News continued (page 3)

Shri Mangal Mandir Temple Parking Lot (continued)

Some of the ideas expressed in the letters sent to the Department of Permitting Services are as follows:

• The submerged gravel wetland system is not designed for flood control or protection of the stream channel and would be expensive to maintain.
• The area is environmentally sensitive and changes might compromise the health of the  watershed downstream.
• The Sandy Spring tributary is a stream already in trouble (e.g., flooding, erosion).
• Excess sedimentation will choke biological life from the stream.
• Deforestation would be detrimental to the watershed.
• Increased pollutants from cars on the temple site may run off into the wetlands.
• The current septic system may be inadequate to support the increased use of the temple that the additional parking spaces may generate.
• There are no lighting plans available for review to see whether the lighting will create light pollution.
• The plan violates the Sandy Spring/Ashton Master Plan in these respects:
  • Protection of natural resources
  • Importance of maintaining undeveloped parcels in the watershed area
  • Rural character for the entrance to Ashton and Sandy Spring

There was a very limited time to comment (which has already passed), however, as the concept plan has not yet been approved, we still encourage you to send your comments to:

Richard Brush, Chief
Water Resources Section
Department of Permitting Services
Montgomery County
255 Rockville Pike, 2nd Floor
Rockville, MD 20850

If you send a letter, the SSARPC Steering Committee would like to have a copy to include on the web site.  Please email a copy of the letter to feedback@ssarpc.org . 

We will keep you updated as we learn what actions are being taken by both the Department of Permitting Services and the temple.

Shri Mangal Mandir Temple Documents

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