| 1. |
How do you feel about the drainage project? Was it a good use of Oakmont STD funds? Do you think it was done well?
9 yes; 6 maybe; 1 no
Comments:
- Should have extended to end of the road to insure proper drainage for everyone.(2)
- We like the new curb and sidewalks. (2)
- Have no personal experience. If it benefited many and works, it was good; if only a few, then not good use of funds. (4)
- Raccoons and rats go through the drainage pipes. Drains should have screens.
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| 2. |
Are you happy with the improvements made to Daley Lane?
15 yes; 1 maybe
Comments:
- If Daley Lane is for all, why is Oakmont paying to keep a garage operational that prevents access to much of the lane?
- Daley Lane finally looks inviting!
- Plantings look great, but Leland Cypress look stressed.
- Now it needs to be well-maintained. (2)
- Looks much better but could be improved.
- Daley Lane helps make Oakmont unique.
- More benches would be nice.
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| 3. |
Are you in favor of extending the existing Oak Place sidewalk all the way to Hempstead?
11 yes; 5 no
Comments:
- If safety is a concern, it should be done.
- Why do it?
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| 4. |
Please let us know your top one or two choices for new capital projects Oakmont should consider:
Those mentioned, in no particular order, were:
- Improve traffic
- Sewers
- Bury electric lines (3)
- Pave sidewalks with pavers instead of concrete
- Drainage on south side of Oak Place
- Reduce taxes
- Speed control on Oakmont
- Extend sidewalk to Hempstead
- New driveway aprons on Oakmont as needed (2)
- Better tree maintenance
- Concrete curbs on Oakmont
- Holiday decorations for town
- Smaller, more attractive street lights
- Street cleaning
- More flowers
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| 5. |
Several residents have expressed concern with the tear down/mansionization trend that has come to our neighborhood. Is this one of your concerns?
13 yes; 3 no
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| 6. |
If tear downs/mansionization concern you, please put the issues listed below in priority order.
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|
Issue |
Priority Level |
|
High |
Medium |
Low |
|
Necessary repairs at Oakmont taxpayer expense to streets, sidewalks, and curbs as a result of damage done by utilities or contractors during the construction project. |
4 |
3 |
1 |
|
Changes to the character of the neighborhood. |
8 |
1 |
1 |
|
Disruption caused to parking and traffic by large construction projects. |
5 |
1 |
2 |
|
Effect of increased noise and mess during construction. |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
Increase in the property taxes of the neighborhood when new larger homes raise the average assessment. |
2 |
5 |
2 |
|
Effect of homes with a much larger footprint have on mature trees. |
8 |
2 |
1 |
|
Concern with affect on neighborhood diversity as the numbers of homes in the lowest price ranges diminish. |
5 |
4 |
1 |
|
Effect on County infrastructure (electrical transformer loads, sewage systems, landfill, roads) during construction. |
4 |
0 |
4 |
|
Effect of homes with a larger footprint on storm water run-off and the potential damage this may cause to immediate neighbors. |
9 |
1 |
0 |
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Please list anything we may have forgotten regarding tear downs/mansionization.
- Blocking sunlight; eliminating privacy.
- Ill will between mansion owners and neighbors.
- Oakmont should try to set a standard requiring smaller homes be built here because of the smaller size of our lots – at least on Oakmont where all lots are narrow.
- Mansionization has no pluses; Oakmont should do whatever it can to discourage it.
- “We view new home construction as a positive development that reflects the considerable appeal of the Bethesda area.” Restricting it could lead to considerable expense and legal challenges and might impair the value of older homes.
- “Oakmont has beautiful large trees. We should remember that as the neighborhood changes... let’s keep it green!” (2)
- Oakmont needs to get moving on an ordinance to give some control of this to the Committee.
- If Oakmont requires original footprints be kept, this might reduce value of existing homes.
- Issues like storm water run-off and damage to neighbors should be addressed with builders as they build. If they get it wrong, the town should help builders correct it.
- Construction mess and noise is a good place for regulation, although it will be hard to regulate.
- Disruption to parking comes from all kinds of things – including the Oakmont drainage project. The neighborhood character also is in constant flux.
- The best way to regulate renovations is to establish a rear set-back more strict than the County’s and a height restriction of two stories.
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| 13. |
Do you have any additional comments? We would like to hear them:
- Landscape around Oakmont signs.
- Consider closing Daley Lane to cars. Buy the garage as a storage area for the town. The gravel access is an eyesore.
- Landscape teams servicing the newer homes routinely park trucks/equipment in front of neighbors’ homes, dropping grass clippings, gasoline, and other residue on sidewalks. They should be required to park in front of or in driveway of home they are servicing.
- Traffic volume and speed on O.G. Road is too high to accommodate the amount of pedestrian traffic. In other residential neighborhoods off O.G., speed limit is lower. We need reduced speed limit, better enforcement, left turn arrows, and possibly a pedestrian bridge.
- Snow removal teams come too late and continuously pile snow on already shoveled sidewalks and driveways.
- Oakmont should hire a third-party expert in county codes to make recommendations on mansionization issues.
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