[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6167893,"mediaKeyId","5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746","parentId",5409923,"title","Heated public hearing on leaf blower exemption draws hundreds of residents, landscapers and advocates","audioSeconds",8388,"startMs",917000,"endMs",9305000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746&start=917&end=9305","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746/thumbnail_917000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6167893/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Heated-public-hearing-on-leaf-blower-exemption-draws-hundreds-of-residents-landscapers-and-advocates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167893-240c0edcf04aa1b1b8ad80ce3ca9073b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833253&Signature=GaHu-9SpJbndbDrZf3s3pkY6SN4ERXiNyaqpWy6HYkBcdArpmjngdzzA38z~rIjsuM8LflPcZzypp8eV911B-l72mnwQOb3QBjdVj2WDbuwBGbfgoyBpsRPE0C~HU8bJG1Lp3aNS3X44T2DSdkZZ~HUzRW2B6G2dFdiVMETn8mYd0o~CVaoyewRMQO8nZ6YnR~-uWES-GF5RDtiLP3b20othlei4r8GVMxRcQ6wUy8oYHdCkLwns3JSf4jLBuQ9vccssHCt9CEE-cGLz7X69u-ZuSLndvDSzWQinQEviQVwgyi7IynlehwBrE91afu4Ij-u3JEBlm3wMsJYoybglfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Montgomery County, MD","date","2025-07-16T09:36:07Z","article","Montgomery County residents, landscapers, health advocates and business groups filled the council’s July 15 public hearing to debate Expedited Bill 19-25, which would create a seasonal exemption for professional landscape contractors to use gasoline-powered leaf blowers during specified months and set a sunset for the exemption.

The county executive’s office, represented by Tricia Swanson, told the council the executive opposes the seasonal exemption. \"While the county executive is opposed to the seasonal exemption, he does strongly support relooking at the enforcement provision,\" Swanson said, noting the county had invested in a rebate program and outreach to support the original phased ban.

Speakers opposing the exemption included climate and public-health advocates and residents who said the ban protects worker and public health and decreases disruptive noise. Kevin Walton of the Climate Coalition of Montgomery County said, \"I urge you to vote against bill 19 25 and its delay of the complete ban of gas powered leaf blowers,\" and cited county rebate uptake and examples of other jurisdictions that have implemented bans. Dr. Vivian Thompson, who described gasoline blowers as \"the devil's hair dryer,\" urged the council not to \"gut\" the county’s law, citing health and environmental harms.

Representatives of landscaping companies and chambers of commerce said battery technology is not yet reliable, especially for wet leaves and commercial-scale leaf removal, and that the transition costs and infrastructure upgrades are heavy. Multiple contractors described equipment costs, battery weights and run-times and said fall leaf work is time sensitive and often involves wet material that battery blowers perform poorly on. Chuck Whealton of Rupert Landscape described his company’s experience with a DC ban and said battery backpack blowers were heavier and less efficient in wet conditions; several contractors said the county’s current rebate program does not cover the scale of required investment.

Small-business and minority-business groups, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County and the Gaithersburg Germantown Chamber of Commerce, urged adoption of the limited seasonal exemption to protect local jobs and smaller firms. Several speakers also proposed alternatives such as allowing four-stroke gas engines, expanding county battery-charging infrastructure, or allowing only push or ride-on gas blowers.

Residents and environmental groups, including Friends of Sligo Creek and the Sierra Club, opposed the exemption and warned it would undercut a law the council approved after extensive deliberation. Opponents described improvements in quality of life since the ban's partial implementation and asked the council not to reverse course.

