Comments are by Councilmembers Llatetra Brown Esters and Susan Whitney and are not approved or sanctioned by the City of College Park.
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Announcements
Councilmember Kabir reminded residents of the City’s upcoming July 4th Parade and encouraged them to apply to participate by the June 24th deadline
Councilmember Esters reminded attendees about the upcoming primary elections on July 19.
Mayor Wojahn added that residents may have already received their ballot and voted.
Councilmember Whitney mentioned the upcoming WASPs (Women Airforce Service Pilots) Tour at the College Park Aviation Museum on June 25 at 1pm.
Councilmember Adams announced the Calvert Hills Ice Cream Social scheduled for Saturday, June 25 from 6:30pm -8pm at that Calvert Hills Playground at Guilford Road
Councilmember Rigg thanked staff for the Friday Night Live series that helps bring residents of all ages together.
Councilmember Mackie announced that the first weekly Summer Seniors Coffee Social co-hosted by Neighbors Helping Neighbors and Proteus Brews/Proteus Bikes would be held on Thursday, June 23rd from 9:30 to 10:30am at Proteus at 9827 Rhode Island Ave.
Mayor Wojahn congratulated Councilmember Mitchell for her new role as president of the Maryland Municipal League (MML). Mayor Wojahn joined the Cheverly community’s Mount Hope Commission at for its inaugural Juneteenth event.
SGA Deputy Liaison Adrian Andriessens welcomed the class of 2026 who had orientation on campus on June 21.
City Manager Report
City Manager Kenny Young thanked those who were able to join him in Ocean City for the recent MML conference and help make the Bid for the FBI coming to the Greenbelt. He also mentioned the next three Friday Night Live events and themes:
July 15 – Salsa and Fiesta
August 12 – Sing me the Blues
September 9 – Oktoberfest
Councilmember Whitney asked whether mailers will be sent to residents prior to the Tree Canopy Ordinance going into effect on July 1. Assistant City Manager, Bill Gardiner, indicated that the mailers were being proofed by staff and should go out in the next day or two.
Proclamation
Mayor Wojahn mentioned the upcoming event sponsored by College Park Arts Exchange and Bee City Committee to teach residents how to build bee hotels – Saturday, June 25 from 1-4pm. For more information visit https://www.collegeparkmd.gov/civicalerts.aspx?aid=368
Public Comments and Consent or Non-Consent Agenda Items
Peter King, resident – Acknowledged that during the council’s June work session referenced compliance issues with the Open Meetings Act as it related to meeting minutes. He shared his hope that the Council commits to the Open Meetings Act. He went on the mention the Ethics Board has not published meeting minutes in over a year. He indicated no other board has such a delay with minutes. Mr. King went on to say that the Ethics Board held a meeting on January 6 where they raised a motion to close a meeting held the night before, which is not in compliance.
Will Wilt, student and resident who has lived in College Park for three years. Mr. Wilt lives on Metzerott road in College Park Woods. He said College Park has become a home to him and asked the City to help make Metzerott Road near St. Andrews Place safer. Since the speed camera at the intersection was removed, he says there’s been an increase in cars being struck, including his car. The City manager will check into the reason the speed camera was removed and report back to Council.
Consent Agenda Items
- 22-G-98 Annual appointments to City advisory boards – Janeen S Miller, City Clerk
- 22-G-99 Approval of Policy on Use of City Meeting Spaces – Janeen S Miller, City Clerk
- 22-G-100 Award of contract with Tyler Technology for Financial and HR software and implementation – Gary Fields, Director of Finance
- 22-G-101 Award of contract with Gena T. Ford for Project Management Services for Financial and HR software implementation (supermajority required) – Gary Fields, Director of Finance
- 22-G-102 Approval of minutes from the April 26,2022 Regular Meeting, the May 24,2022 Regular Meeting, the June 7,2022 Special Session, and the June 7,2022 Work session.
Actions Items
22-G-103 Preliminary Plan of Subdivision 4-21039 for EcoGrads development – Terry Schum, Director of Planning – This topic was introduced by Director of Planning Terry Schum and led by Senior Planner Miriam Bader.
