REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2005

CALL MEETING TO ORDER:

The Regular Meeting of the Bowie City Council was held on Tuesday, October 4, 2005 in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Mayor Robinson called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m.

QUORUM:

In attendance were Mayor Robinson, Councilmembers Aleshire, Booker Jones, Brady Jenkins, Kroemer and Lyles; City Manager Deutsch, Assistant City Manager Fitzwater, City Attorney Elissa Levan, Members of the Staff, the Press and the Public.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG:

The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

AGENDA AMENDMENTS/DELETIONS/ADDITIONS:

A. Mayor Robinson announced that Item B under the Consent Agenda has been removed.

B. Mayor Robinson announced that Item D concerning Resolution R-70-05, Voice System Maintenance Agreement, would be added to the Consent Agenda.

CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:

A. Mr. Arnold Frost, President of Pin Oak Village, said he was speaking in opposition to the reconstruction proposals for Routes 197 and 301. He said the proposals were based on studies that were completed approximately 9 years ago, well before some communities were constructed. He requested a new study be done and that the residents of the Covington area be involved.

B. Ms. Debbie Sell, 2704 Birdseye Lane, spoke about the Homeless Walk-a-thon sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation; in past years the walk organizers have encouraged local communities to host local mini walks; this is the year Bowie is participating in this event. A copy of Ms. Sell’s statement is attached.

C. Mr. Kevin Conroy, 12432 Shawmont Lane, said he wanted to note 3 items: 1) to congratulate citizens, neighbors and City staff for saving the life of a man at the Bowie gym; 2) to thank the IT Department for making the Council meetings streaming video; and 3) to remind all to participate in the City election.

CITY BOARDS AND COMMITTEES:

A. Councilman Brady moved the appointment of Valier Reveyoso and Charlie Johnston as members of the Arts Committee. Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

B. Councilman Lyles moved the appointment of Bonnie Bundy as a member of the Education Committee. Councilman Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

C. Mayor Robinson swore Ms. Reveyoso, Mr. Johnson and Ms. Bundy into office in accordance with Sec. 92A of the City Charter.

COUNCIL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Mayor Robinson expressed appreciation to the Gymnasium staff for their life-saving efforts. City Manager Deutsch said that with Council permission, staff would like to make arrangements to bring the gymnasium staff, as well as the Prince George’s County Fire Department, to a future meeting for recognition. Council concurred.

CITY MANAGER’S REPORT:

City Manager Deutsch reported on the following items: 1) Interconnection of the City’s water system with WSSC to provide a third emergency connection has been an ongoing project on Millstream Drive; it should have been completed several months ago, however, progress is being made and the contractor will begin putting cold patch in certain areas followed by hot mix paving; the entire area should be completed within 3 weeks. 2) Concern has been raised about traffic on Route 197; staff has been in contact with the Rte. 450 project and traffic engineering staff at SHA and asked them to adjust the timing of the signals so that there is more green time for north/south Rte. 197; technicians will come to the site and work with the City to adjust the timing. 3) The second of four police forums will be held on October 5 at City Hall, to be followed on October 11 at the Senior Center and on October 19 at Pointer Ridge Elementary School. 4) Tonight’s Council meeting is being broadcast live via web streaming over the Internet.

CONSENT AGENDA:

A. Councilman Brady moved approval of Consent Agenda Items: A. Approval of Resolution R-68-05, Approving the Vacation of Public Right-of-Way at Melford (Maryland Science and Technology Center) for a Portion of Melford Boulevard and Curie Drive; C. Approval of Proclamation P-17-05, Proclaiming the Month of September as Youth Soccer Month in Bowie; and D. Approval of Resolution R-70-05. Councilman Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

