Dear Neighbors (especially District 9 neighbors),

You may now realize that I don't email often, but when I do it's substantive and important.  (You will be hearing more from me in the future - see signature block below).

There will be an important joint public hearing with the Prince George's County Planning Board and the Prince George's County District Council, which is the County Council hearing zoning matters.  The hearing is:

Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. at the County Administrative Building, 1st Floor Hearing Room

The hearing involves CR-62-2017, a resolution introduced by Councilman Franklin and affecting District 9.  The purpose of the resolution was to address a 106-page court decision regarding several zoning cases in District 9, specifically the Subregion 5 Master Plan and Sectional Map Amendment.  

The resolution is couched as "minor" amendments, but the proposed zoning changes are nothing but minor.  Indeed, it seeks to totally rezone some areas of District 9, including rural/agricultural land to mixed use development, which can include commercial, apartments, townhomes and other higher density development.  Initially envisioned for Metro/transit areas, mixed use zoning is taxed at a higher property rate than regular residential zoning and rural/agricultural zoning.  As a proposed minor amendment, the mixed use zoning would be done without additional traffic and other infrastructure analysis.  A few of the areas considered for amendment include: Woodyard Road @ Brandywine Road, already a bottleneck; Route 301 @ Accokeek and Floral Park Roads in Brandywine; and Route 210 in Accokeek.

To view the resolution, the proposed boundary map and to register to speak at the hearing, please use this link:  CR-62-2017.

I titled this email as Shenanigans because the Court spent over 75+ pages chastising the District Council and planning staff for improper notice and other ethical violations.  The official notice from MNCPPC is dated Friday, September 1, 2017, the Friday before the Labor Day holiday, and requires parties to submit an Affidavit to "support or request amendment to the proposed growth boundary or amend the zoning classification" prior to close of business on September 8, 2017.  Well, due to the holiday and snail mail, I received MNCPPC letter on September 9, 2017 (after the deadline)!   See attached:  MNCPPC Hearing Notice.  If the Planning Board and District Council were sincere in wanting to hear our opinion, the deadline should have been longer!! We should still register to speak and attend the hearing on October 10th however.

 

Please call or write Councilman Franklin, and the Planning Board and ask them to:

1. Extend the deadline to submit Affidavits or reschedule the hearing with proper and advanced filing notice.

2. Rescind any zoning proposal in CR-62-2017 that is inconsistent with 2035 General Growth Plan and Section 27-642 regarding Minor Amendment rules.

Neighbors, please hold the District Council and Planning Board accountable. I hope to see you all on October 10th!

 

Staying engaged and keeping you informed and educated,