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White Oak residents fighting against the construction of an affordable housing development say they hope the county will opt for a more eco-friendly decision, conserving the forested area as a tribute to environmentalist Rachel Carson, who lived in nearby Colesville.

The nature trail and conserved forest they propose would be accompanied by an exhibit in the basement of the White Oak library discussing Carson's influence on the area. Carson lived in Silver Spring while writing the 1962 book "Silent Spring," which led to a campaign against pesticides, specifically DDT, which is thought to cause cancer. Those involved say honoring Rachel Carson, who died in 1964, through preserved land would both showcase the county's commitment to environmentalism and teach residents about Carson's legacy.

"People are realizing the value of trees and realizing how many ecosystem services they provide when you have even a small forested area," said Diana Post, president of the Rachel Carson Council in Silver Spring. "... A wild area that's also educational and has some sort of guidance as to what's going on with the ecosystem and the plants and animals that live there would be a great service to the young people and the senior citizens that spend time there."

The forested area in question is near New Hampshire Avenue and Milestone Drive, where the Department of Housing and Community Affairs has designed preliminary plans for an affordable housing complex. The county purchased a 12.8-acre parcel of land for $6.192 million to relocate the Third District Police Station, and is seeking to maximize its use of the land, officials have said.

Among the positive benefits of preserving the area, Post said, are lowered temperatures on hot days, a healthy bird and amphibian population and low levels of storm water runoff into the Paint Branch.

The library exhibit would consist of several glass cases discussing the controversy and action of Rachel Carson, according to Barry Wides, president of the North White Oak Citizens Association. When Carson went up against pesticide companies in the early 1960s, ad campaigns against her efforts popped up across the country, he said. Wides also envisions pamphlets discussing the county's environmental preservation efforts and a self-guided nature trail where White Oak residents can enjoy preserved land.

Currently, the county is contemplating a different proposal for the parcel. Plans for the future Third District Police Station are in the final approval stage for one side of the land and the county is mulling the possibility of building affordable housing development, which would require rezoning the land for the other side.

Many White Oak residents, including Wides, are advocating to center the police station on the land and maintain a forested area rather than constructing housing. Wides says preserving the land would create a necessary sound buffer and is appropriate because of the proximity of the parcel to Rachel Carson's historical landmark home.

County officials have said they plan to do part of the required forestation off-site, meaning they will preserve forest in a different area rather than keeping trees on the land. This policy has drawn criticism from residents, who say it is a shaky interpretation of forest conservation laws.

"There's a very positive environmental message that can be conveyed to people who are interested in the county's environmental policy," Wides said. "If they completely ignore the forest conservation law and cut down all the trees, it really detracts from the message that you're trying to give."

County officials from the White Oak Library and the Eastern Montgomery Regional Services Center said they've heard the proposal but the county can't make any decisions yet.

"We're just waiting to see what we do with housing on that [land] first," said Joy Nurmi, director of the services center. "There won't be any decisions until they do that."

Post said the Rachel Carson Council has plenty of materials it can loan out to fill cases. She also said the council helps secure grants for projects involving Rachel Carson, such as through the Environmental Protection Agency.

"I know this isn't a huge area, but it's in line with the worldwide trend to preserve and protect natural areas," Post said. "It wouldn't be an isolated thing. It would be part of a trend and part of a growing interest and effort."