March 2025 Worksession and Updates
Nicole Bryner
A big hello to everyone I’ve met while doorknocking this past week! If you’re wondering, “Nicole, you don’t have an official opponent in this race, and you’re a total introvert—so why are you out knocking on doors?”—I hear you. I’ll be the first to admit that doorknocking isn’t my favorite.
But every two years, election season gives me the perfect excuse to check in with folks, meet new neighbors, and hear what’s on your mind. I’ve also had some really great conversations about the mayoral race along the way. And honestly, with the trees and flowers in bloom and the sun shining, it’s been nice to step away from national headlines for a bit and focus on our little community.
With over 350 addresses in Ward 3 and only five weekends left until Election Day, I may not make it to every single door. But if there’s something you’d like to talk about or a question you need answered before you vote, please reach out—I’d love to hear from you!
And as a reminder, if you can’t make it to Town Hall on May 5, here’s information on mail-in/absentee voting: https://www.cheverly-md.gov/266/Mail-In-Voting
MEETINGS
March 27 Worksession Summary
Agenda can be found here.
You can watch recordings of all town meetings here.
Hospital Hill Meeting
Before our worksession, we heard from Home Team 5 and Urban Atlantic regarding the Preliminary Plan of Subdivision (PPS) for Hospital Hill. As a reminder, the PPS is the first official set of plans submitted to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC). These plans focus on technical aspects like land division, housing density, zoning compliance, and preliminary stormwater management—not building designs or specific retail tenants.
The current proposal includes 1,350 residential units consisting of multifamily rentals, condos, and townhomes, along with 70,000 square feet of office space, 40,000 square feet of retail, and a 79-key hotel.
The meeting recording is available online, and the presentation slides will be posted once the town has approval. Keep in mind that the slides alone may not provide full context, so you may want to watch the recording.
On Wednesday at 7 PM, the Planning Board will hold an open meeting to review the PPS. While the public can watch, this is not a Council-style meeting with time allocated for resident input. The purpose is for the Planning Board to gather information and make a formal recommendation to the town.
Once the PPS is officially submitted, MNCPPC will conduct a final review and refer it to the town for comment. At that point, we will have 30 days to review and provide feedback, likely starting in mid-to-late May. I expect that part of the town’s formal comment will include a determination about the potential access points at Lockwood and Inwood Streets. Keep in mind that just because these connections exist does not mean there will definitely be through traffic. The town could decide to block the streets temporarily or in perpetuity, make them one-way, or explore other options. Given that development will take years, I believe we should preserve as much flexibility as possible.
As always, I welcome your feedback.
Worksession
Three agenda items were cancelled-- the MD Office of Human Rights will come present to Council in April, the owners of 5600 Newton Street withdrew their request for a variance to build on that lot, and because the meeting ran late the Board of Elections representative was not able to provide an update.
LED Street Lighting
I'll be honest—I had to go back and rewatch this part of the meeting. It’s a complicated topic! Fortunately, this was just an introduction, and we’ll have more details and firm numbers soon.
There are two key issues at play. First, Pepco is being required to determine which streetlights it owns and is responsible for versus those owned by municipalities or the county. It turns out Pepco’s records on streetlights are highly inaccurate, meaning there’s a strong possibility that municipalities have been incorrectly billed for lighting costs.
At the same time, the town has an opportunity to purchase all of its streetlights—an estimated 500 in total—and convert them to energy-efficient LED lighting. The current high-pressure sodium lamps are outdated and inefficient. While we’re still waiting on final cost estimates from Pepco, early indications suggest that the most cost-effective approach would be for the town to purchase the streetlights and partner with other municipalities on a shared maintenance and repair service.
This was just a preliminary discussion—more updates to come as we get additional information!
Crest Ave Speed Humps
Council unanimously approved the installation of speed humps on the 2800 block of Crest Avenue, along with ADA-compliant pedestrian ramps.
Eley Building Update
The Eley Public Works Building remains on track for its June completion date. This is an exciting milestone, not only for our Public Works staff, who deserve a modern facility, but also for the community spaces on the second floor.
