provide public amenities similar to those found in more populated areas of the region and ensure the continued existence of the Town lifestyle so important to the majority of those who have chosen to live here.

 

The following recommendations have been developed to meet these and other objectives:

 

·        Halmos Park should continue to be the centerpiece of the Poolesville parks system.  Additional large Town parks should be established in each of the major segments of the Town if and when sufficient development has occurred to justify their construction.  This recommendation would result in the establishment of a large park in the remaining northern segment of the Town when it is developed. The Parks, Recreation, and Streets Board envision these parks as multi-use for activities such as basketball, tennis, football, soccer, softball, and baseball.

 

·        Small play areas (tot lots) should be developed in all segments of the Town in addition to the park facilities already recommended.  Future residential growth in the Town is likely to include substantial numbers of children as young families move to Poolesville in order to take advantage of the reasonable price of housing and the community atmosphere of Poolesville.  Play areas should be within a reasonable distance of the large majority of Poolesville citizens.

 

·        The Town should monitor the needs of its citizens and continue the development of organized recreation programs in the future.

 

·        The Town should pursue an active program of tree planting along all major thoroughfares.  Proper planning and the identification and use of only specific types of trees can give the Town a stronger and more widely known identity.

 

·        The Town should review the previous study on the disposition of small parcels of open parkland, which benefit only a limited segment of the population.  Consideration should be given to the sale of those identified parcels with the proceeds from such sales being designated for additional parks and recreation facility needs as identified in this Plan.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

 

 

Sidewalk System

 

In 1991, a committee of Town residents formulated a Sidewalk System Master Plan for Poolesville. The purpose of the Sidewalk Master Plan was twofold: first, identify key pedestrian routes throughout Town without adequate sidewalk facilities; and second, develop a prioritized plan for providing sidewalks to those areas. After an extensive analysis, the committee recommended the prioritized plan illustrated in Appendix E, Map 12. In 1998, the Streetscape Plans for Fisher Avenue also detailed improved sidewalks and crosswalks that will complete the planning matrix for effective pedestrian pathways in Poolesville. Complete Streetscape Plans are found in Appendix D.

 

All proposed sidewalks are to be constructed of concrete and should include the installation of concrete curb and gutter where practical and road widths support their inclusion.  Curb and gutter provide a safety barrier between the proposed sidewalk and roadway in accordance with the American Disabilities Act.  Appendix E, Map 12 also identifies streets that currently have sidewalks on at least one side of the road. Most of the sidewalk projects recommended in the Sidewalk Master Plan are identified in the Town’s long term Capital Improvements Plan.

 

In the initial building phase of the 1999 Sidewalk Retrofit Program, 4.8 miles of sidewalks with curb and gutter were constructed along the following streets:

 

·        Fisher Avenue (Route 107) from Hersperger Road to Tom Fox Avenue.

 

·        Hoskinson Road from Wootton Avenue to Halmos Park.

 

·        Hughes Road from Wootton Avenue to Tom Fox Avenue, at Halmos Park.

 

·        Westerly Avenue from Hughes Road to West Willard Road.

 

·        Elgin Road from Wootton Avenue to Fisher Avenue.

 

Town Planners recommend that the pedestrian plan for sidewalks be reviewed for reprioritization to address the specific pedestrian needs of the High School attendee’s and the residents’ needs from Elizabeth’s Delight using Elgin Road to reach the CBD. CIP funding for these sidewalks for the High School should be in cooperation with the County School District when development occurs along West Willard Road.

 

Future construction of the Sidewalk Retrofit Program should take public safety, emergency vehicular access, and drainage concerns into consideration during the design planning process.

 

 

Impact Fees

 

Poolesville funds capital costs directly related to new development through impact fees. The calculation used to determine the impact fee for the life of this Master Plan is contained in Appendix F.  The use of these funds is specifically designated to items in the fee breakdown.  This model was developed using a calculation of thirty homes per year, which originated from an overall average from previous development.

 

Water and Sewage System

 

The Town has adequate water storage with its 1 million gallon storage tank on the north side of Town and the 500,000 gallon elevated tank in the downtown area.  That storage will mitigate the demands placed on the system for fire protection or usage during peak demand days.  With the abandonment of Well 1 and the off-line status of Well 2, most of the year and under normal conditions, the Town’s remaining 8 wells provide adequate supply to meet the needs of the population.  However, the Town’s ability to supply water is at risk during times of high water usage (such as during periods of summer drought) especially if one of the high yielding wells is taken out of production unexpectedly.  The Town is in the process of rehabilitating Well 2 through filtration  and developing redundant wells to reduce this potential risk. 

 

The Town is also in the process of developing a Watershed Management Plan, which will link permit limitations within the Town’s four watersheds, MDE withdrawal calculations and actual well pumping amounts to Town allocation figures. The Plan will address the need to have a redundant well in each of the watersheds capable of producing sufficient water to replace the highest yielding well if it was to be taken out of service unexpectedly.

 

The Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is operating at capacity, was permitted in 1998 to treat 625,000 gpd.  With the increasingly stringent discharge limits placed on the permit, upgrades to the facility were  necessary.  In early 2005, upgrades to the plant were completed and  provided a Biological Nutrient Removal process, a fourth basin, two added filters and a permit increase to 750,000 gpd.  

 

Text Box: Sewer flows from a residence are typically less than those of water since not all water is discharged into the sewer due to landscape watering, car washing, pools, etc. The Town used a figure of 275 gallons per day during the last allocation process. This  figure is slightly lower than what the Poolesville Wastewater Treatment Plant is actually experiencing. Therefore, the Town will use  290 gallons per day per residence for sewer allocation. Although we set our own allocation figure, the Maryland Department of the Environment, (MDE) controls the allocation of sewer based upon the actual annual average Wastewater Plant flows.

 

In conjunction with the upgrade/expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Plant, the Town has embarked on an aggressive program of eliminating inflow & infiltration (I&I) into the wastewater collection system.  I&I is harmful in that it disrupts the “food to micro-organism ratio” of the waste treatment process and can reduce its efficiency.  It is also costly in that it treats rainwater as wastewater once it enters the collection system. In the FY04 Budget and through the out years, a relining campaign was implemented for the Wesmond Subdivision.  I&I improvement efforts should be continuously pursued by the Town. The relining program is designed to effectively reduce the I&I  to a point that the Town will comply with  MDE’s sewage allocation per household figures.

 

Another Town infrastructure goal is the removal of all private wells and septics within the Town boundaries.  There are presently 25 private systems that should be abandoned.  These private systems are a potential source of contamination to the municipal system that should be addressed within the life of this Plan.  Town regulations presently require that all residences connect to the public water and sewer systems when they are available at the property line.  The Town should identify where public facilities are not available and extend the public water and sewer system to these areas.  A program to abandon the well and septic systems should include a long-term financing option for the property owners to assist in quickly resolving this possible contamination source.