Background and recommendation from Staff:
“A Preliminary Plan of Subdivision (PPS) has been submitted by KindBild, LLC (Applicant) to consolidate existing lots (lots 28-31 and lots 47-48 in Block 11) into one parcel (proposed Parcel 1, 0.52 acres or 22,752 square feet). This undeveloped site (8421 and 8429 Baltimore Avenue) is located at the southeast corner of Quebec Street and Baltimore Avenue. The site is currently being used as an SHA staging area for Baltimore Avenue improvements. The proposed development is for a 7-story, mixed-use building, including 123 apartments and 2,300 square feet of retail. The Application includes a variation request to waive the Public Utility Easement (PUE) requirements along the street frontages. A Detailed Site Plan (DSP-21024) has been submitted, as required, and is currently in pre-acceptance. It will be reviewed at a later date. The tentative Planning Board date is scheduled for June 30, 2022. The city staff report is included as Attachment 1.”
According to Ms. Bader, a Detailed Site Plan application has been accepted and is tentatively scheduled to appear before the County Planning Board on September 22nd. The Preliminary Plan of Subdivision (PPS) is to go before County Planning Board on June 30. She explained that the property will be reviewed in accordance with previous zoning specifications.
The proposed property, EcoGrads, is to be marketed to graduate students. It is understood by the City that a new public access easement will be needed. A five-foot sidewalk along Quebec will be constructed on private property with a public access easement to the City. An agreement will need to be created between the applicant as it relates to the construction and maintenance of the sidewalk and the installation of storm drains and a retaining wall. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved the project. The minimum tree canopy coverage requirement for the project is 10%.
Staff recommends support for the plan with the following 6 conditions:
- Total development within the proposed subdivision shall be limited to uses which generate no more than 69 AM peak-hour trips and 86 PM peak-hour trips. Any development generating an impact greater than that shall require a new determination of the adequacy of transportation facilities and a new PPS.
- The final plat of subdivision shall include right-of-way dedication of ten feet along US 1 to the State Highway Administration in accordance with the PPS.
- Off-site bicycle and pedestrian improvements to satisfy Section 24-124.01 of the Subdivision Regulations, shall be prioritized as follows: a. Provide new or upgraded thermoplastic pavement markings along the Trolley Trail, from Greenbelt Road to Berwyn House Road. These shall include yellow centerline skip lines and white edge lines. b. Provide sharrows on Pontiac Street.
- At the time of DSP, the applicant shall provide an off-site bicycle and pedestrian facilities plan that illustrates the location, limits, specifications and details of the pedestrian and bicycle adequacy improvements approved with PPS 4-21055, consistent with the cost cap and Section 24-124.01 (f) of the Prince George’s County Subdivision Regulations.
- Prior to final plat, the applicant shall execute an agreement with the City of College Park 0649 for the construction and maintenance of improvements to the 15-foot-wide alley including pavement, a retaining wall and storm drain facilities.
- Prior to Planning Board approval of the DSP, the applicant shall execute a Declaration of Covenants Agreement with the City that includes, at a minimum, the following provisions:
a. Provision of public access easements to the City for any sidewalk along Quebec Street and Baltimore Avenue that is not located in the public right-of-way.
b. Assurances that the property will be used for graduate student housing.
c. PILOT to City if the property becomes tax exempt.
d. Unitary management and condominium conversion requirements.
e. Acknowledgement of responsibility for maintenance of pedestrian light fixtures, landscaping, and sidewalks.
f. Restrictions related to construction staging and hours of operation, if needed.
g. If feasible, provision of an outdoor public art feature, which can be matched by City funds (up to $15,000).
h. Evidence of LEED SILVER or equivalent certification
Mr. Tedesco, attorney for the developer and Mark Manzo, developer, were in the audience along with other representatives for the proposed project. Mr. Tedesco thanked Ms. Bader and Ms. Schum and indicated there was no opposition or modifications to the staff recommendations.
Councilmember Adams mentioned concern about parking and affordability.
Councilmember Esters asked Mr. Tedesco if the developer will be prepared at the time of the detailed site plan to provide data about the price point for units that reassures Council that units will actually be affordable. Mr. Tedesco assured her that Mr. Manzo would provide the information at the point of the detailed site plan.