Council staff recorded a Transportation and Environment Committee work session scheduled for July 28, 2025; materials were due July 21, 2025. The public hearing record closed July 15 with both in-person and virtual testimony on the record. The hearing did not include a council vote; the proposal will next be considered in committee.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 15, 2025 - Council Session (pm)","oneSentenceSummary","Montgomery County’s July 15 public hearing drew hours of divided testimony on Expedited Bill 19-25, which would allow a seasonal, temporary exemption for professional landscape contractors to use gasoline-powered leaf blowers during the fall.","taxTitle","Montgomery County, Maryland","taxId",3351,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6167888,"Parents, providers and philanthropies urge council not to limit Children’s Opportunity Alliance role",4120,9166000,13286000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746&start=9166&end=13286","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746/thumbnail_9166000.jpg","/articles/6167888/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Parents-providers-and-philanthropies-urge-council-not-to-limit-Childrens-Opportunity-Alliance-role","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167888-f0188013d6627594b7fa6cb2a940e32d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833253&Signature=gUOM2n7iBCVSsOapIia9A4gJIrbwuTBEqg172eStsOm3EivPNlJ-MfZppQ1L2VgbylVpjPaJM~banZESii417UPg~~48YV666OBbdnze-siZ40kCDuuDJeLbc-vzVofsPiJgJHFkQHjEdHe-H64DffGoxsmHsAlcrqbMkkPyb6bUNLwV4rAOW7zpUAU456pho2QtxsK-COZ5TABF5ZxRqKj~SRMC7NF9t4ERdROKJ63~dTzavEsbtexwdUdNhVpqOgHzy4mReOCsRvfiI32FrLsnv117HQocT2ebtYyMPtX6b~Gv81qXbrlN8teoaaS6G1xmFx9Rc0I5SRcFs1LWkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of parents, early-childhood providers, nonprofit leaders and philanthropies urged the Montgomery County Council on July 15 not to restrict the Children’s Opportunity Alliance (COA) by prohibiting it from awarding grants, entering provider contracts or delivering direct supports under Expedited Bill 23-25.

Several witnesses described COA as a nimble, community-rooted nonprofit that fills gaps county agencies cannot, citing COA’s role in helping small family childcare providers apply for and manage Maryland Pre-K expansion grants, distributing philanthropic seed grants, and organizing outreach and capacity-building. \"As COA collaborates with its hardworking public partners, it also must be allowed its good measure of independence,\" testified Pat Rupert, who represents the business community on the COA board.

Kimberly Rusnak, COA’s executive director, told the council that COA has raised private funds (she cited $674,000 raised in three years) and that COA-directed grants to nonprofit partners have supported capacity building and helped providers prepare for public funding. Several family childcare providers and community groups said they rely on COA-funded mentoring, Spanish-language supports and hands-on technical assistance that county programs did not deliver at that scale or in those languages.

Speakers who work directly with family childcare providers said the pre-K expansion application process (administered by the state) is complex and that small providers need assistance to participate. Local providers and coalitions—including the Latino Child Care Association, Family Child Care Association of Montgomery County, and the Hispanic Chamber—told council members that COA’s ability to award small strategic grants and to partner with community groups is critical to expanding equitable access.

Opponents of the current bill language—several board members and business leaders among them—asked the council to revise the proposed restrictions so COA can continue limited grant-making and technical assistance while preserving transparency and avoiding duplication. Supporters of changes said they were concerned about potential conflicts if a convener also competes for funds; speakers on both sides urged a collaborative approach before final legislative changes.

