Dear Friends –
After a short recess over the holidays, the Council is back in session this upcoming Tuesday. And we are busy!
Overnight farm stays support the County’s rural economy
As many of you know, I introduced a zoning text amendment (ZTA) last fall that would remove the ban on overnight farm stays. This ZTA is about agritourism. It is about promoting and growing this important sector of our economy.
There is strong demand from people seeking authentic farm experiences, and more than a few local farmers have expressed serious interest in expanding their agritourism business by hosting overnight farm stays as is currently happening in other parts of the state and throughout the nation.
As the price of land, materials, and labor continues to increase, overnight farm stays allow our farmers to adopt a new and diverse revenue stream to maintain profitability and viability. This is important so we can continue to attract the next generation of farmers and lovers of the Ag Reserve.
I wrote an OpEd with my full views, which you can read on MoCo360.
The public hearing for ZTA is on Tuesday, January 16 at 7pm. You may sign up here.
Capital Budget season is upon us
The County Executive will unveil his recommended capital budget to the Council on January 16, 2024. The capital budget is what pays for school construction, parks, transportation projects, recreation centers, police and fire stations, and much more.
The Council will hold public hearings (sign up here) on the County Executive’s recommendations on February 6 and 7. Council committees will then review in detail all the projects recommended for funding and make recommendations to the full Council. The process will culminate at the end of May when the Council will approve the final capital budget.
My priorities going into this capital budget will be ensuring that school construction and transportation projects, particularly those in District 6, get the necessary investments. Another key item on the capital budget: the proposed Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, which will have performance spaces, classrooms, a gallery space, among other fantastic issues. Rest assured, I will be looking to see that critical projects stay on track.
Chair of the MWCOG Chesapeake Bay and Water Resource Policy Committee
Earlier this week, I was honored to be named as chair of the Chesapeake Bay & Water Resources Policy Committee of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG). The committee monitors developments of the federal Chesapeake Bay Program and makes Bay-related recommendations to the MWCOG Board. I look forward to working with my colleagues from across the region on the committee and MWCOG staff to continue our efforts in cleaning up the Bay! Read more here.
The High Cost of Parking near Transit
I recently joined many of my colleagues in supporting an exciting smart growth policy that eliminates the mandate of parking minimums for new residential developments located near mass transit. This does not mean that no parking would be built, but that the demand for parking from prospective residents of the new development would dictate how much parking is built, rather than some arbitrary minimum set up in County law. Because these developments are so near mass transit, not as much parking is needed and we are, thus, able to reduce auto trips.
The public hearing for ZTA 23-10 is on January 16, followed by a committee worksession later in the month.
Easing the Property Tax Burden on Seniors and Service Members
I am a proud co-sponsor of legislation that expands eligibility to and increases the amount of the County’s property tax credit for seniors and retired/disabled service members. We need to do more to ease the cost pressures for those living on fixed incomes and those that have served our country. The legislation, Bill 45-23, does just that. It will have a public hearing on January 23, followed by a committee meeting soon thereafter.
Volunteer with Us on Martin Luther King Jr. Day!
I have been working with AfriThrive, a local immigrant farmer devoted to growing healthy and culturally appropriate foods, to create an urban farm at Kemp Mill Elementary School, a Title I school in the Kemp Mill/Wheaton neighborhood. We will be doing a cleanup and ground prep work of the garden area, on Monday, January 15 at 9:00am.
Please join us! We will have pastries from the nearby Kosher Pastry Oven and be offering SSL hours to students. Please email our office (councilmember.fani-gonzalez@montgomerycountymd.gov) for questions or to RSVP.
Youth Town Hall
We have achieved a significant milestone by reconstituting the Wheaton Arts and Entertainment (A&E) Board. My strategic vision for this board involves the establishment of a new, independent entity detached from County government in order to promote economic development and empower the board to oversee events, marketing, and the promotion of arts within the Wheaton community.
Over the next few months, the A&E Board will host opportunities for the community to engage. Their first event targeted to youth will be on Monday, Jan. 29, at 11:30 am at Wheaton Library/Recreation Center. There will be opportunities for all community members to engage in the future.
Natali Fani-González
Councilmember, District 6
Chair, Economic Development Committee