HISTORY OF
Adulthood: 1970-2002
by Don Gish (2002)
During its second quarter century Springbrook Forest saw many changes, some external and some internal. Some had direct and predictable effects on the community and others produced indirect and unexpected results.
The widening of Randolph Road in 1976 funneled a heavier flow of traffic onto a widened Kemp Mill Road. The development of former woods and fields north of Randolph Road and east of Kemp Mill Road into quarter-acre lots and town-house clusters provided additional traffic to gush down the new channel that only recently was a winding two-lane country road. The Springbrook Forest commuter waiting on Stonington Road trying to make a left-hand turn onto Kemp Mill Road at rush hour might temper his frustration with the thought that development and traffic problems are an inescapable by-product of progress.
But who would have predicted that along with the endless stream of speeding autos on our nearest thoroughfare we would be blessed with an almost daily procession of five, ten, or fifteen deer through our woods and backyards? In the earliest days of Springbrook Forest, our History recounts, "The Marlin Smiths tell of a beautiful deer coming into their yard soon after they moved in...". What was then a thrilling event had by 2002 become commonplace. So has all the surrounding dense development brought us closer to nature? If so, is that good or just a clear and present danger to our azaleas? We shall not try to make these judgments. Let us just look at what has happened to our community in its second quarter century.
Viewerest Terrace, originally subdivided for development by the Fisher Saginor Construction Company, later passed to Colt Development Co. In May 1970 the SFCA president wrote a strong letter to Wiliam Fisher, president of Fisher Saginor, protesting the company's needless destruction of trees while clearing for construction. The letter asked Fisher to "join us in saving the beauty and ecology of the Viewcrest area."
After Colt Development took over the project Don Gish, vice-president of SFCA, recognized the firm's president, Raymond Greenberg, as one of his childhood playmates and in October 1970 arranged a personal meeting to again plead for maximum preservation of trees. It was a very cordial meeting with a complete meeting of minds. Greenberg invited Springbrook Forest residents to help themselves to the wood from trees already cut! Whatever the effect of the SFCA efforts, thirteen attractive and spacious new houses soon joined the two existing custom-built homes of the Arkins and Horowitzes at the end of the street.
In 1971 Springbrook Forest, acting through the SFCA, officially and personally welcomed their Viewcrest neighbors, inviting their participation in all community activities. Viewcrest residents soon became active in community affairs and were elected to leadership positions in the SFCA (Jo Ann Hand, secretary-treasurer, 1972-73 and vice-president, 1973-74; Joe Mudd, vice-president, 1976-77.) One of the distinguished Springbrook Forest citizens from Viewcrest and our first resident congressman, The Honorable Louis Stokes (D-OH), was the featured speaker at the May 1975 SFCA meeting.
Suggestions for changes to the two parks next to the Forest have repeatedly evoked the interest of Foresters and have frequently revealed different perspectives on the role of the parks in the life of the community. Wheaton Regional Park, across Kemp Mill Road from Springbrook Forest, and Northwest Branch Park, which borders the Forest in back of Clement Lane, part of Brookhaven and Remington Drives, and at the end of Viewcrest Terrace, are both major resources for the residents of the Forest.
Among the proposals successfully resisted for Wheaton Regional Park were: adding a 150 car blacktop parking lot and a large horticultural building to Brookside Gardens at the expense of 2 1⁄2 acres of trees; replacing the camping area with a group picnic area complete with 300 picnic tables, a shelter, restrooms, and play area; an interior tram system to transport those unable to walk around the park; a miniature golf course; and an enlargement of the maintenance facility of Kemp Mill Road adding extensive underground fuel storage tanks.
Proposals concerning the usage of Northwest Branch Park have aroused greater controversy among residents than those affecting Wheaton Park. In October 1970 there was apprehension that "the bridle path has been widened and motorcyclists and cars are using the path" despite the fact that MNCPPC's objective was to create a horse trail that could be maintained with gravel and used for hiking and biking as well.
Carl V. Toland, Senior Landscape Architect for the MNCPPC, joined 21 Springbrook Forest residents for a discussion of the trail followed by a hike of "several miles" to view the condition of the trail. By April 1975 the SFCA found that the MNCPPC had, indeed, made plans affecting, but not improving, the trail. The plans called for a bridge across Northwest Branch (again) to accommodate a (non-motorized) bicycle trail connecting the ends of Springbrook Drive and Stonington Road, which in turn would be designated as bike routes thus providing a connector for a cross-county biking trail system.
The sentiment expressed at SFA meetings was overwhelmingly opposed, citing safety problems and expressing alarm at the prospect of outsiders biking through Springbrook Forest. At a special meeting on May 7,1975 the SFCA passed a compromise resolution opposing the bridge but supporting an alternative: development of a bike trail on the east bank of the Branch from Springbrook Drive upstream and crossing the existing bridge to connect with the bridle trail leading to Wheaton Park.
In July 1977 the SFCA found that the plan for the bridge was still in the Master Plan and testified in protest. A preliminary draft of a revised White Oak Master Plan still called for eventual improvement of the trail and a bridge across Northwest Branch at the foot of Valley Brook Drive rather than Springbrook Drive.