Council staff scheduled a joint Health and Human Services and Education & Culture Committee work session on July 23, 2025, and asked for materials by July 16, 2025. The public hearing record closed July 15.","Parents, family childcare providers, philanthropies and COA board members urged the Montgomery County Council on July 15 not to restrict the Children’s Opportunity Alliance’s grant-making and direct-support activities in Expedited Bill 23-25, saying COA provides essential, culturally responsive and nimble services to expand pre‑K seats and help small providers access state funds.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6167898,"Council hears competing views on proposed grandfathering fix for landscape contractors",612,480000,1092000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746&start=480&end=1092","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746/thumbnail_480000.jpg","/articles/6167898/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Council-hears-competing-views-on-proposed-grandfathering-fix-for-landscape-contractors","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167898-cd64a6ac6dc73886d3d956d7126fea96/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833253&Signature=H9XCsBjDQxcDYyDTxRF4~B4b7ss2ZKfqrB2PAA~tRZsIg0pnIzhT84ldxfIIWwyKoDmPFOH3B6SIQVWCqJ5XNWmMvEzKLLlTpauZlXE~wEz98nbp0BTC4HnhQrW04VpUOd8iCDvp42ilao4rreQd4p-uy6V~CA5nYwlwokBwe2hh30GdG63mMizhfl4JVxN~N2rhZkclCXGFC0yQq6~-DvkVzQ-E-3RPvpA~mFUEAj6VhAuD2BdmWx3yvbM8JCykKrI7eEja3H9tNIufc7stJ4ZFZSls2rJfva78c~kTVkiq2yv4S0aooiANyKeKb2rM1LvE9a8sIild4e1b6xVQDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery County Council heard testimony July 15 on Zoning Text Amendment 25-08, which would revise legacy exemption language for landscape contractors in the Rural Cluster (RC) zone.

Benjamin Burbert, representing the Montgomery County Planning Board, told the council the amendment clarifies that on-site operations must be measured as square footage and would allow a site that inadvertently expanded after Oct. 30, 2014, one opportunity to restore its operational footprint to the approved square footage and retain grandfather status. Burbert said the Planning Board supported the change because the current approach can strip legacy protections immediately after any enlargement, even accidental ones, and force expensive conditional-use reviews.

Attorney Casey Cerner, representing Woods Blaster LLC doing business as Silver Spring Landscaping, and business owner Don Thurber urged the council to adopt ZTA 25-08. Cerner said the change aligns enforcement with the way landscaping businesses operate and provides a limited, reasonable pathway to correct inadvertent expansions without a full conditional-use process. Thurber told the council he supported the amendment and thanked Councilmember Albornoz for sponsoring the ZTA.

Planning staff said a climate assessment found minimal overall impacts but noted both potential environmental benefits from site restoration and small negatives tied to removal of existing impervious surfaces.

Council staff announced a Planning, Housing and Parks Committee work session on July 28, 2025; those wishing to submit materials were asked to do so by July 21, 2025. The public hearing was closed at the session.

No formal vote was taken at the hearing; the ZTA will proceed through committee review and subsequent council action.","A zoning text amendment (ZTA 25-08) would clarify measurement of landscape-contractor on-site operations and allow one opportunity to restore grandfathered status; Planning Board and industry representatives testified in support.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6167902,"Council hears planning staff support to fix Bethesda zoning map error at 7979 Old Georgetown Road",451,361000,812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746&start=361&end=812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746/thumbnail_361000.jpg","/articles/6167902/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Council-hears-planning-staff-support-to-fix-Bethesda-zoning-map-error-at-7979-Old-Georgetown-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167902-21f76a7d1f8397b14fb585f3d98b94e6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833253&Signature=gFloHDOn~VazNkAvCC~M2ADvqmGbcjwIEzB9A8Cey31vShMHR8zNZoKOEDeCNwzSdcERhde4vrRLYME0JzocENhpOMe8POQ0bzmC2DRQNRWWhi3eL5kTIHWM-6SsWEwKT9pFEcgHSBEnyec2TmafZ4Kw7qFkkYbvK2GEAqOz5D30AKvn1fnSZTglav2BDQlws5rlb7Or22XnFTKtQehWaV1hbRmwMxdZJvEgiIh9PTfjjp3eYFG80fVtpz16gzUhtX4V0IVJB9q2VbDnl~vzzD~H6YDWDlkdV8L4mmp4hJ-tbm3m6ePAyoE3cXvcupaWhvmAnkGofXXpvVyEKjescg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery Planning officials told the Montgomery County Council on July 15 that Corrective Map Amendment H-158 corrects a technical zoning error for a property at 7979 Old Georgetown Road in Bethesda.

