Montgomery County has proposed redeveloping the roughly 40-acre site of the Detention Center facility in Rockville to also include a bus depot and a “restoration center.” This plan raises serious safety, environmental and lifestyle concerns not limited to residential safety, increased noise pollution, significant increase of air pollution, traffic congestion and delays, increased pedestrian hazards, and diminished property values.

We strongly oppose these plans and ask for your support.

- Expanded crisis service plans and rebuilt detention center have not been communicated to the community and could bring an increase in crime to the community, especially considering there is no access to public transportation in this residential area. The current plan of releasing inmates with a bus pass is unacceptable and has resulted in break-ins, robberies and assaults in our area. Without a clear safety plan and active communication with the community, this plan should not proceed. 

- A bus depot will add unnecessary traffic, pollution, noise and safety concerns with 250+ buses being added into an already congested area. Also we have serious concerns about the proximity of the school buses next to a detention center.

Montgomery County has been negligent in communicating their plans to the community. We need to have a voice in determining plans for this land, especially since Rockville has extensive industrial areas that can be better utilized.

We stand united in asking Montgomery County to:

1. Develop details safety plans and share with the community before any decisions are made.

2. Seek alternative sites for both the expanded crisis services center (closer to hospitals that can better treat those leveraging the services) and bus depot (in other industrial, not residential areas).

3. Begin and maintain proactive communications with the Seven Locks Alliance communities and residents in the surrounding area.

4. Say no to the expanded crisis center, prison, and bus depot at this Seven Locks site.

Overall, we support the Crisis Now model and understand MoCo is attempting to find another home for the bus depot for a third time, but this plan is unacceptable to our Rockville residents.