For the last four years I have watched my delivery service of the morning newspaper turn into a lottery wherein I usually lose. I pay; no paper. The morning walk of 1500 feet while good for the body, gets old on the fifth or sixth trip to see if there will be a newspaper that day. You would think that given the stories of newspapers economic woes, that the service would be getting better, bot worse. I however can count on at least three no paper or noon delivery of said paper per month. Of course a late morning newspaper for most of us becomes an evening paper full of yesterday's news. So with nothing left but frustration, I am ending my 35 year love affair with a morning news paper. Sadly I will now get my news from the internet and television in small factoids trimmed to fit a busy mind with no comfort level for detail.
TO: Washington Post Circulation (original written in haste on one of those irritating web site memo fields was loaded with typos)
I ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT FOR A MORNING PAPER. NOT A MID DAY OR AFTERNOON PAPER, BUT A MORNING PAPER. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, I HAVE WATCHED MY DELIVERY BECOME SPORADIC, UNPREDICTABLE AND ABSENT. MY PAYMENT WAS ON TIME AND DIRECT, YOUR SERVICE IS ABYSMAL. I HAVE CALLED FAXED AND PLEADED TO NO AVAIL. EARLIER THIS MONTH I SAID IF THIS HAPPENS AGAIN (WHICH IT DID - CHECK YOUR LOGS) I WOULD NOT BE RENEWING MY SUBSCRIPTION. SINCE THE POST CAN NOT HOLD UP ITS END OF THE CONTRACT, I SHALL NOT BE RENEWING THIS SUBSCRIPTION AS THERE IS LITTLE SENSE IN THESE ECONOMIC TIMES OF PAYING FOR SOMETHING I DO NOT RECEIVE...SERVICE
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Prince George’s County Legislative/Regulatory Digest: April 11 – April 17, 2009
Prince George’s County Legislative/Regulatory Digest: April 11 – April 17, 2009
Table of Contents
Tuesday, April 14, 2009. 3
County Council 3
CB-7-2009 (DR-2) – AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING VALIDITY PERIODS. 3
FOR DETAILED SITE PLANS AND SPECIFIC DESIGN PLANS for the. 3
CB-8-2009 (DR-2) (SUBDIVISION BILL) – AN ACT CONCERNING.. 3
VALIDITY PERIODS FOR PRELIMINARY PLANS OF SUBDIVISION for the. 3
WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION PROPOSED.. 3
FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS AND THE. 3
● Appointment of the following individuals to the Enterprise Road Corridor. 3
Development Review District Commission for Prince George’s County: 3
● Appointment of the following individuals to the Prince George’s County Adult. 4
Public Guardianship Review Board: 4
Wed., April 15, 2009. 5
PUBLIC SAFETY AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. 5
1:30 p.m. * Room 2027. 5
2. CR-13-2009 (County Executive) A Resolution adopting a Schedule of Miscellaneous Building. 5
Permit Fees in accordance with the Subtitle 4, the Building Code. 5
PLANNING, ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. 5
10:00 a.m. Room 2027. 5
People’s Zoning Counsel 5
M-NCPPC – Commission Staff Overview.. 5
Planning Board Meeting. 5
FACILITY OPS/M & D LANDSCAPING AT HIGH PROFILE FACILITIES BRIEFING.. 6
Consent Agenda.. 6
PGCPB NO. 09-53 - SDP-9211/01 - COLLINGTON CENTER RESEARCH LIBRARY CONSORTIUM... 7
5-09041 BEACON HILL, PLAT 1. 8
5-09042 BEACON HILL, PLAT 2. 8
5-09043 BEACON HILL, PLAT 3. 8
5-09044 BEACON HILL, PLAT 4. 8
5-09045 BEACON HILL, PLAT 5. 8
5-09046 BEACON HILL, PLAT 6. 8
5-09047 BEACON HILL, PLAT 7. 8
5-09048 BEACON HILL, PLAT 8. 8
5-09049 BEACON HILL, PLAT 9. 8
5-09050 BEACON HILL, PLAT 10. 8
5-09052 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 1. 9
5-09053 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 2. 9
5-09054 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 3. 9
5-09055 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 4. 9
5-09056 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 5. 9
5-09057 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 6. 9
5-09058 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 7. 9
5-09059 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 8. 9
5-09060 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 1. 10
5-09061 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 2. 10
5-09062 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 3. 10
5-09063 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 4. 10
5-09064 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 5. 10
5-09065 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 6. 10
5-09066 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 7. 10
5-09067 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 8. 10
5-09071 IVY CREEK, PLAT 1. 11
5-09072 IVY CREEK, PLAT 2. 11
5-09073 IVY CREEK, PLAT 3. 11
5-09074 IVY CREEK, PLAT 4. 11
5-09075 IVY CREEK, PLAT 5. 11
5-09076 IVY CREEK, PLAT 6. 11
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
County Council
LINK TO FULL COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA
1:00 p.m. County Council
4. SECOND READING OF BILLS – (INTRODUCTION)
CB-7-2009 (DR-2) – AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING VALIDITY PERIODS
FOR DETAILED SITE PLANS AND SPECIFIC DESIGN PLANS for the
purpose of temporarily suspending or tolling the validity periods of all approved
applications for Detailed Site Plans and Specific Design Plans that were in a valid
status as of January 1, 2009.
(Favorably reported out of PZED on 4/1/2009 with amendments)
To be introduced by Council Member Dean
CB-8-2009 (DR-2) (SUBDIVISION BILL) – AN ACT CONCERNING
VALIDITY PERIODS FOR PRELIMINARY PLANS OF SUBDIVISION for the
purpose of temporarily suspending or tolling the validity periods of all approved
applications for Preliminary Plans of Subdivision that were in a valid status as of
January 1, 2009.
(Favorably reported out of PZED on 4/1/2009 with amendments)
To be introduced by Council Member Dean
SUBDIVISION BILLS REQUIRE A 30 DAY NOTICE PERIOD PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING
County Council 3 April 14, 2009
5. PUBLIC HEARING:
WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION PROPOSED
FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS AND THE
WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR WATER AND SEWERAGE FOR FISCAL
YEARS 2009-2014.
(SEE SEPARATE AGENDA)
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
● Appointment of the following individuals to the Enterprise Road Corridor
Development Review District Commission for Prince George’s County:
Ms. Cynthia E. Alston Appointment/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2010
Replacing: James M. Trent
Mr. Joseph L. Brown Appointment/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2011
Replacing: Mr. George H. Braxton
Mr. Samuel J. Wray Appointment/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2010
Replacing: Michael A. Adekoya
Mr. James A. Warren Appointment/Developer
Term Expiration: 6/30/2011
Replacing: Derek A. McDaniels
Mr. Emmanuel P. Edokobi Reappointment/Landowner
Term Expiration: 6/30/2011
Ms. Artisha R. Polk Reappointment/Landowner
Term Expiration: 6/30/2012
County Council 4 April 14, 2009
Mr. Clifton O. Reynolds Reappointment/Vice Chair/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2010
Mr. Edwin Udenkwo Reappointment/Landowner
Term Expiration: 6/30/2012
Mr. John H. Waller Reappointment/Chair/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2012
(Favorably reported out of PZED on 3/24/2009)
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
● Appointment of the following individuals to the Prince George’s County Adult
Public Guardianship Review Board:
Ms. Gail F. Farrell Bagaria Appointment/Lawyer
Replacing: Mr. Richard C. Daniels
Term Expiring: 10/31/2010
Dr. Elmer T. Carreno Appointment/Physician
Replacing: Dr. Allison R. Edwards
Term Expiring: 10/31/2009
Mr. Daniel A. George Appointment/Local Commission on Aging
Replacing: Ms. Janet C. Eberhardt
Term Expiring: 10/31/2009
Ms. Patricia V. Sanders Appointment/Disabilities Professional
Replacing: Mr. Rudolph E. Gawlik
Term Expiring: 10/31/2011
Ms. Judith Rose-Wilson
(Withdrawn by County
Executive)
Appointment/Department of Social Services
Replacing: Ms. Karyn T. Lynch
Term Expiring: 10/31/2009
County Council 5 April 14, 2009
Ms. Carol W. Bergmann Reappointment/Non-Profit Social Services
Organization
Term Expiring: 10/31/2011
Ms. Mary Ann Friis Reappointment/Public Health Nurse
Term Expiring: 10/31/2011
Ms. Joyce F. Jones Reappointment/Physical Disability Member
Term Expiring: 10/31/2010
Ms. Joy A. Truby Reappointment/Citizen
Term Expiring: 10/31/2011
(Favorably reported out of HEHS on 4/2/2009)
Wed., April 15, 2009
PUBLIC SAFETY AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
1:30 p.m. * Room 2027
1. CR-12-2009 (Olson and Turner) An act concerning economic renewal grant funding for the
purpose of expressing a preference that any economic recovery plan funds provided to Prince George’s
County and the State of Maryland be spent by the County and the State on goods and services made or
performed in the United States of America.
2. CR-13-2009 (County Executive) A Resolution adopting a Schedule of Miscellaneous Building
Permit Fees in accordance with the Subtitle 4, the Building Code.
PLANNING, ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
10:00 a.m. Room 2027
BUDGET
People’s Zoning Counsel
M-NCPPC – Commission Staff Overview
Thurs., April 16, 2009 LINK TO AGENDA
Planning Board MeetingFirst Floor County Council Hearing RoomCounty Administration Building14741 Gov. Oden Bowie DriveUpper Marlboro, MD 20772
Item Number
Agenda Item
Board Action(Resolutions will be posted as they are finalized.)