Larissa Cleven, master plan supervisor for West County in the county planning agency, testified that the CMA corrects an inaccurate depiction of a zoning classification on county zoning maps and that the Planning Board reviewed H-158 on April 22 and unanimously voted to approve filing the CMA with a recommendation of approval.

Cleven said she was available to answer council questions; the hearing was on the public record and the council closed public testimony after the presentation. Council staff noted council action was tentatively scheduled for July 22, 2025, and invited submission of materials by the close of business the day of the hearing.

The CMA is limited to correcting technical errors in the official zoning map; Planning staff characterized this action as a map correction rather than a policy change to the Bethesda Downtown Plan. No public testimony was recorded that opposed the map correction on the hearing record.

Background: The CMA concerns the mapping of zoning designations within the area covered by the 2017 Bethesda Downtown Plan. The Planning Board’s unanimous vote to file the amendment was cited in the Planning staff testimony provided to the council.","Montgomery Planning testified in favor of Corrective Map Amendment H-158 to correct a technical zoning error affecting a property at 7979 Old Georgetown Road in the 2017 Bethesda Downtown Plan area; the Planning Board recommended filing the CMA.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6167907,"Montgomery County announces nearly $2 million state grant for rescue services",74,320000,394000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746&start=320&end=394","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5409923-d790fe3c7e06b9a6be0fa7ce981f4746/thumbnail_320000.jpg","/articles/6167907/Montgomery-County/Maryland/Montgomery-County-announces-nearly-2-million-state-grant-for-rescue-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6167907-a4abf395b066a41d2c67d4c0d96c839d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770833253&Signature=GhvRofhCw~FO2dEUES85v-A~ramK2hiwOBeAzoRkcf~NkSrblxtXTZJ8YLVFs~1djsCKiMzwkzXBhWmwF3DFjTXSP82EfElG-3nmHfTRFw7fcr~KWnHadv9cXa4tJ-YsU9BEd~ajB9zOKGh1X6LYWsz~59lip1zVa4bgoave2ap0OPnwITIvMJ-PSnIszbGaJPfNafE6knoARco4vqKvT3ivnXGJy7L0rtYFieR1ba56TkEV8HL5sCB9KhqB8Oc3oEjB9dueSIUBpPTYr4loFwM8YuN9R~G1tWwOdDQ1PKNrxnnk827OMsPRvSSmuC55JPL2S~66~xNjgvDRP4EOjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Montgomery County Council announced on July 15 that the council received a state 508 grant of almost $2,000,000 to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services and held a public hearing on Supplemental Appropriation No. 25-76 to the FY25 operating budget.

The council’s announcement said the funds are for the FY25 Senator Amos Fire Rescue and Ambulance Fund and that the source is a state grant. The hearing record shows there were no registered speakers for the item and the council closed the public hearing the same day.

The council clerk noted a public safety committee work session scheduled for July 21, 2025, for follow-up related to public-safety matters; the announcement asked anyone wishing to submit material for the council’s consideration to do so by the close of business the day of the hearing.

No formal council action on the appropriation was recorded in the hearing transcript; the hearing served as the public record before the council’s later consideration of budget amendments and appropriations.

Background: A “508” grant is the state aid line identified in the announcement; the council provided only the grant description and approximate amount during the session. There were no questions or public comments on the record about how the money would be spent.","Council announced a public hearing and closure on a $1.98 million state 508 grant to Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services for FY25; no public speakers were registered.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Heated public hearing on leaf blower exemption draws hundreds of residents, landscapers and advocates

Parents, providers and philanthropies urge council not to limit Children’s Opportunity Alliance role

Council hears competing views on proposed grandfathering fix for landscape contractors

Council hears planning staff support to fix Bethesda zoning map error at 7979 Old Georgetown Road

Montgomery County announces nearly $2 million state grant for rescue services