Weekly Status Report - 9/24/09

MEMORANDUM

TO:               City Council

FROM:         David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT:  Status Report

DATE:        September 24, 2009

Status Report

1.  Election 2009
As of today, the following have filed:  Mayor – Mayor Robinson, Mr. Samuel Graham; At-Large – Councilmember Brady, Councilmember Valentino-Smith, Mr. Anthony Kennedy; District 1 – Councilmember Marcos; District 2 – Councilmember Polangin, Mr. Piero “Pete” Mellits; District 3 – Councilmember Turner; District 4 – Councilmember Trouth. 

2.  Development Update
Staff has received information regarding two (2) development projects located near the City.  First, Manor Care has filed a Detailed Site Plan for a two-story, 58,000 square foot, 120-bed skilled nursing facility at Fairwood.  The 6.8 acre development site, zoned M-X-C (Mixed Use Community), is located within the Community Use portion of the Fairwood project, on Fairwood Parkway just west of the PEPCO power lines.  The proposal is consistent with the Fairwood development plan and is not impacted by any of the principal aircraft overflight zoning regulations associated with Freeway Airport.  A County Planning Board hearing is anticipated later this fall.  Second, the Beall Funeral Home (Zizos Properties, LLC applicant), located on MD Route 3 southbound, is proposing a revision to the previously-granted funeral home Special Exception (SE-4283) approved in 1998. Under the currently-proposed Special Exception (SE-4662), the applicant seeks to add a 5,100 sq. ft. chapel and a 3,560 sq. ft. crematory to the existing 10,256 sq. ft. funeral home, and a 1,680 sq. ft. detached garage in the rear of the property.  The site, which is not located within the City, contains 4.7 acres and is zoned R-E (Residential Estate), where funeral homes are permitted as a Special Exception.  A Type-II Tree Conservation Plan (TCP-II/8/98) and Stormwater Management Concept Plan have been approved for the site in conjunction with the proposed improvements.  The applicant has also submitted a Departure from Parking and Loading Standards (DPLS) from the number of required on-site parking spaces (165 spaces required; 117 spaces
proposed, resulting in a Departure request of 48 spaces).  No Planning Board or Zoning Hearing Examiner (ZHE) dates have been set at this point.  No issues are foreseen with either of these projects; staff will continue to monitor them as they move through the development review process.

 3.  Rescheduling of Master Plan of Transportation Hearing
The District Council and County Planning Board have rescheduled their Joint Public Hearing on amendments to the Adopted Countywide Master Plan of Transportation (CR-54-2009) from September 29, 2009 to October 14, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. at the County Administration Building in Upper Marlboro.  The reason for the change is that M-NCPPC staff did not meet the Zoning Ordinance minimum requirement of posting notice at least 15 days advance notice of the hearing in a newspaper of general circulation in the County.

4.  City Hall Project Permit Status
The Prince George’s County Grading Permit and the Maryland Department of the Environment NPDES Discharge Permit have been issued that will allow Manekin to start work on this project following the groundbreaking ceremony on September 30th.  The Prince George’s County Building Permit has been approved, but in order to consolidate the Building Permit and Grading Permit, an additional administrative process must occur.  We anticipate that this will take several additional weeks, but will not have an impact on the overall project. The contract between the City and Manekin calls for the project to be completed in 458 days after the date of commencement.   

5.  BGE Tree Trimming Along Route 197
This staff memo requested by City Council provides maintenance cost and fence replacement costs associated with the BGE work that is proposed along the western side of Route 197 from old Route 450 to just south of Lerner Lane adjacent to the Long Ridge community.  BGE has requested the go ahead from the City to do this tree work because it is impacting the construction work that is being done in Long Ridge.  Staff is suggesting that the City allow BGE to do the proposed work in this area, determine what the impact will be, and then consider some of the options for maintenance in this area.  Staff needs direction from City Council prior to authorizing BGE to proceed with this work.  We are adding this to your October 5th City Council Agenda for your consideration. 

6.  Housing Assistance Programs
Information concerning the Bowie Mortgage Assistance Open House scheduled for October 7th

Attachments