1
Commissioners' Items
2
Draft Minutes of PGCPB Meeting--None
3A
Legislative Work Session:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Discussion.(PIRET)
3B
Executive Session
Parks and Recreation Items (Inquiries call 301-699-2582)
3C
FACILITY OPS/M & D LANDSCAPING AT HIGH PROFILE FACILITIES BRIEFING
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: INFORMATION(GATHERS/WAGNON)
3D
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECRATION SUMMER 09 PROGRAMS AND STAFF TRAINING
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: INFORMATION(GATHERS/FORKER)
Consent Agenda
(Item Numbers 4A-4H) All items listed under the Consent Agenda have been distributed to each member of the Planning Board for review, are considered to be routine, and will be acted upon by one motion. There will be no discussion of these items as it has been indicated that there is no opposition to the staff's findings or recommendation. If discussion is desired, or if there is opposition to the recommendation, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. NOTE: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT AND OTHER PERSONS OF RECORD TO BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS ON THIS SAME DATE ANY ITEM THAT IS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BEGIN AT 10:00 A.M.
DRAFT RESOLUTIONS – CASE HEARD ON MARCH 26, 2009
PGCPB NO. 09-53 - SDP-9211/01 - COLLINGTON CENTER RESEARCH LIBRARY CONSORTIUM
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(ADAMS)
Zoning Section Items (Inquiries call 301-952-3530)
4C
DRAFT RESOLUTIONS--NONE
Countywide Planning Division (Inquiries call 301-952-3650)
4D
DRAFT RESOLUTIONS--NONE
Subdivision Section Items (Inquiries call 301-952-3530)
4E
5-09041 BEACON HILL, PLAT 1 6 Lots (15.88 acres)
5-09042 BEACON HILL, PLAT 2 6 Lots (14.47 acres)
5-09043 BEACON HILL, PLAT 3 5 Lots (12.68 acres)
5-09044 BEACON HILL, PLAT 4 5 Lots (10.95 acres)
5-09045 BEACON HILL, PLAT 5 6 Lots (11.63 acres)
5-09046 BEACON HILL, PLAT 6 2 Lots (11.32 acres)
5-09047 BEACON HILL, PLAT 7 4 Lots (13.81 acres)
5-09048 BEACON HILL, PLAT 8 6 Lots (17.00 acres)
5-09049 BEACON HILL, PLAT 9 3 Lots (9.78 acres)
5-09050 BEACON HILL, PLAT 10 2 Lots (9.16 acres)
Council District: 09 Tier: Rural.R-A Zone, 4-05074 and DSP-08028Located on the south side of William Beanes Road, northwest side of Crain Highway, opposite intersection with Gold Yarrow Lane. (PA 82A)Calvert, LLC, ApplicantBen Dyer Associates, Inc., Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 5/22/09.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(NORDAN)
4F
5-09052 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 1 9 Lots and 1 Parcel (24.52 acres)
5-09053 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 2 8 Lots (13.76 acres)
5-09054 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 3 9 Lots and 1 Parcel (23.26 acres)
5-09055 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 4 10 Lots (19.27 acres)
5-09056 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 5 7 Lots (13.36 acres)
5-09057 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 6 7 Lots (14.77 acres)
5-09058 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 7 5 Lots (13.36 acres)
5-09059 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 8 4 Parcels (40.19 acres)
Council District: 09 Tier: Developing.R-A Zone, 4-04099 and Limited DSP-08028Located on the southeast side of Thrift Road, south of Tippett Road. (PA 81B)Wolfe Partners, LLC, ApplicantDewberry, Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 4/22/09.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(NORDAN)
4G
5-09060 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 1 10 Lots and 1 Parcel (17.78 acres)
5-09061 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 2 15 Lots (18.50 acres)
5-09062 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 3 20 Lots and 1Parcel (22.33 acres)
5-09063 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 4 10 Lots and 2 Parcels (15.06 acres)
5-09064 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 5 12 Lots and 3 Parcels (25.05 acres)
5-09065 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 6 26 Lots (22.34 acres)
5-09066 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 7 8 Lots and 2 Parcels (13.65 acres)
5-09067 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 8 1 Parcel (33.14 acres)
Council District: 09 Tier: Developing.R-A Zone, 4-04099 and Limited DSP-08028Located on the north side of Thrift Road, south of Tippett Road. (PA 81B)Wolfe Partners, LLC, ApplicantDewberry, Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 4/22/09.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(NORDAN)
4H
5-09071 IVY CREEK, PLAT 16 Lots and 1 Parcel, R-R Zone (3.20 acres)
5-09072 IVY CREEK, PLAT 29 Lots and 2 Parcels, R-R Zone (4.88 acres)
5-09073 IVY CREEK, PLAT 31 Lot and 1 Parcel, R-R Zone (8.80 acres)
5-09074 IVY CREEK, PLAT 42 Parcels, R-R Zone (1.84 acres)
5-09075 IVY CREEK, PLAT 56 Lots and 1 Parcel, R-R Zone (3.16 acres)
5-09076 IVY CREEK, PLAT 64 Lots and 2 Parcels, R-R Zone (2.37 acres)
Council District: 04 Tier: DevelopingR-R Zone, 4-05105Located northwest quadrant of Annapolis Road and Glenn Dale Boulevard (PA 70)Glen Dale Holding Company, LLC, ApplicantTech Group, Inc., Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 5/7/09.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(BRESSLER)
Table of Contents
Tuesday, April 14, 2009. 3
County Council 3
CB-7-2009 (DR-2) – AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING VALIDITY PERIODS. 3
FOR DETAILED SITE PLANS AND SPECIFIC DESIGN PLANS for the. 3
CB-8-2009 (DR-2) (SUBDIVISION BILL) – AN ACT CONCERNING.. 3
VALIDITY PERIODS FOR PRELIMINARY PLANS OF SUBDIVISION for the. 3
WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION PROPOSED.. 3
FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS AND THE. 3
● Appointment of the following individuals to the Enterprise Road Corridor. 3
Development Review District Commission for Prince George’s County: 3
● Appointment of the following individuals to the Prince George’s County Adult. 4
Public Guardianship Review Board: 4
Wed., April 15, 2009. 5
PUBLIC SAFETY AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. 5
1:30 p.m. * Room 2027. 5
2. CR-13-2009 (County Executive) A Resolution adopting a Schedule of Miscellaneous Building. 5
Permit Fees in accordance with the Subtitle 4, the Building Code. 5
PLANNING, ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE. 5
10:00 a.m. Room 2027. 5
People’s Zoning Counsel 5
M-NCPPC – Commission Staff Overview.. 5
Planning Board Meeting. 5
FACILITY OPS/M & D LANDSCAPING AT HIGH PROFILE FACILITIES BRIEFING.. 6
Consent Agenda.. 6
PGCPB NO. 09-53 - SDP-9211/01 - COLLINGTON CENTER RESEARCH LIBRARY CONSORTIUM... 7
5-09041 BEACON HILL, PLAT 1. 8
5-09042 BEACON HILL, PLAT 2. 8
5-09043 BEACON HILL, PLAT 3. 8
5-09044 BEACON HILL, PLAT 4. 8
5-09045 BEACON HILL, PLAT 5. 8
5-09046 BEACON HILL, PLAT 6. 8
5-09047 BEACON HILL, PLAT 7. 8
5-09048 BEACON HILL, PLAT 8. 8
5-09049 BEACON HILL, PLAT 9. 8
5-09050 BEACON HILL, PLAT 10. 8
5-09052 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 1. 9
5-09053 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 2. 9
5-09054 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 3. 9
5-09055 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 4. 9
5-09056 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 5. 9
5-09057 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 6. 9
5-09058 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 7. 9
5-09059 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 8. 9
5-09060 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 1. 10
5-09061 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 2. 10
5-09062 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 3. 10
5-09063 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 4. 10
5-09064 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 5. 10
5-09065 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 6. 10
5-09066 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 7. 10
5-09067 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 8. 10
5-09071 IVY CREEK, PLAT 1. 11
5-09072 IVY CREEK, PLAT 2. 11
5-09073 IVY CREEK, PLAT 3. 11
5-09074 IVY CREEK, PLAT 4. 11
5-09075 IVY CREEK, PLAT 5. 11
5-09076 IVY CREEK, PLAT 6. 11
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
County Council
LINK TO FULL COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA
1:00 p.m. County Council
4. SECOND READING OF BILLS – (INTRODUCTION)
CB-7-2009 (DR-2) – AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING VALIDITY PERIODS
FOR DETAILED SITE PLANS AND SPECIFIC DESIGN PLANS for the
purpose of temporarily suspending or tolling the validity periods of all approved
applications for Detailed Site Plans and Specific Design Plans that were in a valid
status as of January 1, 2009.
(Favorably reported out of PZED on 4/1/2009 with amendments)
To be introduced by Council Member Dean
CB-8-2009 (DR-2) (SUBDIVISION BILL) – AN ACT CONCERNING
VALIDITY PERIODS FOR PRELIMINARY PLANS OF SUBDIVISION for the
purpose of temporarily suspending or tolling the validity periods of all approved
applications for Preliminary Plans of Subdivision that were in a valid status as of
January 1, 2009.
(Favorably reported out of PZED on 4/1/2009 with amendments)
To be introduced by Council Member Dean
SUBDIVISION BILLS REQUIRE A 30 DAY NOTICE PERIOD PRIOR TO PUBLIC HEARING
County Council 3 April 14, 2009
5. PUBLIC HEARING:
WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION PROPOSED
FISCAL YEAR 2009-2010 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS AND THE
WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM FOR WATER AND SEWERAGE FOR FISCAL
YEARS 2009-2014.