Councilmember Rigg acknowledged that the project is said to be “marketed” but not “limited” to graduate students. He asked if there was a legal way to limit it to graduate students. Mr. Tedesco replied that “that’s the nut we’re trying to crack,” saying there’s a reason why no one has come before us previously with a dedicated graduate student project. He said that is part of the discussion for the proposed revitalization tax credit. He said they are trying to earmark for graduate students and that there are ways that can done through leasing agents. Councilmember Rigg suggested they speak with Southern Management Company since they lease the two developments in College Park specifically for grad students.. He also mentioned the City’s need for smaller retail spaces and the fact that some grad students have children and that including some larger units might be appropriate.
Mr. Tedesco mentioned the vision for an art gallery and a café within the development.
Councilmember Kabir indicated his desire to see this housing development truly be affordable. Asked about the breakdown of the units and pricing. Mr. Tedesco indicated those details are still a work in progress. Councilmember expressed concern about the school surcharge being waived and Mr. Tedesco shared he was not seeking a waiver (As per analysis done by the County, all schools are over capacity. Per Section 24-114-01, School Planning Capacity Analysis is no longer an adequacy requirement for subdivision)
Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney, mentioned that the state law cannot be changed by the City regarding the school surcharge.
Councilmember Whitney mentioned that the sharrows suggested for Pontiac Street do not make sense because the street is much too steep. She said creating a pedestrian path like the Grove Street Greenway in Silver Spring to run from 48th Avenue and the Trolley Trail on Ruatan Street would directly benefit the Berwyn neighborhood, which will be most impacted by the development. Terry Schum said that creating such a path would require too much planning to be feasible at this stage and suggested refreshing the sharrows on Berwyn Road as an alternative to installing sharrows on Pontiac Street. She said the currently proposed improvements would not reach the required spending threshold by the developer. Councilmember Whitney also asked about planters on the rooftop to make the view more palatable to residents, and Mr. Tedesco said that feature would appear in the DSP.
Mayor Wojahn emphasized the need to meet criteria for the revitalization tax credit (the developer is seeking) and affordability.
Mr. Bruce Marcus, the lawyer representing the owners of the Best Western Hotel located just south of the project, mentioned the complications posed by building on the small, .54 acre site. He expressed concerns about the proximity of the Best Western to the construction and the potential effects on on-going business. Mr. Marcus asked for proposed restrictions on staging and the time of construction and asked for adequate conditions to reduce impact on his client’s business. He specifically asked the City to consider ways to ensure the construction does not negatively impact the neighboring properties, including residents. He endorsed the restrictions on staging and construction.
Councilmember Whitney said she hoped that we achieved affordable graduate student housing and said she shared the concerns around staging and construction.
22-G-104 Consideration of FY 22 Annual Program for Program Open Space allocation – Terry Schum, Director of Planning introduced and led the discussion.
Background and Justification by City staff:
“The City of College Park allocation of Program Open Space (POS) funding for FY 2023 is $452,571.34. According to current POS guidelines, a minimum of 50% of these funds must be used for acquisition projects and a maximum of 50% can be used for development projects. Program Open Space requires a 25% cash match for development projects and no required match for acquisition projects. An Annual Program must be submitted and accepted by the Parks and Recreation Department of the M-NCPPC prior to applying to the State Board of Public Works to encumber funds for specific projects. The Annual Program is due June 24, 2022.
Staff is proposing that 50% of the City’s FY 2023 allocation of $452,571.34 be used for acquisition and 50% for development.”
Ms. Schum explained that the proposal would allow for funds to be saved in a designated area and reiterated that funding would need to be used for open space.
City Manager Kenny Young indicated that we have two projects in place now. We have the ability to come back if necessary.
Councilmember Whitney asked about 5100 Roanoke Place. Ms. Schum indicated that the funds can be used for development (landscaping, benches, etc..). The Mayor indicated that there are other ways in which projects can be funded. The allocation of funds for development and acquisition allows for flexibility. The Council voted unanimously to move forward with staff’s recommendation to allocate half of the funds for acquisition and half for development.
Discussion Items
A. Amendment to DSP-17003/03, 4417 Hartwick Road (formerly Applebee’s) for LittleBlue Menu – Terry Schum, Director of Planning
Ms. Schum shared that the application for Little Blue Menu came up as an amendment to the Detailed Site Plan (DSP) for the Aster development (formerly known as Southern Gateway). The establishment would include Chick-Fil-A and other eateries. Based upon information provided, patrons would be able to walk up or drive up to pick up food, but the focus of the business would be food delivery through a dedicated fleet of Little Blue Menu vehicles and established food delivery apps such as GrubHub and UberEats.
