Highlights from 2015

by Mike Conroy
2015 has been a productive year in Montgomery Village. One the eve of the community’s 50th Anniversary year, the words “flourish” and “change” have been as present as they were prominent in 1966 when the Kettler Brothers first broke ground.

This year county planners engaged residents in the extensive Montgomery Village Master Plan process, producing a new master plan, the first ever for solely Montgomery Village. The plan, which is awaiting review and decision by the county council, includes a complete rezoning of the Village, replacing the unique Town Sector Zone and unifying it with county standards.

In keeping with the Master Plan process, Monument Realty presented their Development Plan Amendment to the county, to potentially develop a portion of the former golf course, hoping to have it approved prior to the master plan process being completed. After a decision from the County Hearing Examiner that the project didn’t meet the criteria for approval, Monument decided to wait until after the Master Plan was approved to pursue development on the property. Recently, to help keep the area safe, secure and free of trespassers, the buildings on the property were demolished.

The county is also in the midst of the long awaited Lake Whetstone sediment removal project. Equipment has been on site for several months, removing sediment from the lake and shipping it to an EPA-approved site out of county. This cleanup of our largest (man-made) natural asset helps keep the community looking good to visitors and residents.

On the Montgomery Village Foundation (MVF) side of things, investments in maintaining the community have also been made. The construction of the restrooms and concession stand facility in South Valley Park is all but complete and will be operational for the 2016 event season in the park. Solar panels were installed on the roof of Lake Marion Community Center, providing renewable energy for some of the center’s electricity needs and saving utility costs over the life of the system. And following in the footsteps of Whetstone Pool, the planning and designs for the Apple Ridge Pool renovation were completed this year, paving the way for the demolition and reconstruction after the close of the pool season next year.

And while change in a community is often associated with development, there have been plenty of other changes for the benefit of residents that occurred this year. The MVF Board of Directors, at the recommendation of the Architectural Review Board, made architectural criteria changes to several neighborhoods and house styles. These changes opened up new possibilities for homeowners looking to make upgrades to their homes.

Preparations have been made to celebrate Montgomery Village’s 50th Anniversary all year long. The 50th Anniversary Committee worked hard to put together a series of programs and events that help celebrate the community’s history, diversity and continued effort to flourish for another 50 years. A full schedule of events can be found online at www.montgomeryvillage.com.

Speaking of the website, the Communications Committee and MVF staff just finished a year-long project to update the website with a new, user-friendly, mobile-capable version. The new site is more streamlined, and boasts better menu structure and a resident dashboard with personalized community and property information. This refreshing take on the old online presence is one of the best ways for both residents and visitors to see all that Montgomery Village has to offer.

Of course, continued marketing efforts don’t stop there. The third installment of Flourish magazine was recently released and is being distributed around the county. This issue of the full color magazine emphasizes how our history has helped shape where we are today, and how the community can use that experience to continue to grow. And, for the 27th consecutive year, Montgomery Village was recognized as a Tree City USA by the National Arbor Day Foundation. When the Kettler Brothers planned the details of the Village, they made sure that a tree canopy was part of that plan. Montgomery Village has always been a place to find ample greenery, and our commitment to keeping it that way is one of the reasons many residents choose to move here.

Finding something to do, close to home, has also been a reason for residents to enjoy the Village. In 2015, a host of new programs were added to our recreation offerings, including Argentine Tango, Pickleball, Soccer Shots, Pros2You Tennis and Wine & Paint, and more new classes are on tap for 2016, like Cardio Kickboxing and POP Pilates. 2015 also saw the addition of some new specialty camps for Lego, young chefs and those interested in science. The summer events received some updates, adding Maryland Community Band Day, Art in the Park and Pony2Go Petting Zoo to the Summers at South Valley Park line up. Another successful new event was Touch A Truck, where children were invited to climb on area businesses’ large trucks and find out about large machinery. And if that wasn’t enough, tot lots around the Village, including those in Picton and at North Creek Community Center (as well as others by the East Village Homes Corporation) were replaced with upgraded equipment this year.

When you combine that with the regular line up of seasonal classes and programs, and annual events including the Home Show, July 4 Celebration, The Great Pumpkin Race and Fall Festival, New Residents Welcome Reception, Community Christmas Tree Lighting, Breakfast with Santa and the Toys for Tots Concert, it’s no wonder that 2015 has kept us busy.

As always, no year is perfect. In 2015 we said goodbye to a few long-time residents and Village supporters including Vincent Santiago, George Aubin and Milton Kaufmann. Each one of these individuals left their mark on the community, whether through volunteering, community activism, ecological advocating or unique ties to building the Village. Their accomplishments will be treasured and their tenacity and love for Montgomery Village will be missed.

All in all, 2015 has been a year of accomplishment and change for the better. As the year comes to a close, we thank residents and volunteers for their commitment to helping the Village flourish. We look forward to more growth in 2016 and wish the community a happy, health holiday season.