(SEE SEPARATE AGENDA)
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
● Appointment of the following individuals to the Enterprise Road Corridor
Development Review District Commission for Prince George’s County:
Ms. Cynthia E. Alston Appointment/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2010
Replacing: James M. Trent
Mr. Joseph L. Brown Appointment/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2011
Replacing: Mr. George H. Braxton
Mr. Samuel J. Wray Appointment/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2010
Replacing: Michael A. Adekoya
Mr. James A. Warren Appointment/Developer
Term Expiration: 6/30/2011
Replacing: Derek A. McDaniels
Mr. Emmanuel P. Edokobi Reappointment/Landowner
Term Expiration: 6/30/2011
Ms. Artisha R. Polk Reappointment/Landowner
Term Expiration: 6/30/2012
County Council 4 April 14, 2009
Mr. Clifton O. Reynolds Reappointment/Vice Chair/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2010
Mr. Edwin Udenkwo Reappointment/Landowner
Term Expiration: 6/30/2012
Mr. John H. Waller Reappointment/Chair/Resident
Term Expiration: 6/30/2012
(Favorably reported out of PZED on 3/24/2009)
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
● Appointment of the following individuals to the Prince George’s County Adult
Public Guardianship Review Board:
Ms. Gail F. Farrell Bagaria Appointment/Lawyer
Replacing: Mr. Richard C. Daniels
Term Expiring: 10/31/2010
Dr. Elmer T. Carreno Appointment/Physician
Replacing: Dr. Allison R. Edwards
Term Expiring: 10/31/2009
Mr. Daniel A. George Appointment/Local Commission on Aging
Replacing: Ms. Janet C. Eberhardt
Term Expiring: 10/31/2009
Ms. Patricia V. Sanders Appointment/Disabilities Professional
Replacing: Mr. Rudolph E. Gawlik
Term Expiring: 10/31/2011
Ms. Judith Rose-Wilson
(Withdrawn by County
Executive)
Appointment/Department of Social Services
Replacing: Ms. Karyn T. Lynch
Term Expiring: 10/31/2009
County Council 5 April 14, 2009
Ms. Carol W. Bergmann Reappointment/Non-Profit Social Services
Organization
Term Expiring: 10/31/2011
Ms. Mary Ann Friis Reappointment/Public Health Nurse
Term Expiring: 10/31/2011
Ms. Joyce F. Jones Reappointment/Physical Disability Member
Term Expiring: 10/31/2010
Ms. Joy A. Truby Reappointment/Citizen
Term Expiring: 10/31/2011
(Favorably reported out of HEHS on 4/2/2009)
Wed., April 15, 2009
PUBLIC SAFETY AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
1:30 p.m. * Room 2027
1. CR-12-2009 (Olson and Turner) An act concerning economic renewal grant funding for the
purpose of expressing a preference that any economic recovery plan funds provided to Prince George’s
County and the State of Maryland be spent by the County and the State on goods and services made or
performed in the United States of America.
2. CR-13-2009 (County Executive) A Resolution adopting a Schedule of Miscellaneous Building
Permit Fees in accordance with the Subtitle 4, the Building Code.
PLANNING, ZONING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
10:00 a.m. Room 2027
BUDGET
People’s Zoning Counsel
M-NCPPC – Commission Staff Overview
Thurs., April 16, 2009 LINK TO AGENDA
Planning Board MeetingFirst Floor County Council Hearing RoomCounty Administration Building14741 Gov. Oden Bowie DriveUpper Marlboro, MD 20772
Item Number
Agenda Item
Board Action(Resolutions will be posted as they are finalized.)
1
Commissioners' Items
2
Draft Minutes of PGCPB Meeting--None
3A
Legislative Work Session:
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Discussion.(PIRET)
3B
Executive Session
Parks and Recreation Items (Inquiries call 301-699-2582)
3C
FACILITY OPS/M & D LANDSCAPING AT HIGH PROFILE FACILITIES BRIEFING
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: INFORMATION(GATHERS/WAGNON)
3D
DEPARTMENT OF PARKS AND RECRATION SUMMER 09 PROGRAMS AND STAFF TRAINING
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: INFORMATION(GATHERS/FORKER)
Consent Agenda
(Item Numbers 4A-4H) All items listed under the Consent Agenda have been distributed to each member of the Planning Board for review, are considered to be routine, and will be acted upon by one motion. There will be no discussion of these items as it has been indicated that there is no opposition to the staff's findings or recommendation. If discussion is desired, or if there is opposition to the recommendation, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda and considered separately. NOTE: IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE APPLICANT AND OTHER PERSONS OF RECORD TO BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS ON THIS SAME DATE ANY ITEM THAT IS REMOVED FROM THE CONSENT AGENDA FOR SEPARATE CONSIDERATION.
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS WILL BEGIN AT 10:00 A.M.
DRAFT RESOLUTIONS – CASE HEARD ON MARCH 26, 2009
PGCPB NO. 09-53 - SDP-9211/01 - COLLINGTON CENTER RESEARCH LIBRARY CONSORTIUM
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(ADAMS)
Zoning Section Items (Inquiries call 301-952-3530)
4C
DRAFT RESOLUTIONS--NONE
Countywide Planning Division (Inquiries call 301-952-3650)
4D
DRAFT RESOLUTIONS--NONE
Subdivision Section Items (Inquiries call 301-952-3530)
4E
5-09041 BEACON HILL, PLAT 1 6 Lots (15.88 acres)
5-09042 BEACON HILL, PLAT 2 6 Lots (14.47 acres)
5-09043 BEACON HILL, PLAT 3 5 Lots (12.68 acres)
5-09044 BEACON HILL, PLAT 4 5 Lots (10.95 acres)
5-09045 BEACON HILL, PLAT 5 6 Lots (11.63 acres)
5-09046 BEACON HILL, PLAT 6 2 Lots (11.32 acres)
5-09047 BEACON HILL, PLAT 7 4 Lots (13.81 acres)
5-09048 BEACON HILL, PLAT 8 6 Lots (17.00 acres)
5-09049 BEACON HILL, PLAT 9 3 Lots (9.78 acres)
5-09050 BEACON HILL, PLAT 10 2 Lots (9.16 acres)
Council District: 09 Tier: Rural.R-A Zone, 4-05074 and DSP-08028Located on the south side of William Beanes Road, northwest side of Crain Highway, opposite intersection with Gold Yarrow Lane. (PA 82A)Calvert, LLC, ApplicantBen Dyer Associates, Inc., Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 5/22/09.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(NORDAN)
4F
5-09052 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 1 9 Lots and 1 Parcel (24.52 acres)
5-09053 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 2 8 Lots (13.76 acres)
5-09054 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 3 9 Lots and 1 Parcel (23.26 acres)
5-09055 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 4 10 Lots (19.27 acres)
5-09056 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 5 7 Lots (13.36 acres)
5-09057 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 6 7 Lots (14.77 acres)
5-09058 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 7 5 Lots (13.36 acres)
5-09059 WOLFE FARM, PHASE ONE, PLAT 8 4 Parcels (40.19 acres)
Council District: 09 Tier: Developing.R-A Zone, 4-04099 and Limited DSP-08028Located on the southeast side of Thrift Road, south of Tippett Road. (PA 81B)Wolfe Partners, LLC, ApplicantDewberry, Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 4/22/09.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(NORDAN)
4G
5-09060 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 1 10 Lots and 1 Parcel (17.78 acres)
5-09061 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 2 15 Lots (18.50 acres)
5-09062 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 3 20 Lots and 1Parcel (22.33 acres)
5-09063 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 4 10 Lots and 2 Parcels (15.06 acres)
5-09064 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 5 12 Lots and 3 Parcels (25.05 acres)
5-09065 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 6 26 Lots (22.34 acres)
5-09066 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 7 8 Lots and 2 Parcels (13.65 acres)
5-09067 WOLFE FARM, PHASE TWO, PLAT 8 1 Parcel (33.14 acres)
Council District: 09 Tier: Developing.R-A Zone, 4-04099 and Limited DSP-08028Located on the north side of Thrift Road, south of Tippett Road. (PA 81B)Wolfe Partners, LLC, ApplicantDewberry, Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 4/22/09.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(NORDAN)
4H
5-09071 IVY CREEK, PLAT 16 Lots and 1 Parcel, R-R Zone (3.20 acres)
5-09072 IVY CREEK, PLAT 29 Lots and 2 Parcels, R-R Zone (4.88 acres)
5-09073 IVY CREEK, PLAT 31 Lot and 1 Parcel, R-R Zone (8.80 acres)
5-09074 IVY CREEK, PLAT 42 Parcels, R-R Zone (1.84 acres)
5-09075 IVY CREEK, PLAT 56 Lots and 1 Parcel, R-R Zone (3.16 acres)
5-09076 IVY CREEK, PLAT 64 Lots and 2 Parcels, R-R Zone (2.37 acres)
Council District: 04 Tier: DevelopingR-R Zone, 4-05105Located northwest quadrant of Annapolis Road and Glenn Dale Boulevard (PA 70)Glen Dale Holding Company, LLC, ApplicantTech Group, Inc., Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 5/7/09.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(BRESSLER)
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Prince George's County Strip Mall in the Rural Tier; links to posting so far
· Historic Sites in and near Woodland Historic District -Crain Corner
· Prince George's County Considers the Destruction of History
· Developing Prince George's; a letter to the Council
· The Sucker's Bet; Destruction of the Prince George's Rural Tier
· When the strip mall comes to Crain Corner, what wi...