The planning and development of Kemp Mill Forest, our neighbors to the north and east, was carefully monitored by officers and committees of the SFCA from 1980 to1983. The land on which the development is located is 41.64 acres lying between Kemp Mill Road and Northwest Branch Park and bordering on Springbrook Forest properties on Auth Lane, Rockford Road, and Brookhaven Drive. The tract sold by the Percontee Co. was commonly referred to as "the Contee property" or "the Naham property."
The SFCA realistically resisted the very human urge to fight the whole project and set out instead to insure compliance with requirements that such developments protect the character of existing neighborhoods. The SFCA did not like the developer's proposal for access to Springbrook Forest via an extended Auth Lane The Forest also wanted any lot that adjoined Springbrook Forest property to be one half acre or larger. The planning board granted both of these requests.
Most importantly the Forest requested and obtained a scenic easement adjacent to all Springbrook Forest lots. In the easement area the land must be kept in its forested condition. The Planning Board granted an easement of 50 feet (actually larger than we expected) in back of the single family homes, and 100 feet adjacent to the town house complex. The size of the easement at the Northeast corner of the development was made especially wide to ensure that high land overlooking the intersection of Brookhaven Drive and Rockford Road stayed wooded.
There were supposed to be 100 single family homes and 15 town houses, and that is the way ti turned out. The developer, however, tried to make ti 101 houses by slipping in an additional lot by using the same lot number twice on site plans (Figure 6.1). The Association caught this violation of Planning Board requirements before any construction started.
SFCA involvement continued after the development was completed as some Kemp Mill Forest residents proved to be unaware of the requirements for maintenance of the scenic easement and the Planning Board seemed to change its interpretation of these requirements. On September 16, 1986 a crew with chain saws removed "13 fair-sized trees from the easement-protected area on Lot A2...", the owner contending "It's my land; I can do what I want with it." Since this episode the easement has been generally respected.
Another point of contention was run-off problems: that is, of the storm water variety, not of a neighbor with another's wife. Storm water from the new development drained onto adjacent lots in Springbrook Forest. The SFCA continued its dialog with the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) attempting, with varying degrees of success, to resolve these problems.
The "Be Kind to Forest Day." first held on March 20th 1971, with a program at the Brookside Gardens Nature Center followed by a community cleanup, marked the start of what has become almost an annual event in the Forest: the spring cleanup with resident-volunteers assembling at the triangle, fanning out over the neighborhood collecting plastic trash, beer cans, etc. and then returning to the triangle for refreshments.
Ellis Clough warned the SFCA in 1974 that we might have a gypsy moth epidemic in about six to eight years. Thirteen years later the gypsy moth threat to our oaks was clear. John and Mary Jean Gilbert headed up our response, arranging for aerial spraying of the Forest in the Spring of 1988 and 1989. By 1990 the infestation was so slight that further spraying was unnecessary.
In the spring of 1985 a Forest resident wrote to his neighbors expressing his desire to subdivide his corner lot. The subject was discussed at the March 20, 1985 SFCA meeting resulting in a resolution stating that "Springbrook Forest Citizens' Association is against subdivision of any lot in Springbrook Forest." President John Gilbert, in a letter of April 16, 1985 informed the resident of the resolution and thanked him for having courteously informed his neighbors before taking action on subdivision.
As a follow-up the SFCA appointed a committee on subdivision consisting of Florence Howard, George DeBuchananne, Lloyd Nelson, Dan Schultz, Willard Vick, and Don Dahl. This committee established that at some time about 1980 zoning of Springbrook Forest was changed from R to -R 200. Residents were not consulted about this change and for the most part were not aware of it. While the lots in the Forest range from approximately 40,000 square feet to 21⁄2 acres, the new zoning required a minimum lot size of only 20,000 square feet. On June 7, 1985 President John Gilbert sent a letter to the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission with an attached resolution passed by the SFCA on May 15, 1985, requesting that the zoning of Springbrook Forest be changed from R-200 to RE-1. (RE-1 requires a minimum lot size of 40,000 square feet. The resolution requested that lot E-5, the one lot in the forest of less than 40,000 square feet, be included as an existing exception to the R-1 zoning.) President Diane Anderson personally took a petition requesting one acre zoning to every home in the Forest. Over 98 percent of the Forest residents signed this petition.
In March of 1990 legal advice was sought. The lawyer reported that rezoning could be accomplished best by an amendment to the Master Plan and an adoption of an implementing Sectional Map Amendment which could only be initiated by the County Council or Planning Board. The Master Plan was to be reviewed and revised circum 2002 and insiders advised that no amendments would be considered before then. On November 20, 2001 a new master plan was adopted by the Montgomery Council. This changes Springbrook Forest zoning from R-200 to RE-1, therefore Springbrook Forest is now zoned for one acre (or, technically, a little less) lots!