During the update, I asked about the timeline for removing the fencing along the hill. While no exact date was given, my understanding is that it will be taken down well before the building opens. The fencing was necessary because the original building improperly shared utilities with Town Hall, requiring new utility lines to be run from Forest Road.
An open house for the building will be held in May, and demolition of the old Public Works building will take place very soon.
Odds and Ends
Election Season
Town elections are May 5. Voter Information is here. I am running for re-election as your Ward 3 Councilmember. If you’ve enjoyed these newsletters, please consider voting for me! If you’ve REALLY enjoyed them and would like a yard sign, please let me know!
Voter registration drives will be held on April 7 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM and on April 26 from 8 AM to noon and from 1 PM to 5 PM. You do not need to be registered in Maryland to vote in Cheverly. This is also the first election where 16- and 17-year-olds can vote, so I encourage all eligible teens to make their voices heard!
Budget
Our first budget meeting on March 20 focused on the General Government and Administration sections of the FY26 budget. There is still a lot to review, but I am impressed with staff’s efforts to keep costs low and avoid raising taxes. More updates to come.
Public Safety
As the weather warms up, we typically see an increase in auto-related incidents. Thanks to 24/7 policing, officers have been able to recover stolen property and apprehend suspects quickly. However, please remember to lock your car doors, avoid leaving valuables in view, and stay aware of your surroundings.
Thank you for staying engaged! Please reach out with any questions, concerns, or feedback.
Best,
Nicole Bryner
Cheverly Ward 3 Councilmember
Where to find me
Email: CMW...@cheverly-md.gov
Text, WhatsApp, Phone: 301.892.6384
Have a neighbor who would appreciate these newsletters? Send them this link to sign up!
Upcoming Events
For more information about these and other events, check out the town newsletter
April 2
7:30pm
Zoom
Budget Meeting
April 3
7:00pm
Hybrid
Voter Registration Drive
April 7
6:30-8:30pm
Town Hall
Town Meeting
April 10
8:00pm
Hybrid
Rec Council Easter Egg Hunt
April 12
11am
Community Center
April 17
6:00pm
Hybrid
April 17
7:00pm
Hybrid
Resident Appreciation Day: Afternoon Tea
April 23
Noon-1pm
Town Hall
Town Worksession
April 24
7:30pm
Hybrid
Dumpster Day (Large Trash, Paper Shredding, Medication Disposal)
April 26
8am-noon
Town Hall
CAACO Candidate Forum
April 26
1pm
Hybrid
Voter Registration Drive
April 26
8am-noon
1pm-5pm
Town Hall
Budget Meeting
May 1
7:00pm
Hybrid
May 5
7am – 8pm
Town Hall
Tentative: Constant Yield Tax Hearing
May 6
6:00pm
Hybrid
Final Budget Review
May 7
7:00pm
Hybrid
Town Meeting (First Reader of Budget)
May 8
8:00pm
Hybrid
Town Worksession (Second Reader of Budget)
May 22
7:30pm
Hybrid
Cheverly Day
Saturday October 4
Have you thought about getting more involved around town? We know that people love the sense of community here in Cheverly, and so many of the good things around town are driven by volunteers! Some opportunities:
Planning Board: Exploring future development plans and opportunities in and around town and advising Town Council on related issues
Recreation Council: Planning and executing some of the town’s favorite events, like the Halloween Parade, Easter Egg Hunt, Pickleball Tournaments, and Flea Markets
CERT (Cheverly Emergency Response Team): Responding to and planning for emergencies and natural disasters, supporting large scale town events to ensure everyone’s safety
Board of Elections: Planning and running town-wide elections
Police Chief’s Advisory Board: Connecting with residents around public safety issues and policies and making recommendations to the Chief of Police about community’s articulated needs and perspectives
Cheverly Day Committee: Planning and executing Cheverly Day
If any of these sound like your cup of tea, please let me know! I’d be happy to connect you with the right folks for a conversation.
Do you have a talent you are interested in sharing with the town, but it doesn’t line up exactly with one of these? Get in touch and we’ll see if there isn’t a town org or ad hoc committee that would work.