· Prince George, Pirates, and the US Constitution
· Prince George's County defines smart growth by shr...
· Prince George's County struggles with environmenta...
· Another strip mall is coming to the rural tier
· Prince George's County strip mall versus the Patux...
· Prince George’s County Legislative/Regulatory Dige...
· Prince George's County seeks to rezone a Strip Mal...
· Prince George's County and the Dynamics of Rural R...
· The Rural Tier & Development in Prince George's Co...
· Prince George's County to decide the fate of PG79-63 - a Potential Historic District Prince George's County's Commitment to the Rural L...
· Prince George's County and Development Axioms
· Prince George's County Considers a Strip Mall in the Rural Tier
· Prince George's County's 19th century land use plan
· Green is the color of the Prince George's County RuralTier
· Prince George's County & the Crain Corner Strip Mall
· Does Prince George's County have a Plan - that means anything?
· Prince George's County will consider another strip mall
· Endangered Species of the Western Branch of the Patuxent River
· Upper Marlboro development to feature a hotel with trash site over look
· Prince George's County proudly decides:A waste transfer station in the county seat
· Upper Marlboro's New Development Center Piece
· Prince George's County Considers the Destruction of History
· Developing Prince George's; a letter to the Council
· The Sucker's Bet; Destruction of the Prince George's Rural Tier
· When the strip mall comes to Crain Corner, what wi...
· Prince George, Pirates, and the US Constitution
· Prince George's County defines smart growth by shr...
· Prince George's County struggles with environmenta...
· Another strip mall is coming to the rural tier
· Prince George's County strip mall versus the Patux...
· Prince George’s County Legislative/Regulatory Dige...
· Prince George's County seeks to rezone a Strip Mal...
· Prince George's County and the Dynamics of Rural R...
· The Rural Tier & Development in Prince George's Co...
· Prince George's County to decide the fate of PG79-63 - a Potential Historic District Prince George's County's Commitment to the Rural L...
· Prince George's County and Development Axioms
· Prince George's County Considers a Strip Mall in the Rural Tier
· Prince George's County's 19th century land use plan
· Green is the color of the Prince George's County RuralTier
· Prince George's County & the Crain Corner Strip Mall
· Does Prince George's County have a Plan - that means anything?
· Prince George's County will consider another strip mall
· Endangered Species of the Western Branch of the Patuxent River
· Upper Marlboro development to feature a hotel with trash site over look
· Prince George's County proudly decides:A waste transfer station in the county seat
· Upper Marlboro's New Development Center Piece
When the strip mall comes to Crain Corner, what will we lose?
What does the area of Upper Marlboro and Marlboro Meadows in Prince George’s County, Maryland have today, that when the strip mall comes will be lost forever. It has land that has been surveyed and is eligible for the National Historic Register, open space that keeps the Patuxent River and the residents healthy, a community of upscale executive housing with opportunity to build more large 3 acre home sites, and a reasonably low levels of crime providing neighborhoods with a quality of life suitable for all ages.
What will the strip mall give us? No more historic district; pollution, trash and stress on the environment; an influx of transient visitors; lower property values for the residential sites and thus lower tax income for all of Prince George's County; more traffic; more crime potential; a substantive end to a potential executive housing community with its attendant tax base; and a general overall reduction in the quality of life for those who live in Marlboro Meadows or the Woodland historic area along Old Crain Highway, an historic state highway that will also be lost.
If we were to actually follow the already established general plan or the sector plan, we would retain these positive attributes; if we override the community, we shall have none of it and everyone will lose.
What will the strip mall give us? No more historic district; pollution, trash and stress on the environment; an influx of transient visitors; lower property values for the residential sites and thus lower tax income for all of Prince George's County; more traffic; more crime potential; a substantive end to a potential executive housing community with its attendant tax base; and a general overall reduction in the quality of life for those who live in Marlboro Meadows or the Woodland historic area along Old Crain Highway, an historic state highway that will also be lost.
If we were to actually follow the already established general plan or the sector plan, we would retain these positive attributes; if we override the community, we shall have none of it and everyone will lose.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Prince George, Pirates, and the US Constitution
When it comes to pirates, I wonder why the United States does not enact Letters of Marque and Reprisal. Article I, Section 8, paragraph 11 of the U.S. Constitution? This authority in the Constitution enables Congress to “grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and make rules concerning captures on land and water." It seems to me that this would give our “private” security firms something to do. They could escort our ships through the waters and when attacked respond legally to the threat. Fred E. Foldvary writes that “[t]he risk would then be concentrated on those who chose to engage in the reprisal. This empowers private citizens to protect themselves and other Americans.”
And you wondered how I am going to tie this posting to Prince George’s County?
Certainly Prince George, son of Frederick III of Denmark, husband of Queen Anne of Great Britain, Lord High Admiral of England, and name-sake of Prince George’s County, would have found this a reasonable response to the violent seizure of men and ships.
And you wondered how I am going to tie this posting to Prince George’s County?
Certainly Prince George, son of Frederick III of Denmark, husband of Queen Anne of Great Britain, Lord High Admiral of England, and name-sake of Prince George’s County, would have found this a reasonable response to the violent seizure of men and ships.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Prince George's County defines smart growth by shrinking the size of its open spaces
While other communities find a common vision making use of historic districts and clean up past environmental y damaged areas to reinvigorate their established , Prince George’s County at times takes the build and move on approach to development. Given the high cost to reinvest in already developed sections of the county, and given the “cheap” cost of open space, the county action plan is to build more and more by encroaching on the county’s general plan for a rural tier and preserved open space. The rubric for this action is, I want mine while the getting is good; the future is someone else’s problem.
The county should be strengthening municipal and established community finances in both the developed and developing tier per the county’s own plan by encouraging tax-generating commercial development in already environmentally ravaged areas. Prince George’s County should be encouraging the redevelopment and construction of “green” projects in these areas to meet the needs of over-looked residents, bringing jobs and retail infrastructure support. Development without a plan can “…drive disinvestment, reduce competitiveness, and degrade the environment.” A visionary county knows that new growth in the right place “… improves the economy and environment of existing communities.” Development in the 21st century mist reply on forward thinking ideas such as building “… places people want to live in for what they are, rather than for what they are not.” [1]
Building and developing in the right place is not using up every square acre of open space because it is cheaper today than redeveloping our established areas. “Smart growth uses the term “open space” broadly to mean natural areas both in and surrounding localities that provide important community space, habitat for plants and animals, recreational opportunities, farm and ranch land (working lands), places of natural beauty and critical environmental areas (e.g. wetlands). Open space preservation supports smart growth goals by bolstering local economies, preserving critical environmental areas, improving our communities quality of life, and guiding new growth into existing communities.” While there is a trend to preserve open space for the benefits this brings to everyone, Prince George’s County will be considering adding as an attractive feature yet another strip mall heading 180 degrees against prevailing upscale development efforts. According to the Sustainable Communities Network (SCN) “[t]here is growing political will (except evidently in Prince George's County) to save the "open spaces" that Americans treasure. Voters in 2000 overwhelmingly approved ballot measures to fund open space protection efforts. The reasons for such support are varied and attributable to the benefits associated with open space protection. Protection of open space provides many fiscal benefits, including increasing local property value (thereby increasing property tax bases), providing tourism dollars, and decreases local tax increases (due to the savings of reducing the construction of new infrastructure). Management of the quality and supply of open space also ensures that prime farm and ranch lands are available, prevents flood damage, and provides a less expensive and natural alternative for providing clean drinking water. The availability of open space also provides significant environmental quality and health benefits. Open space protects animal and plant habitat, places of natural beauty, and working lands by removing the development pressure and redirecting new growth to existing communities. Additionally, preservation of open space benefits the environment by combating air pollution, attenuating noise, controlling wind, providing erosion control, and moderating temperatures. Open space also protects surface and ground water resources by filtering trash, debris, and chemical pollutants before they enter a water system.”[2]
Why are we in Prince George’s County even thinking about reducing the size of the rural tier to build a strip mall in the Woodland Historic area of Upper Marlboro? Is it not bad enough that we bravely and cleverly decided to bring all of the county trash to a site 1.2 mile from a major tributary of the Patuxent River, and right next to nationally recognized critical habitats? Why are we still enamored with the failing development models of the last century? Where is the forward thinking county which would be a leader, not a follower? When will we begin taking care of our established communities, and reinvesting where the people are?