We can consider that the SF year begins like the school year in September with the annual picnic. By 1960 the picnic had moved from private homes to the Colesville Recreation Center and the date was firmly established in September. That year there were 130 in attendance. By 1961 Hines Hatchery was providing barbecued chicken while the remainder of the spread came from Forest families. Ballfields were available for softball and volleyball. This was the pattern through 1971 with attendance varying from 147 to 246 people and 37 to 56 families. In 1972 the location was changed to the Kemp Mill Recreation Center. As late as 1984 Hines Hatchery was still providing the barbecued chicken, but by 1986 that venerable institution had gone out of business and Elliot Flick filled the breach as Chicken Chef-in-Charge, and collaborated with Jim Mayer, Salmon Savant. Only 42 people of age five or above attended the picnic in 1986 and in 1987 it was moved inside at the Kemp Mill Recreation Center because of rain. In 1988 the picnic was moved to Barbara and Joe Rock's. Subsequent picnics have been held at the Rocks', the Lipsteins', and the Ballous'. In recent years a kosher grill has been provided along with the other offerings.
The other annual events that became a tradition in Springbrook Forest were Santa and Caroling at the Triangle and the Christmas Party. Santa arrives each year on schedule at the triangle thanks in large part to the initiative of the Schultz family whose superb eggnog complements the sweet sound of caroling.
In 1962 the Christmas party arrived at St. Andrew Apostle Church for a stay of twenty years. The annual party featured alive band and a generous spread of food, soft drinks, and snacks (BYOL). After the band left Walter McArdle, a fine Irish tenor, often led those so inclined in caroling and singing of old favorites. From 1962 to 1981 admission to the party gradually increased from $3.50/couple to $20/couple. From a high attendance of 52 couples at $6.50/couple in 1967, participation had dropped to 29 couples at $20/couple in 1981 when the party lost $400.
Available records contain no reference to a Christmas (or holiday or winter) party (or dance) in 1982 except for a proposal at the SFCA meeting in May of that year". to discuss whether to hold a Holiday Seasons Dance next December" since "financial aspects of the dance must be considered now." The party/dance did take place in 1983 in a smaller hall at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church on University Boulevard with the admission fee raised to $30/couple. Apparently the yearly event continued at this location through 1989 when "on-site sitter and cd music" was introduced. Notes indicating attendance of only 39 people at the 1985 party and a cost of $500 for the band at the 1986 party give some indication of the reason for the change of format, yet only 35 people showed up for the party in 1989.
In 1991 the Christmas/Holiday/Winter Party/Dance was replaced by the Springbrook Forest Progressive Dinner. Arranged by SFCA Secretary-Treasurer Dot Gish, the first Progressive Dinner took place on January 19, 1992 on the Sunday of the Martin Luther King, Jr. long weekend, thus falling well after the crowded holiday season and in the midst of the winter social doldrums. Each couple or individual has appetizers at one house with six to eight neighbors, dinner at another house with six to eight other neighbors, and dessert at a table with a third set of neighbors at a third house where all the participants gather. Participants may provide either their home and appetizers, their home for a dinner cooked by a neighbor, dinner served at a neighbor's home, their home where all deserts are served, or dessert served at a designated dessert table. Over the years participation has varied from 35 to 50 people, all of whom have become better acquainted with some of their neighbors and discovered some outstanding gourmet cooks among them.
During the fifties, sixties, and into the seventies there was also an effective telephone tree based upon the community block leaders. In the case of the death of a neighbor, for instance, one would notify the block leader who would in turn, directly or with the help of others, notify each home in the block.
The Kemp Mill Synagogue on Kemp Mill Road, directly across Kemp Mill Road from the Forest, held its first services in November of 1998. Orthodox Judaism requires strict Sabbath observance, which
requires its adherents to be within walking distance of a synagogue. Because of the Kemp Mill Synagogue's location next to Springbrook Forest and the requirement to be able to walk to services, many members of the congregation reside within the Forest. Forester Buddy Stern is presently the president of the congregation.
County zoning regulations and the Forest covenant that states that "parcels shall be used exclusively for private dwelling house purposes" were violated in 1999 when a newly built house on Auth Lane was openly used to conduct a business. Fed-Ex and UPS trucks clogged little Auth Lane. After complaints were lodged, the business was moved to an office building in Wheaton, but the residents posted a notice that they were requesting a special zoning exception. SPCA President Dot Gish called a special meeting which unanimously supported hiring an attorney to fight the special exception. Attorney Norman Knopf was engaged who, armed with research of Foresters Sue Jonsberg and Elliott Flick, presented the case in preliminary hearings at the Park and Planning Commission. Before the final hearing on the case was to be held, the request for a special exception was withdrawn.
During the nineties many new large houses were built in the Forest, in some instances an existing house being torn down before the new one was constructed. Additionally many Foresters made major additions to their homes. Even though the number of houses has pretty much remained constant since 1970 (Two houses burned down and have not been replaced), the square footage available for living in the Forest has greatly increased. A most interesting case of house renovation is the Bosworth house on Brookhaven Drive (Figure 6.3).
Springbrook Forest has survived its second quarter century, and in the new millennium retains its character as a land of trees. After the shock and horror of September 11, 2001 the Forest blossomed forth in red, white and blue as residents expressed their devotion to the ideals of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with freedom and justice for all.
