Weekly Status Report

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report            

DATE:  April 2, 2009

Status Report

1.  Hilltop Plaza Rezoning Request

The City has received the rezoning referral for Hilltop Plaza and the adjacent property to the north (A-10016).  The applicant, Hannah Storch, is requesting a rezoning of a total of 16.7 acres from C-S-C (Commercial Shopping Center) and R-R (Rural Residential) to M-X-T (Mixed Use-Transportation Oriented).  The C-S-C portion of the site (11.77 acres) is the present location of Hilltop Plaza, which is currently undergoing redevelopment; the remaining 4.93 acres are zoned R-R and are improved with a parking lot.  The 2006 Bowie and Vicinity Master Plan and Sectional Map Amendment recommended mixed-use zoning for Hilltop Plaza to include a residential component.  The applicant proposes to construct 49 residential condominium units in the present R-R zoned portion of the site.  No City or County public hearing dates have been determined at this point. Staff will keep the Council informed of the scheduling of any City meetings involving this project.

2.  South Bowie Community Center

Council Member Ingrid Turner’s office has notified us that a “soft opening” of the renovated Community Center is scheduled for April 6.  An Open House is scheduled for Saturday, May 16th, beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Events for the day will include recreation and class demonstrations, arts and crafts, and refreshments, but there will be no formal program or speeches.

3.  Radio Purchase

The Police Department is obtaining a vendor for the purchase of new police radios that are compatible with the County’s forthcoming 800/700 MHz system.  Radio equipment will include 50 mobile radios at $4,861 each, 50 portable radios at $4,726 each, and a multi-unit charger at $607.  Total cost of the purchase is $479,957. The City received a federal grant of $477,000 to assist in the equipment purchase.  The purchase is available via an existing Prince George’s County contract with Motorola.  Additionally, Motorola is a sole source vendor for the radio.

As provided by Section 62 of the City Charter, this will serve as the required seven (7) day notice of intent to issue a purchase order in the amount of $479,957 to Motorola. 

4. Public Art at New City Hall

The City’s Arts Committee is working with Grimm + Parker architects on the public art components of the new City Hall building.  As part of this process, the City will be issuing a Call to Artists requesting proposals for a mobile to hang in the lobby area and a sundial that will be in the front circle of the building.  Other galleries and exhibition areas are included in the building design for displaying resident paintings, photographs and sculpture.  Staff will keep Council apprised of progress. 

5.  Safeway Gas Pumps at Bowie Marketplace (SE 4642)

This week, the City received the official referral from M-NCPPC of Special Exception #SE-4642, which proposes a gas station in the C-S-C (Commercial Shopping Center) zone at Bowie Marketplace.  Although several pre-application meetings have already been held with the community, staff will be scheduling a Stakeholders Meeting within the next month to let everyone know the case has been accepted and is now moving through the review process.  As soon as a City hearing schedule has been formulated, we will apprise Council of the dates.

6.  Planning Board Hearing on City Hall Project

The Prince George’s County Planning Board reviewed the Specific Design Plan at its regularly scheduled meeting earlier today.  Staff and Ms. Melanie Hennigan from Grimm + Parker presented various elements of the project to the Planning Board after an overview was provided by a M-NCPPC staff member.  Planning Board Member Jesse Clark spoke in an extremely complimentary fashion regarding not only the project which he termed fabulous, majestic and grand, but he also noted that Bowie is one of the most well-kept cities that he has ever seen.  Planning Board Chairman Parker stated that the City has set a high standard for other developments and he spoke highly of the project in terms of its integration into the site.  Chairman Parker continued by applauding the progressive nature of the design, one which he said was also sensitive in its fit with the environment.  Following motion for approval of the staff report by Board Member Squire and a second by Board Member Clark, the Planning Board voted unanimously to approve the project and endorsed the M-NCPPC staff report. The City staff had indicated its concurrence with the conditions contained in the staff report.  The SDP report is attached for your review.

7.  Parks and Recreation:  2010 and Beyond

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s (M-NCPPC) Parks and Recreation: 2010 and Beyond project is designed to identify the need for parks, open space, trails, recreation programs and leisure services in Prince George’s County.  The M-NCPPC is holding “Community Engagement and Visioning” meetings during the month of April throughout the County.  Staff attended the meeting held at the Bowie Community Center on Wednesday, April 1.  This meeting was designed to gather information from the community in an attempt to develop a shared Recreation and Parks vision for the future.  Although held in Bowie, the meeting was open to all.  Approximately 20 individuals were in attendance including Mayor Pro Tem Turner, Community Recreation Committee member Charlie Jacobs, and City staff.  A copy of the PowerPoint presentation from the meeting will be sent to Council via email.  Additional information can be found at www.2010beyond.com (Select: News and Meetings).

DJD/asf