The County Council yesterday approved a zoning text amendment intended to facilitate deployment of small-cell antennas to provide 5G wireless technology. Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 19-07, Telecommunications Towers – Limited Use, would allow antennas on utility and light poles that would offer 5G’s faster speeds, enhanced reliability and greater capacity for wireless users.
The county’s Department of Permitting Services will launch a pilot program designed to expedite the process of getting permits for residential solar installation. The program will pilot the Solar Automated Permit Processing (SolarAPP+), developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The county’s Department of Transportation will implement its Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Ride Free Program for the long term including after fares are resumed on the county bus system, which includes Ride On, Ride On extRa, Flex, and Flash buses.
The county’s Department of Environmental Protection has begun a program of inspecting residents’ recycling collections looking for items that shouldn’t be placed in those bins. The Recycle Right “Oops Tag” program is intended to reduce the amount of non-recyclable material going to the recycling center.
The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County has issued a request for qualifications for artists interested in being included in a temporary multimedia public art exhibition titled “Certain Party or Parties Unknown.”
The Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation is now accepting applications from local nonprofit groups for a new state-funded $3.4 million grant program. In addition, the deadline for applications has been extended to July 23.
The county’s Department of Transportation will begin collecting late fees on unpaid parking tickets again on Aug.1, officials announced. The department suspended late fees in March 2020 to ease possible financial hardships during the pandemic.
A Hyperthermia Alert has been issued for Montgomery County for Monday, July 12 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. The County issues a Hyperthermia Alert when temperatures and/or heat indices are forecast to reach 95 degrees or higher.
The Montgomery County Planning Department’s Design Excellence Awards have returned for 2021, according to an announcement on the department’s website. “The Montgomery County Planning Department is seeking to recognize exceptional architecture, landscape architecture and urbanism that makes a difference in people’s lives and represents the county’s highest quality of design to the region, state and nation. This year, Montgomery Planning will hold its fifth Design Excellence Awards competition to honor this work.”