MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Amendments to County Ten-Year Water and Sewer Plan
December 2001 Cycle of Amendments

DATE: 2/28/02

I. Background

The Prince George's County Water and Sewer Plan categories represent different planning levels for the provision of public water and sewer service. The County has been using water and sewer categories, also known as "service areas" and "system areas", since the adoption of the first Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan in 1977. The process of changing categories allows public water and sewer service to be staged according to development proposals and supports high quality development by the landowner consistent with County policies.

The policy of linking water and sewer categories to stages of the development process assures that the water and sewer systems will expand appropriately to reach new development as it comes on line. Conversely, this system assures that when new developments are built, adequate water and sewer service will be available. The Water and Sewer Plan categories and their respective criteria, which were revised in the 2001 Water and Sewer Plan, are shown on Attachment #1.

Prince George's County has developed special policies to govern water and sewer planning in a manner consistent with the County's goals for development review. The policies governing changes to a designated category must take into account environmental factors, economic concerns, planning requirements, regulatory policies, engineering constraints, and public health concerns (see Attachment #2). An application may be rejected if these policies and criteria are not met, unless a hardship in meeting the policies and criteria is demonstrated by the applicant.

The City mailed notices to all residents living within 500 feet of the subject properties and posted each property with public notice signage. The County Council's public hearing for this amendment cycle has been tentatively scheduled for early April.

II. Proposals

Seven (7) requests for category changes in the County Ten-Year Water and Sewer Plan have been made in the Bowie area in the current (December 2001) cycle (see Attachments #3-#9). The applicant for one of the seven requests (Correctional Officers Union Hall) deferred the request to the next cycle. Another application for this cycle, submitted for the Weston planned retirement community (Nash Property) was withdrawn.

III, Analysis

A) Water and Sewer Plan Amendment #01/W-08
Correctional Officers' Union Hall
Proposal: Club house facility with an office area of 1,500 square feet and union hall facility of 13,500 square feet
10 acres/zoned R-A (Residential Agriculture)
Located on the east side of Church Road, approximately 4,000 feet south of MD 214 (Central Avenue)
Petitioner: Prince George's Correctional Officers' Association
Request: 5 to 4

Withdrawn by the applicant for this cycle.

The City reviewed the Special Exception application on 2/4/02 and voted to recommend denial of the application. The Special Exception application is now under review by the County; MNCPPC staff has also recommended denial.

Recommendation (#01/W-08): N/A. Application has been withdrawn.

B) Water and Sewer Plan Amendment #01/W-13
McCall Property
Proposal: No written proposal
3.10 acres/zoned R-R (Rural Residential)
Located at 12941 Fletchertown Road
Petitioner: Benjamin and Mary McCall
Request: W5 to W3

The criteria for approval of Category W3 are not met for this application. Because of this, and the need to resolve access and questions regarding utility extensions to the property, staff recommends retention of the subject property in Category W5.

Recommendation (#01/W-13): Retain in Category W5

C) Water and Sewer Plan Amendment #01/W-14
Huntington City, Blocks 33-36
Proposal: 24 single-family detached homes
11.30 acres/zoned R-R (Rural Residential)
Located east of Myrtle Avenue between Third and Sixth Street
Petitioner: DDV Developers, LLC
Request: 5 to 4

The proposed development is consistent with the Master Plan and zoning regulations. In addition, the proposal is consistent with the Biennial Growth Plan contiguity policy within the Developing Tier. The subject property also falls within the sewer envelope as depicted on the current Water and Sewer Plan. Water lines abut the property; however, a 2,100 foot sewer extension is required to serve the property. Approval of the category change will enable the developer and WSSC to continue planning and designing the necessary extensions.

Recommendation (#01/W-14): Category 4

D) Water and Sewer Plan Amendment #01/W-15
Engleman Property
Proposal: 90 single-family detached homes
45.66 acres/zoned R-R (Rural Residential)
Located on the south side of Race Track Road at its intersection with Jericho Park Road
Petitioner: Cherrywood Development, LLC
Request: 5 to 4

Water and sewer utilities abut the property. The property is located within the sewer envelope and is designated for single-family residential development in the Bowie-Collington-Mitchellville and Vicinity Area Master Plan. The proposal would also conform with existing R-R zoning. The density of the proposed project dictates that it be developed on public water and sewer.