[1] Sustainable Communities Network (SCN); http://www.smartgrowth.org/library/byissue.asp?iss=2
[2] Sustainable Communities Network (SCN); http://www.smartgrowth.org/library/byprinciple.asp?prin=6
The county should be strengthening municipal and established community finances in both the developed and developing tier per the county’s own plan by encouraging tax-generating commercial development in already environmentally ravaged areas. Prince George’s County should be encouraging the redevelopment and construction of “green” projects in these areas to meet the needs of over-looked residents, bringing jobs and retail infrastructure support. Development without a plan can “…drive disinvestment, reduce competitiveness, and degrade the environment.” A visionary county knows that new growth in the right place “… improves the economy and environment of existing communities.” Development in the 21st century mist reply on forward thinking ideas such as building “… places people want to live in for what they are, rather than for what they are not.” [1]
Building and developing in the right place is not using up every square acre of open space because it is cheaper today than redeveloping our established areas. “Smart growth uses the term “open space” broadly to mean natural areas both in and surrounding localities that provide important community space, habitat for plants and animals, recreational opportunities, farm and ranch land (working lands), places of natural beauty and critical environmental areas (e.g. wetlands). Open space preservation supports smart growth goals by bolstering local economies, preserving critical environmental areas, improving our communities quality of life, and guiding new growth into existing communities.” While there is a trend to preserve open space for the benefits this brings to everyone, Prince George’s County will be considering adding as an attractive feature yet another strip mall heading 180 degrees against prevailing upscale development efforts. According to the Sustainable Communities Network (SCN) “[t]here is growing political will (except evidently in Prince George's County) to save the "open spaces" that Americans treasure. Voters in 2000 overwhelmingly approved ballot measures to fund open space protection efforts. The reasons for such support are varied and attributable to the benefits associated with open space protection. Protection of open space provides many fiscal benefits, including increasing local property value (thereby increasing property tax bases), providing tourism dollars, and decreases local tax increases (due to the savings of reducing the construction of new infrastructure). Management of the quality and supply of open space also ensures that prime farm and ranch lands are available, prevents flood damage, and provides a less expensive and natural alternative for providing clean drinking water. The availability of open space also provides significant environmental quality and health benefits. Open space protects animal and plant habitat, places of natural beauty, and working lands by removing the development pressure and redirecting new growth to existing communities. Additionally, preservation of open space benefits the environment by combating air pollution, attenuating noise, controlling wind, providing erosion control, and moderating temperatures. Open space also protects surface and ground water resources by filtering trash, debris, and chemical pollutants before they enter a water system.”[2]
Why are we in Prince George’s County even thinking about reducing the size of the rural tier to build a strip mall in the Woodland Historic area of Upper Marlboro? Is it not bad enough that we bravely and cleverly decided to bring all of the county trash to a site 1.2 mile from a major tributary of the Patuxent River, and right next to nationally recognized critical habitats? Why are we still enamored with the failing development models of the last century? Where is the forward thinking county which would be a leader, not a follower? When will we begin taking care of our established communities, and reinvesting where the people are?
[1] Sustainable Communities Network (SCN); http://www.smartgrowth.org/library/byissue.asp?iss=2
[2] Sustainable Communities Network (SCN); http://www.smartgrowth.org/library/byprinciple.asp?prin=6
Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Prince George's County struggles with environmental stewardship
Prince George’s County Maryland is struggling with the concept of environmental stewardship. Some in the county think that other jurisdictions should pay for environmental costs incurred by the county’s flexible definition of open space and limited development - better know as the rural tier. Because open space is less costly than developed space the county deciders are seemingly bent upon reducing the amount of rural open space. The logic seems to be that while the rest of the world is concerned about climate change and water resources, Prince George’s County will continue along without concern for these matters until it has exhausted is precious supply of undeveloped open space. At that point in time, those who made a quick profit can let those who remain pay the price for mitigating the environmental damage.
Prince George’s County, Maryland will consider soon yet another strip mall of some 40 acres (perhaps up to 120 acres, but that will come later...one small step for development at a time) in the rural tier. 40 acres of open space grabs 40 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air every year. [1] Assuming about 1 pound of carbon for every mile driven, the development of the Crain Corner project will remove 80,000 miles of carbon savings or sequestration from the atmosphere. And in addition to being on the wrong side of climate change the county gets the opportunity to impact negatively the quality of the near by Patuxent River through run-off and ecosystem damage as well as to destroy a potential historic district. This one two three punch will be called progress for there surely is a need for one more strip mall - even though there is land across the street already zoned commercial. But in which direction goeth our county? For as the world goes one way, Prince George’s is determined to go in the opposite direction; against the environment full speed ahead, warnings be damned.
[1] Pine plantations in the Southeast can accumulate almost 100 metric tons of carbon per acre after 90 years, or roughly one metric ton of carbon per acre per year (Birdsey 1996). http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/faq.html
Statistical information for those who would not see: http://www.worldometers.info/
Prince George’s County, Maryland will consider soon yet another strip mall of some 40 acres (perhaps up to 120 acres, but that will come later...one small step for development at a time) in the rural tier. 40 acres of open space grabs 40 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air every year. [1] Assuming about 1 pound of carbon for every mile driven, the development of the Crain Corner project will remove 80,000 miles of carbon savings or sequestration from the atmosphere. And in addition to being on the wrong side of climate change the county gets the opportunity to impact negatively the quality of the near by Patuxent River through run-off and ecosystem damage as well as to destroy a potential historic district. This one two three punch will be called progress for there surely is a need for one more strip mall - even though there is land across the street already zoned commercial. But in which direction goeth our county? For as the world goes one way, Prince George’s is determined to go in the opposite direction; against the environment full speed ahead, warnings be damned.
[1] Pine plantations in the Southeast can accumulate almost 100 metric tons of carbon per acre after 90 years, or roughly one metric ton of carbon per acre per year (Birdsey 1996). http://www.epa.gov/sequestration/faq.html
Statistical information for those who would not see: http://www.worldometers.info/
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Another strip mall is coming to the rural tier
The strip mall (Crain Corner) is coming to the rural tier in Woodland, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Few will mourn the environmental loss because the environment is free and infinite and has no value until it is no more. We seek out unique places for their differences and local specialties and then to accommodate our sense of want we build chain stores which destroy the very reason we came in the first place. How much open space should we preserve? New York had to secure almost 2000 acres (Drinking water for New York City comes from reservoirs in a nearly 2,000-acre watershed located in Delaware, Greene, Schoharie, Ulster, Sullivan, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess counties. Together, these reservoirs provide about 1.4 billion gallons of drinking water per day.) in upstate New York to secure drinking water, but here in Prince George’s County being far mores savvy environmentally we know that water comes from the tap and is infinite and always there. We have no good reason to protect a river for a few fols to enjoy, so let’s build parking lots and retail stores.
Prince George’s County drew a line and said no more urban development past this line, but lines are political so the county is thinking about redrawing the rural tier demarcation so that a few property owners can make some money, and the rest of us shall simply pay more taxes for any clean up of the environment that happens to come along later. This is the money now idea that got the country into its current economic morass and is the problem that is getting the world into the environmental sink-hole. The building of the mall is couched in terms of why we can’t get some of what you have, but the result is to destroy the we have and give the new residents a damaged and dysfunctional ecosystem. The issue is sometimes cast in the light of the old ethnic majority versus the new, as if the new majority does not care about environmental issues, but rather is inclined to pave everything over. I think this wrong and slightly insulting.
Most people I know would never pay to live next to a strip mall; some might pay to live in a rural area, others to live in an urban area with green space, but so far I so not see any real estate advertising “house next to trash containers behind strip mall…good quality of life location.” If yet another strip mall for Prince George’s residents is a mandatory necessity, then let us build the mall next to the residents in need in areas planned for development; let us not carve up more open space that is finite and irreplaceable, and say how wonderfully we are developing our county. Let us rather have the visio9n to contain our sprawl and redevelop areas with in the planned development zones, areas where the ecosystems are already destroyed. Let us fix up neighborhoods and bring retail to them if they want it or green spaces if they need them, let us not pave over the rural tier of Prince George’s County
Prince George’s County drew a line and said no more urban development past this line, but lines are political so the county is thinking about redrawing the rural tier demarcation so that a few property owners can make some money, and the rest of us shall simply pay more taxes for any clean up of the environment that happens to come along later. This is the money now idea that got the country into its current economic morass and is the problem that is getting the world into the environmental sink-hole. The building of the mall is couched in terms of why we can’t get some of what you have, but the result is to destroy the we have and give the new residents a damaged and dysfunctional ecosystem. The issue is sometimes cast in the light of the old ethnic majority versus the new, as if the new majority does not care about environmental issues, but rather is inclined to pave everything over. I think this wrong and slightly insulting.
Most people I know would never pay to live next to a strip mall; some might pay to live in a rural area, others to live in an urban area with green space, but so far I so not see any real estate advertising “house next to trash containers behind strip mall…good quality of life location.” If yet another strip mall for Prince George’s residents is a mandatory necessity, then let us build the mall next to the residents in need in areas planned for development; let us not carve up more open space that is finite and irreplaceable, and say how wonderfully we are developing our county. Let us rather have the visio9n to contain our sprawl and redevelop areas with in the planned development zones, areas where the ecosystems are already destroyed. Let us fix up neighborhoods and bring retail to them if they want it or green spaces if they need them, let us not pave over the rural tier of Prince George’s County
Monday, April 06, 2009
Prince George's County strip mall versus the Patuxent River Policy Plan
To think we can build a commercial strip mall in the rural tier of Prince George’s County, Maryland close to the Patuxent River in Upper Marlboro and do no harm flies in the face of reason. The point of the rural tier is to protect the ecosystem of the river. Urbanization is not free, and carries a heavy environmental cost that impacts everyone, those who live in the rural tier and those who live in the rest of the county. We all will pay the price down the road.
Urbanization affects the water cycle that every resident of Prince George’s County depend upon. When a parking lot for the strip mall is built, rain water will carry “… nutrients, pesticides, heavy metals, sediment, and other pollutants that it washes from lawns, roads, and other surfaces. In urbanizing areas, the result of the altered hydrology and the greater pollutant loads is physical and biological degradation of the receiving ecosystems, including streams (Paul and Meyer 2001) and wetlands (Ehrenfeld 2000). The degree of degradation is correlated with the amount of impervious cover in the watershed (Schueler 2003). Even cover values of 10 percent or less have been associated with changes in stream fauna in some areas.”[1]
What is the recommendation for land near a major tributary, but to minimize the extent of paved surfaces because impervious cover and altered hydrology are so closely linked? In terstingly enough there is a Patuxent river Policy Plan that states in a report from 1997 that we should “[c]ontinue to restore, improve, and protect the habitat function of aquatic and terrestrial living resources; [c]oncentrate new development in and around existing developed areas and population centers while protecting rural lands and the associated agricultural economy; [e]nhance the environmental quality and community design in new and existing communities; [d]evelop a sense of stewardship for the Patuxent River and its watershed through increased public education and participation programs.”[2]
Where is a strip mall in this plan? Will our deciders follow their own plan or will they look the other way and move to the river’s edge with pavement and concrete and retail stores? Where is the line?
