As mentioned in a previous post, we were very impressed at the turnout for our first community meeting. As promised, we carefully reviewed the comments and ideas that we received at the meeting and used them to develop the “Vision” presented on our homepage.

In case you were not able to attend this meeting, we have posted the slides from the introductory presentation. After the presentation, we broke out into small groups so that everyone could share their ideas.

Notes from each of the small groups is posted below. Thanks to some social-media savvy attendees, we also have recordings of some of the small group participants as they summarize their discussion.

Small Group 1 Feedback

• Place for family entertainment activities
• A place to gather and have celebrations
• Big parking lots do not foster sociability
• Preference for something more like RIO Washingtonian or Rockville Town Center and less like the Westech Village Center on Tech Road.
• Activities for all ages

Small Group 2 Feedback

• A variety of kid-friendly (and adult-friendly!) dining options, preferably with outdoor seating
• Community-oriented retail and services options such as an indoor fitness center, spa/massage parlor, daycare, clothes and apparel, a theater, and grocery store providing fresh, locally-grown food
• Common central green space with an all-season pavilion, preferably that provides the ability to sit at a table, a bench, or lay down
• Structured parking in the back with walkable/bikeable connections

Note: If the video above does not load, it can be viewed on the Burtonsville 2.0 Facebook group.

Small Group 3 Feedback

• Kid-friendly activities, such as a splash park
• Retail stores for clothing, crafts
• Housing that would not cause school crowding, possibly for seniors [read our idea for addressing school over-crowding]
• Safer pedestrian access between Burtonsville Crossing and Burtonsville Town Center, possibly a pedestrian bridge [read our idea for improving walkability across Old Route 29]
• Modern or upscale architecture that also stays true to Burtonsville’s “quaint community feel”

Small Group 4 Feedback

• Green space, large enough to hold concerts
• Places for socializing and community-service activities, such as fundraising for schools and non-profits
• More unique dining options, preferably with fresh food and outdoor seating; fewer fast food stores
• Places for celebrations, similar to the Ten Oaks Ballroom and Conference Center in Clarksville
• Local theater, possibly outdoors
• Parking garage that meets the needs of all users: retail customers and employees, customers of the future Bus Rapid Transit system, and residents of any potential new housing
• Bike paths to provide healthier alternatives to driving
• The area should be well-lit so customers feel safe
• Green space, such as a dog park

Small Group 5 Feedback

• Public gathering space to get to know our neighbors
• Adaptable space that could be converted to various uses depending on the season, for example an ice rink in the winter and a play area in the summer
• Nice, fun, or romantic places to take someone on a date!
• There are many options and opinions regarding mixed-use development; possibly multi-family over retail, as long as the new residential units enhance the walkability of the area
• Safer pedestrian access between Burtonsville Crossing and Burtonsville Town Center, such as a pedestrian bridge [read our idea for improving walkability across Old Route 29]
• The new development must be carefully designed with the BRT transit station to ensure safety of drivers, pedestrians, and transit riders

Note: If the video above does not load, it can be viewed on the Burtonsville 2.0 Facebook group.

Small Group 6 Feedback

• Places to spend time with family, both inside and out
• Summer movies or concerts that could be implemented in the short-term
• A desire to bike and walk to areas nearby
• Large gathering space or area for festivals, graduations, meeting space, or events
• Places for parents to take their kids to play, and for parents to go while their kids are playing!
• Opportunities for exercise and athleticism
• Traffic calming on Old 29 and making it safer for all travel modes (driving, biking, and walking)
• Housing to support retail and BRT, but housing should not be excessive to the point where neighbors no longer know each other–desire to maintain “small town feel”
• Outdoor seating at restaurants

Summary from Feedback Forms

All meeting attendees were provided with feedback forms, but only 25 were returned. Moving forward, we will look into ways to more effectively gather feedback from individuals.

The key takeaways from the written responses we received were the following:

• Most people enjoyed the meeting and would appreciate additional similar events to discuss the future of Burtonsville
• Some people that attended the meeting felt more empowered to make a difference, but most were unsure
• For future meetings, we should consider a larger room, a microphone and speaker, and inviting key decision-makers, including the property owner

Next Steps

Now that we have an general idea of what the community would like to see in Burtonsville Crossing, we will be collaborating with the community to further refine our vision for the area.

If you would like to stay updated on the #buildaBetterBurtonsville campaign, please subscribe to our email updates. You can reply below or contact us with any questions or comments.