Recommendation (#01/W-15): Category 4

E) Water and Sewer Plan Amendment #01/W-16
Woodmore at Oak Creek
Proposal: 57 single-family detached homes
123.47 acres/zoned R-A (Residential Agriculture)
Located on the east side of Church Road, south of MD 214 (Central Avenue)
Petitioner: Washington Management & Development Co. Inc.
Request: 5 to 4

The proposed development is consistent with the density recommendations of the Bowie-Collington-Mitchellville and Vicinity Area Master Plan. Water service abuts the property. However, a 4,000 foot sewer line extension would be needed to serve the property. Service is also dependent on a 5,400 foot CIP-sized sewer proposed for the Oak Creek Club project which is currently in Category 4. Advancement of the Woodmore at Oak Creek property to Category 4 would enable the developer and WSSC to continue planning and designing facilities to serve the proposed subdivision. The developer has submitted a Preliminary Plan of subdivision using the varying lot size provisions of the subdivision regulations. The development conforms with R-A zoning.

Recommendation (#01/W-16): Category 4

F) Water and Sewer Plan Amendment #01/W-18
Longleaf, Lot 1
Proposal: 8 single-family detached homes
55.32 acres/zoned O-S (Open Space) and R-A (Residential Agriculture)
Located on the north side of Governor Bridge Road, east of Whispering Leaves Lane
Petitioner: NEBF Longleaf Holding Company, Inc.
Request: 3 to 6

The proposal is to develop eight (8) single family detached homes on large lots in the O-S and R-A zones using private well and septic systems. The proposed development would possibly address a housing market need by providing potential sites for custom-built homes. The construction of high-value homes is also a County policy objective. WSSC points out that gravity sewer service is not feasible to this property because of its topographic elevation. The Health Department noted that the property may prove to be a good location for on-site sewage disposal. However, the Department cautions that individual water supply wells in this area have historically shown high iron concentrations. (The City is especially aware of this issue in the Forest Drive and Sherwood Manor communities.) Because a water line extension from the existing subdivision appears to be feasible and the property lies within the proper water service category, public water should be provided to the subject property, in any event, to avoid future problems. The location of the property within a half-mile of the Patuxent River raises some environmental concerns related to septic systems. Percolation testing will need to be conducted. However, because of insufficient amounts of rainfall, this testing has been delayed. Until septic testing can performed and certified as environmentally acceptable by the Health Department, it is recommended that Category 3 be retained for sewer service.

Recommendation (#01/W-18): Retain in Category 3

G) Water and Sewer Plan Amendment #01/W-21
Fairwood
Proposal: Residental and mixed-use planned development
587 acres/zoned M-X-C (Mixed Use Community)
Located on the north side of US Route 50, west of Church Road
Petitioner: Rouse Fairwood Development Limited Partnership
Request: 4 to 3

The proposed site involves the land area known as Phase 2. A Comprehensive Sketch Plan (CSP) was reviewed by the City in November 2001 and recommended for DISAPPROVAL for various reasons, including incompatibility with the adjacent Freeway Airport, lack of woodland and wildlife habitat conservation, and insensitivity to noise, traffic calming and public facilities issues. The Planning Board's approval of the CSP in January was recently appealed to the District Council. In addition to these outstanding issues, no preliminary subdivision plans have been submitted for this portion of the Fairwood property. All subdivision activity to date has occurred in Phase 1, where site development is now underway. Because of the above factors, staff finds the request for redesignation to Category 3 to be premature.

Recommendation (#01-/W-21): Retain in Category 4

IV. Recommendation

It is recommended that the attached letter be sent to the County Council regarding the proposed applications contained in the December, 2001 Water and Sewer Plan amendment cycle.

Attachment #1

Water and Sewer Plan Categories and Approval Criteria

Category Criteria

Category 3 - Community System A) Approved Preliminary Plan or
Comprehensive Design Plan (CDP).
B) Development proposal is consistent with County's development policies and the State Growth Act
C) Adequate capacity exists
D) Projects for necessary system improvements are included in the approved WSSC CIP
E) Approved Stormwater Management Concept Plan and Detailed Site Plan (if applicable)

Category 4 - Community System
Adequate for Development Planning A) Proper Zoning
B) Service is adequate and available to site.
C) The development proposal includes an adequate description

Category 5 - Future Community System A) The proposed development complies with applicable zoning
B) Water and sewer service is ultimately planned for the area
C) Property is in conformance with the
Master Plan

Category 6 - Individual System
No Community Service A) Community service is not planned for the area
B) Rural sanitation and rural water supply requirements apply
C) Property is located outside the sewer
envelope