Planning staff preview Shady Grove plots, Boulevard 44 site plan and announce public-works leadership changes

During the administrative portion of the Rockville Planning Commission meeting, the staff liaison briefed commissioners on items likely to appear at the commission's next meeting and announced departmental leadership changes. The liaison said the commission's next meeting is scheduled for October 8 and will include a series of plats that will implement phase 1 of the Shady Grove Neighborhood Center project and a site plan to implement loft units at the Boulevard 44 building in Town Center. The liaison said there will also be a zoning-use-regulations (ZUR) work session "which will essentially mirror the Mayor and Council ZUR work session" scheduled later this month. On staff changes, the liaison reported that Ricky Barker, the city's director, has retired. "We now have an acting director, and that is Craig Cimino, who is or has been the city's director of public works for a number of years, and he is now our acting director," the liaison said. The liaison added that Jim Woods, who has been deputy director of public works, "is now the acting public works director," and that an acting deputy director will be appointed soon. The liaison also noted that Jenny Snapp, who had attended the commission's meetings in the past, has moved on to Montgomery County. The liaison said he will keep the commission updated on staffing appointments and that correspondence received about one proposed rezoning in the comprehensive rezoning effort has been added to the public record and will be forwarded when that item comes before the commission.