A. Specific Design Plan #0402 - Melford (Maryland Science and Technology Center) - Ms. Cynthia Fenton, summarized the staff report dated September 28, 2005, a copy of which is on file at City Hall. She presented her report by displaying a Power Point presentation, which showed the location of the site, the topography, the surrounding zoning and an aerial photo of the site. She reported that the Bowie Advisory Planning Board recommended approval with conditions as amended; the two amended conditions found on Page 3 and 4 of the Planning Board report have to do with the second entrance feature and signage. Ms. Fenton further reported that the SDP was revised for the construction of a one-story flex building at 4,440 sq. ft. and a 1 two-story office building at 22,000 sq. ft. She then summarized the criteria for approval of a Specific Design Plan and noted that the applicant has met all the criteria. She summarized the architecture and second entrance feature; there is a remaining outstanding issue of the signage for the flex building; staff felt that 15 signage over each entranceway of the flex building detracted from the overall architecture and recommends one pedestal sign which would accommodate all the signage. Ms. Fenton said that applicant is proposing an understated change in the signage, but is still proposing signage above all the doorways; an improvement that is being proposed is to change the color of the sign to match the metal roof as well as changing the color of the bay doors to match the roof materials making them much less obvious. She said staff finds the change in the door treatment to be better than what was previously proposed, but still has a problem with the number of signs being proposed. Ms. Fenton said that the SDP application meets the standards and guidelines contained in the CDP and the City’s Development Review Guidelines; the proposal meets the criteria for SDP approval, however, there are still some outstanding, unresolved issues; staff is, therefore, recommending the City forward a recommendation to the County Planning Board for approval of the SDP application with the 7 conditions as amended.

Mr. Robert Antonetti, Jr., representing the application, said the applicant agrees with essentially all the conditions; the major outstanding condition has to do with signage and since the City Planning Board hearing, they have met with City staff to discuss possible alternatives; they would like an opportunity to discuss some middle ground and would like to have anyone going to the building to be able to see where they are going rather than seeing a directional sign.

Mr. Ron Brasher, architect for the buildings, said the architecture is patterned after the Melford House and feels it is compatible with the surroundings; the flex building has sloped roofs, dormers, keystones over windows which picks up on the historical context of the Melford House.

Mr. Neil Sullivan, planner for this project, spoke about the trails, streetscapes, and in particular the Melford Circle; loading and parking is hidden from the public view.

Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.

Following questions and discussion between Councilmembers and Mr. Antonetti, Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins moved to accept the staff recommendation of approval of Melford #SDP0402 with conditions as amended: Condition #6 - proposed the following language “Signage for the flex building shall be provided for the two free-standing structures incorporating building addresses and tenants”. Ms. Fenton suggested reducing the signage to one freestanding structure. Mr. Antonetti would like the opportunity to be able to present the possibility of overhead signage; would agree to the number of freestanding signs, one being more appropriate. Mr. Jenkins felt the condition should stand as proposed. With regard to Condition #8, he agreed with Councilman Aleshire’s suggestion that rollup door materials shall match roof material in color (green patina); add Condition #9 to read “The replacement of garage door entrances with tinted glass windows is encourage wherever possible”. Councilman Aleshire seconded the motion and it carried with a vote of 6-1 (Kroemer).

B. Limited Detailed Site Plan #05064 - Peach Preserve - Ms. Cynthia Fenton, City Planning staff, summarized the staff report dated September 29, 2005, a copy of which is on file at City Hall. She presented the project on a Power Point display. She noted that the property is located on the west side of Mitchellville Road south of Mt. Oak Road, is 5.75 acres and is zoned R-80. Ms. Fenton reported that the Preliminary Plan was approved in January, 2004 and the conditions of approval required a Limited Detailed Site Plan to review different elements of the site: 1) a possible trail connection abutting the park property and the applicant is showing a proposed trail connection from Preserve Court to the park property; 2) architectural features of the lots fronting on Mitchellville Road and Lot #12 which is specifically in response to a City recommendation; and 3) stormwater management facility aesthetics. Ms. Fenton further reported on the architecture, Landscape Manual compliance, trail connection, and the stormwater management pond. She concluded her report by stating that staff recommends approval subject to the conditions listed on Page 5 of the staff report and the amended conditions as follows: #8 - dwelling units shall be oriented on lots so as to provide for the greatest area of functional rear yard possible; and #9 - no decks or optional living areas shall be permitted in the rear yard of Lot #13 since the rear portion of the unit directly abuts the rear building restriction line. With regard to Condition #2, Ms. Fenton said staff is modifying it to account for the change in lot numbers on the Site Plan from the previous Preliminary Plan because of the loss of one lot; the effected lots would be 1, 2, 11, 12 and 13.

