The Montgomery County Parks Board will continue to discuss plans for a major soccer complex this week in an effort to move the project closer to a decision on what will be built at South Germantown Recreational Park.
The board will hold a session 10 a.m. Thursday on a proposal for a 16-field soccer complex and discuss a private group's wish to expand that plan to include 24 fields and a soccer stadium.
Proponents of the soccer plan met with the Germantown Alliance March 13 to solicit support for their proposal, which has not been popular among some residents.
Maryland SoccerPlex, a mix of private individuals and soccer groups, wants to enter into a public/private partnership with the county to build a 24-field soccer complex at South Germantown Recreational Park.
The plan has been a point of controversy between the group and local residents who fear an onslaught of traffic and other problems if it is accepted by county officials.
SoccerPlex representatives recently held a question and answer session about the plan at the Upcounty Regional Service Center.
At the March 13 meeting, Montgomery County transportation officials confirmed residents' concerns that there are no plans to widen Route 118 toward the entrance of the 658-acre park off Schaeffer Road. The main access to the park is designed from Route 118 onto an entrance road through the park.
The relocation and widening of Route 118 from two to six lanes from Wisteria Drive to Clopper Road will transition back to two lanes before the park.
"In our professional judgment, it can accommodate traffic through 2005," said Ronald Welke, transportation coordinator for the Montgomery County Department of Park & Planning.
Welke said once Richter Farm Road is complete in 2001, it will also relieve some traffic to the park.
Ed Livingston, a longtime Schaeffer Road resident, said there are already traffic problems with the park and it can only get worse without the widening of Route 118.
Residents fear overuse of the rural roads around the park including Schaeffer, Blackrock, White Ground roads and Burdette Lane. There are no plans to prevent cars entering or leaving the park from using those roads.
"This is headed for a horrible mess," Livingston said.
After glancing at the county's traffic statistics, Susan Soderberg, an Alliance board member, said she agreed Route 118 should be improved.
"The figures show we do need to widen that road," she said.
With the addition of thousands of cars daily among the rural and sometimes tricky intersections of the roads, "You're going to have some deaths," Soderberg said.
To satisfy concerns, county transportation officials will conduct an independent analysis in the spring, Welke said.
Soderberg said the Alliance, a group of community, county and business leaders, has a lot of information, but still does not have the answer to important questions: "How this benefits Germantown and what the risks are to Germantown?" she said.
The Alliance will take a position on the soccer proposal next month.
County funding is being proposed for 16 fields to include construction, water and sewer, road improvements and parking. The county and state have committed a combined $4.9 million to the project.
Thirteen outdoor soccer fields and various enterprise facilities have already been approved for the park in a 1996 master plan.
Amenities include an indoor soccer arena, swim center, miniature golf, BMX bike track and adventure playground. South Germantown residents support the original master plan for the park.
SoccerPlex representatives want to increase the number of fields and add a lighted championship field with 5,000 seats. The group is pledging $10 million toward the project.
"We support 24 fields because there is a need in the county," said Trisha Heffelfinger, SoccerPlex representative.
She said the group would also agree to phasing in the project starting with the 16-field plan.
The Montgomery County Council subcommittee on Planning Housing and Economic Development will discuss the matter at a work session April 6.
Another civic group, the Germantown Citizens Association, voted earlier this month to support the 16-field proposed complex.
"We've cut the line at 16," said John Kerekes, GCA president.
From the Gazette Papers