[1]Susan W. Vince and Martha C. Monroe. Forest Management in the Interface: Water Management. This document FOR 181, is one of the Forest Management in the Interface series of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Florida Cooperative Extension Services, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. This fact sheet was first published in 2006 as part of Changing Roles: Wildland-Urban Interface Professional Development Program. It was reviewed and revised for EDIS in July 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/. < http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_fr246#FOOTNOTE_1 >
[2] Patucent Policy plan < http://www.mdp.state.md.us/info/patuxplan.htm >
Urbanization affects the water cycle that every resident of Prince George’s County depend upon. When a parking lot for the strip mall is built, rain water will carry “… nutrients, pesticides, heavy metals, sediment, and other pollutants that it washes from lawns, roads, and other surfaces. In urbanizing areas, the result of the altered hydrology and the greater pollutant loads is physical and biological degradation of the receiving ecosystems, including streams (Paul and Meyer 2001) and wetlands (Ehrenfeld 2000). The degree of degradation is correlated with the amount of impervious cover in the watershed (Schueler 2003). Even cover values of 10 percent or less have been associated with changes in stream fauna in some areas.”[1]
What is the recommendation for land near a major tributary, but to minimize the extent of paved surfaces because impervious cover and altered hydrology are so closely linked? In terstingly enough there is a Patuxent river Policy Plan that states in a report from 1997 that we should “[c]ontinue to restore, improve, and protect the habitat function of aquatic and terrestrial living resources; [c]oncentrate new development in and around existing developed areas and population centers while protecting rural lands and the associated agricultural economy; [e]nhance the environmental quality and community design in new and existing communities; [d]evelop a sense of stewardship for the Patuxent River and its watershed through increased public education and participation programs.”[2]
Where is a strip mall in this plan? Will our deciders follow their own plan or will they look the other way and move to the river’s edge with pavement and concrete and retail stores? Where is the line?
[1]Susan W. Vince and Martha C. Monroe. Forest Management in the Interface: Water Management. This document FOR 181, is one of the Forest Management in the Interface series of the School of Forest Resources and Conservation, Florida Cooperative Extension Services, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. This fact sheet was first published in 2006 as part of Changing Roles: Wildland-Urban Interface Professional Development Program. It was reviewed and revised for EDIS in July 2008. Visit the EDIS Web Site at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/. < http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/document_fr246#FOOTNOTE_1 >
[2] Patucent Policy plan < http://www.mdp.state.md.us/info/patuxplan.htm >
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Prince George’s County Legislative/Regulatory Digest: April 4 – April 10, 2009
Prince George’s County Legislative/Regulatory Digest: April 4 – April 10, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
County Council
LINK TO FULL COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA
9:30 A.M. AGENDA BRIEFING – (ROOM 2027)
10:00 p.m. County Council
CB-3-2009 (DR-2) - AN ACT CONCERNING TAXICAB REGULATIONS for
the purpose of amending provisions of the Code relating to regular taxicab rates and
the emergency fuel cost surcharge.
(Introduced by Council Members Olson, Harrison, Dean, Campos and Dernoga on
3/17/2009; favorably reported out of PSFM on 3/4/2009 with amendments)
CB-5-2009 – AN ACT CONCERNING AMENDING THE ENERGY REAL
PROPERTY TAX CREDIT for the purpose of amending the tax credit for real
property for residential homeowners who utilize solar energy conservation devises.
(Introduced by Council Members Olson, Dernoga, Campos, Turner and Harrison on
3/17/2009; favorably reported out of PSFM on 3/4/2009)
CB-6-2009 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION OF THE SALE,
OFFER OR DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN CIGAR PRODUCTS for the
purpose of amending the provisions of the County Code prohibiting the sale, offer or
distribution of cigar and cigar products intended for or designed for the use in
ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing marijuana, cocaine, hashish, or hashish
oil into the human body to minors and in quantities fewer than packages of five.
(Introduced by Council Members Dean, Harrison, Bland and Knotts on 3/17/2009;
discharged from HEHS Committee on 3/17/2009)
CR-9-2009 (DR-2) – A RESOLUTION CONCERNING VICTORY CREST
SENIOR APARTMENTS for the purpose of approving a $1.3 million HOME Loan
for the Victory Crest Senior Apartments project and amending the Prince George’s
County “Annual Action Plan: FY 2006” and “Annual Action Plan: FY 2009” to
include project and project funding.
(Introduced by Council Member Campos on 2/10/2009; favorably reported out of
THE on 3/26/2009 with amendments)
Thurs., April 9, 2009 LINK TO AGENDA
DRAFT RESOLUTION – CASE HEARD ON MARCH 19, 2009
PGCPB NO. 08-178(A) – 4-08022 – QUINCY MANOR
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(HIRSCH)
DRAFT RESOLUTION – CASE HEARD ON MARCH 19, 2009
PGCPB NO. 09-45 - DSP-89010/02 – INGLEWOOD BUSINESS COMMUNITY, LOT 46
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(ADAMS)
5-09027 DISTEL SUBDIVISION 12 Lots (3.74 acres)
5-09028 DISTEL SUBDIVISION 6 Lots and 1 Parcel (4.74 acres)
Council District: 09 Tier: Developed. R-80 Zone, 4-05103 Fee-in-lieu Located on the south end of Donna Street and Karen Street, west of Suitland Road. (PA 76A)Foster Communities of Maryland, Inc., Applicant Greenhorne and O’Mara, Inc., Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 4/17/09. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(NORDAN)
V-09002 SANDY SPRING ESTATES, SECTION 7 Petition to Vacate part of Old Sandy Spring Road (Maps)Council District: 01 Municipality: None.Tier: Developing.Located in the northeast quadrant of Old Sandy Spring Road and Misty Pine Road. (PA 60)R-R Zone (.36 acre)Sandy Spring Estates, LLC, ApplicantRifkin, Livingston, Levitan & Silver, LLC, Attorney
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL with condition(BRESSLER)
Landover Gateway Sector Plan and Sectional Map Amendment
Approve resolution to adopt the Landover Gateway Sector Plan and Sectional Map Amendment (SMA) Council District: 05
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL of staff recommendations and the resolution to adopt the Landover Gateway Sector Plan and endorse SMA for transmittal to the District Council(OSEI)
Three (3) reservations will expire on June 30, 2009 at various locations. They consist of the following:
Two (2) for Branch Avenue/Surratts Road Interchange One (1) for the US 301 Upgrade
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL to submit affidavits to the owners of the properties for consent to continue certain reservations for additional periods of time as noted in the staff Memorandum dated April 9, 2009(FOSTER)
Preliminary Countywide Master Plan of Transportation – Planning Board Worksession
Planning Board review of the digest of testimony from the February 3, 2009 Joint Public Hearing and staff responses to testimony, and proposed changes to the Preliminary Countywide Master Plan of Transportation, pursuant to Section 27-645(a).
Countywide
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL of the proposed changes to the Preliminary Countywide Master Plan of Transportation(FOSTER)
CSP-08002 ARIEL’S HAIR SALON Council District: 03 Municipality: Hyattsville.Tier: Developed.Located on the southern side of Ager Road, approximately 90 feet east of its intersection with Jamestown Road. (PA 68)M-X-T and T-D-O Zones (0.02 acre) Zulma S. Romero, ApplicantRequest: Waiver of the application fee.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL of a partial fee waiver(GROVER)
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
County Council
LINK TO FULL COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA
9:30 A.M. AGENDA BRIEFING – (ROOM 2027)
10:00 p.m. County Council
CB-3-2009 (DR-2) - AN ACT CONCERNING TAXICAB REGULATIONS for
the purpose of amending provisions of the Code relating to regular taxicab rates and
the emergency fuel cost surcharge.
(Introduced by Council Members Olson, Harrison, Dean, Campos and Dernoga on
3/17/2009; favorably reported out of PSFM on 3/4/2009 with amendments)
CB-5-2009 – AN ACT CONCERNING AMENDING THE ENERGY REAL
PROPERTY TAX CREDIT for the purpose of amending the tax credit for real
property for residential homeowners who utilize solar energy conservation devises.
(Introduced by Council Members Olson, Dernoga, Campos, Turner and Harrison on
3/17/2009; favorably reported out of PSFM on 3/4/2009)
CB-6-2009 – AN ACT CONCERNING THE PROHIBITION OF THE SALE,
OFFER OR DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN CIGAR PRODUCTS for the
purpose of amending the provisions of the County Code prohibiting the sale, offer or
distribution of cigar and cigar products intended for or designed for the use in
ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing marijuana, cocaine, hashish, or hashish
oil into the human body to minors and in quantities fewer than packages of five.
(Introduced by Council Members Dean, Harrison, Bland and Knotts on 3/17/2009;
discharged from HEHS Committee on 3/17/2009)
CR-9-2009 (DR-2) – A RESOLUTION CONCERNING VICTORY CREST
SENIOR APARTMENTS for the purpose of approving a $1.3 million HOME Loan
for the Victory Crest Senior Apartments project and amending the Prince George’s
County “Annual Action Plan: FY 2006” and “Annual Action Plan: FY 2009” to
include project and project funding.
