June 23, 2020

Casey Anderson
Chair, Montgomery County Planning Board
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Dear Chair Anderson:

We write to join the chorus of voices advocating for the continued weekend closure of certain streets under your
jurisdiction after the COVID-19 pandemic ends.

Like you, we believe that amidst the difficulties of this pandemic, we must seek out silver linings that have earned a
permanent place in our community. Closing Sligo Creek Parkway and Beach Drive to cars on the weekend—and
opening them to pedestrians, scooters, and bicycles—has been one such silver lining.

Both of these roads run through our legislative district. The support from our constituents has been overwhelmingly
(though not unanimously) positive. One constituent wrote on social media: “We live a short bike ride away from
Beach and use it often in the car. We would LOVE it to continue to be closed on the weekends!!! We’ve used the road
at least once every weekend with our two young children since it has been closed to traffic. I used to ride to the section
of Beach in DC that is closed on weekends and lamented that there wasn’t something closer. Beach drive is a public
park and I can’t think of a better use than recreation!!”

Another constituent wrote: “Oh please keep it closed forever. The Beach Drive closure is one of the few things that has
made me feel truly happy in the past few months - lucky to live here. We walk here in the mornings, run here at
twilight, and go on family bike rides on weekends. Being able to continue these traditions even after the pandemic is
over would be so wonderful.”

While we do not usually take official positions on local issues, we feel comfortable writing this letter as M-NCPPC is
a creation of State government and remains under our statutory authority. After the pandemic ends, we hope you will
consider keeping these two roads closed on Saturdays and Sundays in perpetuity.

Sincerely,

Senator Jeff Waldstreicher Delegate Al Carr Delegate Emily Shetty Delegate Jared Solomon

P.S. Attached please find a document from Mr. Gerald Sharp, a resident who created an unscientific poll on this issue.