Mr. William Knight, attorney representing the applicant, K & P Builders, said he agreed with the staff recommendation and conditions.

Public Hearing:

Mr. Russ Ideo, 16403 Pointer Ridge Drive, said that the property does not have sufficient access to Mitchellville Road. He asked if there were going to be any improvements to the road. City Manager Deutsch replied that there are no planned improvements for Mitchellville Road in this area; they would have to be imposed as a requirement of the developer by the County Department of Public Works and Transportation.

Following discussions and questions between Councilmembers and staff, Councilman Lyles moved to approve Limited Detailed Site Plan #05064 with the conditions as stated in the staff report, and with a new Condition #10 - that the applicant shall explore the possibility of construction of sidewalks with the County Department of Public Works and Transportation at the times the homes are built and that the appropriate permits and easements be considered for the applicant; a letter be drafted to the County Council representatives and staff with respect to street lights and sidewalks. Councilman Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

C. Prince George’s County Water and Sewer Plan Amendments - Mr. Joe Meinert, City Planning staff, summarized the staff report dated September 28, 2005, a copy of which is on file at City Hall:

1. #04/W-15, Pheasant Ridge - Request change from Category 5 to 4 on 14.87 acres; proposal is for 19 single-family detached dwelling units with a minimum floor area of 3,000 sq. ft. and a minimum sale price of $650,000; the property is located at 13104 Old Fletchertown Road in the R-R zone. Mr. Meinert said that staff is recommending approval of Category 4.

Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.

Councilman Kroemer moved to approve the change from Category 5 to 4. Councilman Aleshire seconded the motion and it carried with a vote of 6-0 (Lyles absent).

2. #05/W-11, Coleman Property - Request change from Category 5 to 4 on three acres; proposal is for two single-family detached dwellings with a minimum floor area of 3,000 sq. ft. and a minimum sale price of $500,000; the property is located on the west side of Heatherstone drive, south of Old Stage Road, in the R-E zone. Mr. Meinert said that staff is recommending approval of Category 4.

Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.

Councilwoman Booker Jones moved to approve the change from Category 5 to 4. Councilman Brady seconded the motion and it carried with a vote of 6-0 (Lyles absent).

3. #05/W-03, Hall Road Village Activity Center - Request change from Category 5 to 4 on approximately 15 acres; proposal is for 120 dwelling units with a minimum floor area of 2,200 sq. ft. and a minimum sale price of $325,000; the property is located on the south side of Hall Road at Maryland Rte. 214 in the L-A-C zone. Mr. Meinert said that staff is recommending approval of Category 4 provided that site contains no more than 29,000 sq. ft. of retail use, all commercial uses are compatible with the library, the design of the library will have the potential to be expanded to 50,000 sq. ft. via a second story addition, and the upper limit of residential development allows not more than 120 dwelling units.

Since there were no persons signed up to speak, Mayor Robinson declared the public hearing to have been held.

Public Hearing:

Mr. Russ Ideo, 16403 Pointer Ridge Drive, President of the Citizens Association of South Bowie, said that he agreed with the staff recommendation with the exception that the language “possible expansion of the 25,000 sq. ft. to a 50,000 sq. ft. library” be changed to “the library will be expanded to 50,000 sq. ft. at the time of construction”.

Mr. Richard Schroeder, 4 Port Echo Lane, agreed with the expansion of the library to 50,000 and felt it should be the position of the City.

Councilman Lyles moved to approve the change from Category 5 to 4 to include that the suggested language that the library will be 50,000 via a second story addition. Councilman Brady seconded the motion and it carried unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT:

Mayor Pro Tem Jenkins moved to adjourn the meeting. Councilwoman Booker Jones seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:40 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Pamela A. Fleming, CMC
City Clerk