(Introduced by Council Member Campos on 2/10/2009; favorably reported out of
THE on 3/26/2009 with amendments)
Thurs., April 9, 2009 LINK TO AGENDA
DRAFT RESOLUTION – CASE HEARD ON MARCH 19, 2009
PGCPB NO. 08-178(A) – 4-08022 – QUINCY MANOR
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(HIRSCH)
DRAFT RESOLUTION – CASE HEARD ON MARCH 19, 2009
PGCPB NO. 09-45 - DSP-89010/02 – INGLEWOOD BUSINESS COMMUNITY, LOT 46
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(ADAMS)
5-09027 DISTEL SUBDIVISION 12 Lots (3.74 acres)
5-09028 DISTEL SUBDIVISION 6 Lots and 1 Parcel (4.74 acres)
Council District: 09 Tier: Developed. R-80 Zone, 4-05103 Fee-in-lieu Located on the south end of Donna Street and Karen Street, west of Suitland Road. (PA 76A)Foster Communities of Maryland, Inc., Applicant Greenhorne and O’Mara, Inc., Engineer
Action must be taken on or before 4/17/09. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL(NORDAN)
V-09002 SANDY SPRING ESTATES, SECTION 7 Petition to Vacate part of Old Sandy Spring Road (Maps)Council District: 01 Municipality: None.Tier: Developing.Located in the northeast quadrant of Old Sandy Spring Road and Misty Pine Road. (PA 60)R-R Zone (.36 acre)Sandy Spring Estates, LLC, ApplicantRifkin, Livingston, Levitan & Silver, LLC, Attorney
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL with condition(BRESSLER)
Landover Gateway Sector Plan and Sectional Map Amendment
Approve resolution to adopt the Landover Gateway Sector Plan and Sectional Map Amendment (SMA) Council District: 05
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL of staff recommendations and the resolution to adopt the Landover Gateway Sector Plan and endorse SMA for transmittal to the District Council(OSEI)
Three (3) reservations will expire on June 30, 2009 at various locations. They consist of the following:
Two (2) for Branch Avenue/Surratts Road Interchange One (1) for the US 301 Upgrade
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL to submit affidavits to the owners of the properties for consent to continue certain reservations for additional periods of time as noted in the staff Memorandum dated April 9, 2009(FOSTER)
Preliminary Countywide Master Plan of Transportation – Planning Board Worksession
Planning Board review of the digest of testimony from the February 3, 2009 Joint Public Hearing and staff responses to testimony, and proposed changes to the Preliminary Countywide Master Plan of Transportation, pursuant to Section 27-645(a).
Countywide
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL of the proposed changes to the Preliminary Countywide Master Plan of Transportation(FOSTER)
CSP-08002 ARIEL’S HAIR SALON Council District: 03 Municipality: Hyattsville.Tier: Developed.Located on the southern side of Ager Road, approximately 90 feet east of its intersection with Jamestown Road. (PA 68)M-X-T and T-D-O Zones (0.02 acre) Zulma S. Romero, ApplicantRequest: Waiver of the application fee.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: APPROVAL of a partial fee waiver(GROVER)
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Prince George's County seeks to rezone a Strip Mall into the Rural Tier
Very soon the wise men and women of Prince George’s County will decide whether to “adjust” their general and master plans by dropping a strip mall into the rural tier along the east side of US301. The concept of extending the strip malls of Charles County comes to mind as there is a tendency to ,add more and more malls until they exist side by side, wall to wall mall. A trip through Waldorf is a possible vision of the historic district of Woodland just east of Upper Marlboro, Maryland. And with the plethora of parking lots and shopping centers anchored by “upscale” stores such as Target, residents can expect an increase in traffic which in turn will mean more time in the car.[1]
The development vision which sees little or no value in open space or historic districts will rezone Crain Corner into a power center anchored by one or two big national chain boxes, just as some areas are trying to figure out what to do with these large stores when the retailer moves on. Julia Christensen writes that “[a]merica is becoming a container landscape of big boxes connected by highways. When a big box store upsizes to an even bigger box "supercenter" down the road, it leaves behind more than the vacant shell of a retail operation; it leaves behind a changed landscape that can't be changed back. Acres of land have been paved around it. Highway exits lead to it; local roads end at it. With thousands of empty big box stores spread across America, these sites have become a dominant feature of the American landscape.”[2]
The uniqueness of the Woodland and Upper Marlboro area will be subsumed by “…perhaps a grocery store, bookstores, pet supply shops, electronics retailers, or a variety of other retail establishments and fast food or chain restaurants.”[3] Prince George’s County will lose the identity of place and become homogenized by the sameness of macadam and concrete. “With the rise of the big box store, a strip mall is now more likely to have uniform architecture, where all buildings have a central theme or resemble each other, making them more aesthetically pleasing” , and thereby removinga the eye sore complaint at the expense of losing the uniqueness that was Woodland.[4]
[1] http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-strip-mall.htm
[2] MIT Press Web site: http://mitpress.mit.edu/shared/legal/default.asp
[3] http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-strip-mall.htm
[4] Idem
The development vision which sees little or no value in open space or historic districts will rezone Crain Corner into a power center anchored by one or two big national chain boxes, just as some areas are trying to figure out what to do with these large stores when the retailer moves on. Julia Christensen writes that “[a]merica is becoming a container landscape of big boxes connected by highways. When a big box store upsizes to an even bigger box "supercenter" down the road, it leaves behind more than the vacant shell of a retail operation; it leaves behind a changed landscape that can't be changed back. Acres of land have been paved around it. Highway exits lead to it; local roads end at it. With thousands of empty big box stores spread across America, these sites have become a dominant feature of the American landscape.”[2]
The uniqueness of the Woodland and Upper Marlboro area will be subsumed by “…perhaps a grocery store, bookstores, pet supply shops, electronics retailers, or a variety of other retail establishments and fast food or chain restaurants.”[3] Prince George’s County will lose the identity of place and become homogenized by the sameness of macadam and concrete. “With the rise of the big box store, a strip mall is now more likely to have uniform architecture, where all buildings have a central theme or resemble each other, making them more aesthetically pleasing” , and thereby removinga the eye sore complaint at the expense of losing the uniqueness that was Woodland.[4]
[1] http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-strip-mall.htm
[2] MIT Press Web site: http://mitpress.mit.edu/shared/legal/default.asp
[3] http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-strip-mall.htm
[4] Idem
Friday, April 03, 2009
Prince George's County and the Dynamics of Rural Rier Development
Washington Business Journal reported nearly five years ago that “[a]s developers continue snapping up large swaths of farmland near Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County officials are calling for a comprehensive plan before the piecemeal projects get out of hand. "I want to look at that entire area and say, 'This is how we should build this area out,'" says Samuel Dean, chairman of the Prince George's County Council. "All of these development applications are coming in separately. That doesn't do anything for us, to have it built in a hodgepodge manner. "[1]
When it comes to eastern Upper Marlboro’s historic Woodlands area, one can hope that Mr. Dean will continue to follow his own words. Because the hodge-podge of small pieces is coming before him soon, we can hope that he might put the brakes on the rezoning of Crain Corner for a strip mall in the rural tier. Of course Councilman Dean is clear that his preference is to build on, out and over the open space as if it were a blank canvas of no value except when developed and paved over. But he is consistently opposed to overriding and overlooking local community involvement and desires. There is hope, then, that he is hearing and listening to the residents of Woodland and Marlboro Meadows and will not run rough shod over their concerns.
Developers look at open space because it is cheaper then redevelopment costs in established communities. This dynamic leads to the pattern of suburban development where most of the wealthy people settled in rural parts of the region, leading to mall developers and employers wanting to locate there, leading to more highways there, destroying the reason the people moved there in the first place. The wealth then leaves moving further out to restart the process again. In the mean time, developers and investors are loath to redevelop in our established communities because the return is not so great as plowing under a field and planting it with asphalt.
All of this takes place as everyone agrees to blindly assume that the destruction of ecosystems and their services is someone else’s problem and cost, or in this county’s case, no one’s cost because it all is free, just call in the bulldozers. Ask your self, how many SUV’s can we have on the roads because the green space of the rural tier absorbs the carbon? The answer is in the tens of thousands.
[1] Washington Business Journal, 20-Dec-2004; http://www.pillsburylaw.com/bv/bvisapi.dll/portal/ep/newsReleaseDetail.do/pub/00004EBA/ruleType/PUB_FIRMNEWS_MENTIONS/channelId/-8593/tabId/5/pageTypeId/9208
When it comes to eastern Upper Marlboro’s historic Woodlands area, one can hope that Mr. Dean will continue to follow his own words. Because the hodge-podge of small pieces is coming before him soon, we can hope that he might put the brakes on the rezoning of Crain Corner for a strip mall in the rural tier. Of course Councilman Dean is clear that his preference is to build on, out and over the open space as if it were a blank canvas of no value except when developed and paved over. But he is consistently opposed to overriding and overlooking local community involvement and desires. There is hope, then, that he is hearing and listening to the residents of Woodland and Marlboro Meadows and will not run rough shod over their concerns.
Developers look at open space because it is cheaper then redevelopment costs in established communities. This dynamic leads to the pattern of suburban development where most of the wealthy people settled in rural parts of the region, leading to mall developers and employers wanting to locate there, leading to more highways there, destroying the reason the people moved there in the first place. The wealth then leaves moving further out to restart the process again. In the mean time, developers and investors are loath to redevelop in our established communities because the return is not so great as plowing under a field and planting it with asphalt.