Councilmember Esters asked what would distinguish this type of restaurant from a drive-thru. Ms. Schum indicated that she didn’t have a good answer for that. Her department posed that question to the County, which indicated it would not be a drive-thru without providing a satisfactory explanation. Councilmember Esters expressed concerns about the traffic such an establishment might generate and asked about the possibility of the traffic study being done. Ms. Schum said it was not required since this was being moved through as a “minor amendment.” She said staff normally would not bring a minor amendment before Council but they see this case as a change in use at the site. She said staff’s main concern is the site is in a walkable node of downtown College Park in which drive-thru restaurants are prohibited. She said the proposal ignores the whole point of the sector plan, which calls for this area to be pedestrian-oriented.
Councilmember Riggs asked about volume, and Mr. Dan Lynch, attorney for Chick-Fil-A and Mr. Brent Edmiston, representative for Chick-Fil-A, said they did not have that information. They said it was a new concept.
Councilmember Adams said he reached out to Little Blue Menu in Nashville. Mr. Edmiston said that they did not have data about volume and added they normally maintain confidentiality. Councilmember Adams expressed his disappointment in not being provided the numbers, given his certainty that the decision to develop such an establishment in College Park was guided by data.
Councilmember Adams asked if an alternative location could be considered. He highly encouraged community-focused consideration. He asked about the lease terms and Mr. Edmiston said their terms are normally 20-30 years.
Mayor Wojahn expressed concern that what is being proposed does not included what the City has been working to develop – a sense of place and engagement. What is being proposed is a food distribution center. The Mayor encouraged the consideration of other locations or other concepts like a food hall similar to what is being done in Riverdale Station.
Councilmember Whitney asked that any letters written to express concerns about the proposed project be sent to Peter Shapiro, Chair of the Prince George’s Planning Board, who understands the City of College Park.
B. Strategic Plan Update – Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager
The discussion of this topic was introduced and led my Assistant City Manager Bill Gardiner. Given the time, members of Council shared thoughts about specific Objectives and Key Results (OKRs):
OKR#5 Plan and facilitate strategic economic development and smart growth to support a variety of businesses that can thrive and serve the diverse needs of our community.
Councilmember Adams asked that three-year leases be offered and encouraged, especially for small businesses.
Mayor Wojahn suggested working with local business to identify new sites.
Councilmember Mackie suggested that we encourage affordable eats for students within the City.
Councilmember Riggs asked if we had a way of understanding businesses by type. Mr. Gardiner is not aware of the last time we took inventory of businesses.
Councilmember Whitney indicated that we would need to be creative. She said it is a shame that we have a problematic business with a 20 to 30-year lease in a spot where we could house a small business that the community loves that’s having difficulty finding a space. She suggested the City identify flex space that could temporarily house businesses that have been displaced by development and that we facilitate shared spaces for businesses that need them.
OKR#9 Advocate for improving the quality of education and learning opportunities for our residents and
community’s future.
Councilmember Mackie expressed her appreciation for the work of staff.
Councilmember Riggs expressed his interest in emphasizing the importance of parent participation in PTA/PTO.
OKR#7 Expand and promote native transportation approaches to build a more interconnected and accessible City for all.
The Mayor stressed the need to discuss connectivity.
OKR#6 Inspire and nurture a welcoming and inclusive community that encourages and embodies engagement, collaboration, and equity throughout our City.
Councilmember Mitchell expressed a desire for the City to seek grants to increase the diversity of engagement for both community events and volunteers.
General Comments from the Audience
Ms. Macknis, College Park Resident, expressed concern about bicyclists traveling and not taking others into consideration. She believes Mayor and Council should provide some education and literature, especially for the youngsters, about the responsibilities of cyclists.
Meeting Adjourned
Click here to see the meeting agenda for June 21, 2022
Click here to view video of the Mayor and Council regular meeting held on June 21, 2022 once it’s been posted.
Here’s the agenda for the Mayor and Council Informational Meeting on Small Cell Antenna (aka 5G) Installation in City Rights-of-Way scheduled for June 28, 2022
Click here to access see the Mayor and Council Meeting agenda scheduled for July 5, 2022 when it is made available.
The College Park District 2 Digest 