Unanimous Passage of Rockville’s King Farm Farmstead Master Plan
I am beyond thrilled to vote for a plan to start utilizing
the buildings of the Farmstead for childcare, meetings, events, City programs
and more while also protecting the historic aspect of the space as well as the
Community Garden and the site’s green space.
For nearly 30 years, Rockville’s residents and various Mayors
and Council’s have grappled with how to use this site. No longer. I am proud to
be on this Council that passed this historic plan that marries Rockville’s
future with Rockville’s past and will be enjoyed for generations to come.
I want to say a few words of thanks to everyone who helped get this
plan over the finish line. To everyone who came out to Listening Sessions or
Filtering Sessions in King Farm, Twinbrook, at Glenview Mansion and at sessions.
To everyone who called, met with your representatives, emailed or otherwise
made your voices heard and had great input. And organizations like Peerless
Rockville and commissions like the Historic District Commission had vital
advice as the plan advanced forward. I am sure moving forward the Boards and
Commissions of the City will continue to be involved and have vital input.
This would not have been even possible without the work done
in past years by the past Mayors and Council and City staff who prepared the
site, shored up the buildings - in addition to the volunteers who held various listening sessions which
captured ideas we could build upon. Former Mayor Bridget Donnell Newton and
former Councilmember Mark Pierzchala were both instrumental in keeping the Farmstead
planning process alive and putting forward ideas for discussion.
Closer to home, the King Farm Farmstead Community Garden was
diligent about keeping up with meetings and providing input on every draft and
being certain to circulate it among its members. I could be certain to hear
from them on items they liked or items they disagreed with. Additionally, the King
Farm External Affairs Committee held a number of meetings to discuss the plans and the King
Farm Citizen Assembly led by President Paul Scott weighed in as well and
communicated with the members of the community.
A special thank you goes out to the Rockville City staff who
worked so hard to engage residents from all of Rockville, capture their ideas
and feedback in-person and via a website (Engage Rockville) and wrote, revised
and presented multiple comprehensive reports. A special shout out to our former
Parks and Recreation Director Tara Stewart who was instrumental in the final
plan passed by the Mayor and Council.
I know we have a lot of work yet to do, and this is hardly even
the beginning of the end of the work. But I think we can consider it the end of
the beginning.
And for that I am grateful, and I am hopeful all of
Rockville can begin to enjoy these wonderful planned uses of the Farmstead for
generations to come.
Barry
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