All of this takes place as everyone agrees to blindly assume that the destruction of ecosystems and their services is someone else’s problem and cost, or in this county’s case, no one’s cost because it all is free, just call in the bulldozers. Ask your self, how many SUV’s can we have on the roads because the green space of the rural tier absorbs the carbon? The answer is in the tens of thousands.
[1] Washington Business Journal, 20-Dec-2004; http://www.pillsburylaw.com/bv/bvisapi.dll/portal/ep/newsReleaseDetail.do/pub/00004EBA/ruleType/PUB_FIRMNEWS_MENTIONS/channelId/-8593/tabId/5/pageTypeId/9208
Thursday, April 02, 2009
The Rural Tier & Development in Prince George's County
John Peter,
This entire subject of the Rural Tier has been an extremely hard topic for me to get my arms around as there are some very different and opposing views on this topic. Cool heads must prevail on this important topic as we do not get a second chance to do it over. '
I constantly hear from those who are living out in the Rural Tier that they do not want anything or anyone encroaching on the beauty of this area and to let them be to enjoy its serenity and beauty. I can agree 100% with what they are saying because I to want to preserve it for generations to come so they can see the beauty of the wildlife and nature found in the Rural Tier. Plus, where else do we have any resemblance of farming so close to the Nation's Capitol.
However, the playing field was not level when the opportunity to purchase and own a piece of "Heaven" in the Rural Tier was occurring many years ago when it was and still is owned by primarily White Prince George's County residents. To say you cannot move into this area now that you have the money to do so is somewhat of a problem and that is exactly what we are saying if we tell a new generation of Minorities that you cannot build your home in this area and secure your piece of "Heaven." Yes, their lifestyle is different from those who have lived on the land for sometime only because they were unfairly kept out of this area and do not hold the same sentimental value.
They want to see infrastructure and necessities within a reasonable proximity to where they can now own their piece of "Heaven." The Rural Tier is not just for those families who own the property now to be able to continue to pass it on from generation to generation enjoying the beauty and serenity and possibly farming while others who want to cannot. We cannot continue to let a small segment of society enjoy the fruits of the land at the expense of another segment who must continually experience overcrowding, no open space and green areas, poor air quality, and high crime rate.
We must compromise and carefully select those areas within the Rural Tier that truly have an environmental impact or historical significance worth preserving so as to not give the impression to our residents of Prince George's County that one's home area is more important than another and the lifestyle of those living in that area must be kept at a better level than those living in another. Yes, we are Prince Georgians and we have a unique and distinctive heritage and a bright future for all. We have some tough decisions in front of us and I know we are up to the challenge.
Henry C. Turner, Jr.
Chairman
Commission for Veterans
240-678-8709
This entire subject of the Rural Tier has been an extremely hard topic for me to get my arms around as there are some very different and opposing views on this topic. Cool heads must prevail on this important topic as we do not get a second chance to do it over. '
I constantly hear from those who are living out in the Rural Tier that they do not want anything or anyone encroaching on the beauty of this area and to let them be to enjoy its serenity and beauty. I can agree 100% with what they are saying because I to want to preserve it for generations to come so they can see the beauty of the wildlife and nature found in the Rural Tier. Plus, where else do we have any resemblance of farming so close to the Nation's Capitol.
However, the playing field was not level when the opportunity to purchase and own a piece of "Heaven" in the Rural Tier was occurring many years ago when it was and still is owned by primarily White Prince George's County residents. To say you cannot move into this area now that you have the money to do so is somewhat of a problem and that is exactly what we are saying if we tell a new generation of Minorities that you cannot build your home in this area and secure your piece of "Heaven." Yes, their lifestyle is different from those who have lived on the land for sometime only because they were unfairly kept out of this area and do not hold the same sentimental value.
They want to see infrastructure and necessities within a reasonable proximity to where they can now own their piece of "Heaven." The Rural Tier is not just for those families who own the property now to be able to continue to pass it on from generation to generation enjoying the beauty and serenity and possibly farming while others who want to cannot. We cannot continue to let a small segment of society enjoy the fruits of the land at the expense of another segment who must continually experience overcrowding, no open space and green areas, poor air quality, and high crime rate.
We must compromise and carefully select those areas within the Rural Tier that truly have an environmental impact or historical significance worth preserving so as to not give the impression to our residents of Prince George's County that one's home area is more important than another and the lifestyle of those living in that area must be kept at a better level than those living in another. Yes, we are Prince Georgians and we have a unique and distinctive heritage and a bright future for all. We have some tough decisions in front of us and I know we are up to the challenge.
Henry C. Turner, Jr.
Chairman
Commission for Veterans
240-678-8709
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Prince George's County's Commitment to the Rural Legacy Program is spotlighted by rezoning of land east of US 301in the rural tier
As the date for deciding the fate of Woodland draws near, the environmental impact weighs heavy on those who would stay after the rezoning takes place and the bulldozers alter forever the ecosystem of the Patuxent Rive around Upper Marlboro. The proposal is to site a strip mall in the middle of at least three of the planned green areas for central Prince George’s County. The county’s current General Plan calls for the staging of the development of recreational facilities to be proportional to population growth in specific areas. Future needs for parkland were anticipated (in 1982 and 1992) for the northern, central, and southern portions of the county. The open space goals, established by the General Plan, are redefined by each Area Master Plan where achievable and measurable growth objectives are established. The county is an active participant in the state’s Rural Legacy Program[1], though active may be an ironic appellation if the re=zoning ofr Crain Corner goes through..
Collington Branch is a component of the Patuxent River watershed that originates near Bowie, runs southerly and connects to the Western Branch tributary in Upper Marlboro, which continues into the Patuxent River. The Collington Branch is also planned for a proposed multi-use trail that will connect Bowie with Upper Marlboro. The county owns much of the corridor and plans to fill in any gaps through acquisition and the development process. The Prince George’s County Bicycle and Trails Advisory Group recommended this trail as the number seven trail/bikeway priority in the county.
Patuxent Regional Greenway (Ecological Greenway)The Patuxent Regional Greenway is a partially established regional greenway that includes seven jurisdictions extending from central Maryland through southern Maryland. The Patuxent River serves as the spine for the greenway which runs through Howard, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. DNR currently owns about 15,000 acres along the Patuxent River and isworking with local officials to extend protection along the mainstem. In Prince George’s County the Patuxent River forms the northern and eastern county boundaries. Public properties under the management of DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, M-NCPPC and WSSC make a substantial contribution to the Patuxent Regional Greenway. These lands provide many opportunities for nature study and outdoor recreation. Prince George’s County has adopted land-use and development regulations for the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and the Patuxent River Primary Management Area to channel development away from sensitive areas in the Patuxent corridor. Public acquisition of the Patuxent Regional Greenway will continue, and these policies will provide a mechanism for protecting water quality and riparian resources on non-public lands.
The Western Branch is a stream valley greenway that originates near Glenarden and connects into the Patuxent River south of Upper Marlboro. Major tributaries of the Western Branch are Bald Hill and Folly and Lottsford branches. Connections will occur with Collington Branch, Southwest Branch, and the Chesapeake Beach Rail Trail corridor. M-NCPPC owns sections in all of these corridors. The Western Branch Greenway is second in size only to the Patuxent Greenway in Prince George’s County. The corridor is under continuing acquisition and will have the longest trail system of any Patuxent tributary in the county.
[1] http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/download/greenways/atlas/pg_TEXT.pdf
Collington Branch is a component of the Patuxent River watershed that originates near Bowie, runs southerly and connects to the Western Branch tributary in Upper Marlboro, which continues into the Patuxent River. The Collington Branch is also planned for a proposed multi-use trail that will connect Bowie with Upper Marlboro. The county owns much of the corridor and plans to fill in any gaps through acquisition and the development process. The Prince George’s County Bicycle and Trails Advisory Group recommended this trail as the number seven trail/bikeway priority in the county.
Patuxent Regional Greenway (Ecological Greenway)The Patuxent Regional Greenway is a partially established regional greenway that includes seven jurisdictions extending from central Maryland through southern Maryland. The Patuxent River serves as the spine for the greenway which runs through Howard, Montgomery, Anne Arundel, Prince George’s, Calvert, Charles, and St. Mary’s counties. DNR currently owns about 15,000 acres along the Patuxent River and isworking with local officials to extend protection along the mainstem. In Prince George’s County the Patuxent River forms the northern and eastern county boundaries. Public properties under the management of DNR, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, M-NCPPC and WSSC make a substantial contribution to the Patuxent Regional Greenway. These lands provide many opportunities for nature study and outdoor recreation. Prince George’s County has adopted land-use and development regulations for the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area and the Patuxent River Primary Management Area to channel development away from sensitive areas in the Patuxent corridor. Public acquisition of the Patuxent Regional Greenway will continue, and these policies will provide a mechanism for protecting water quality and riparian resources on non-public lands.
The Western Branch is a stream valley greenway that originates near Glenarden and connects into the Patuxent River south of Upper Marlboro. Major tributaries of the Western Branch are Bald Hill and Folly and Lottsford branches. Connections will occur with Collington Branch, Southwest Branch, and the Chesapeake Beach Rail Trail corridor. M-NCPPC owns sections in all of these corridors. The Western Branch Greenway is second in size only to the Patuxent Greenway in Prince George’s County. The corridor is under continuing acquisition and will have the longest trail system of any Patuxent tributary in the county.
[1] http://dnrweb.dnr.state.md.us/download/greenways/atlas/pg_TEXT.pdf
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