MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: March 15, 2007
Status Report
1. Williams Plains Historic Site
The City has received notification from the Prince George's County Historic
Preservation Commission that a proposal by Sport Fit to add three tennis
courts in proximity to the Williams Plains Historic Site at Whitemarsh
Park is scheduled for the Commission's March 20th agenda. Enclosed please
find information regarding this submittal. Staff recently received notice
from Sport Fit that they were planning this improvement and that they were
also planning to cover the existing outdoor tennis courts on this property
and to add approximately 42 parking spaces. Planning staff has reviewed
this matter and has no issues with these improvements. The Public Works
Department is currently reviewing this matter for compliance with storm
water management requirements. These improvements are on a portion of the
property that the City leases to Sport Fit. Please let us know if there
are any Council issues concerning these improvements.
2. City Exhibit At ICSC Mid-Atlantic A Success
On March 7, the City led an exhibit team with representatives from Prince
George's County EDC, College Park, and Laurel, at the annual Mid-Atlantic
Idea Exchange at the Washington DC Convention Center. During the one-day
exhibit portion of the event, we gave away 60 copies of our Retail Opportunities
handout, 50 copies of the Development Sites Outline, and 16 copies of our
Restaurant Guide. Attending for the City were Planning Director Joe Meinert,
Planner Beth Chaisson, Economic Development Specialist Karen Gindes, and
Economic Development Director John Henry King.
Our target again this year was grocery stores -- we supported the efforts
of Bowie Plaza and Hilltop Plaza. Several grocery stores talked with us about
Bowie and available locations, and one has begun talks with a center owner.
Additionally, we gathered information on several other retail projects. We
talked with the new owners of Free State Shopping Center (Federal Realty),
and with the
Rappaport Companies about Pointer Ridge and Amber Ridge. A copy of a draft
conceptual site plan for the Mill Branch Crossing project that their leasing
team was showing is in your package.
3. Bond Bill
Mayor Pro Tem Brady, Councilman Conroy, and staff participated in Senate
and House hearings this past Saturday in support of our request for $500,000
for the design of the new City Hall. We probably will not know whether we
are success-ful until the end of the Session. And there is only $10 million
currently allocated for Bond Bills -- the requests total $100 million. The
County Executive issued a written statement in support of our request. A
letter has been written over the Mayor’s signature, thanking the County
Executive for the support.
4. Economic Development Committee (EDC)
The Bowie EDC held their regular monthly meeting on March 14. Mayor Pro Tem
Brady and Councilman Marcos attended. Chairman Ray Skinner announced his
resignation as Chairman due to his new position as Secretary of Housing
and Community Development for the State (he is avoiding the potential appearance
of a conflict of interest as the City has been and is likely to be an applicant
for grants from his department). The EDC nominated Edward Leyden to the
Council for selection as the next chairman.
The Committee heard a report from staff on recent retail marketing efforts
involving the ICSC Mid-Atlantic event.
The EDC decided to continue to plan a business recognition event for late
spring of this year. They expect to have their plans detailed later this
month and are preparing to brief Council on the event at a Council Meeting
in April. Member Lisa Ransom is leading this effort, supported by members
Morelli and Leyden.
They then heard from member Al Baumann about various workforce related hiring
and retention of employees topics that were recently briefed to the Bowie
Chamber.
They concluded with a discussion about the recent business incubator facility
study. The EDC is preparing a statement to make to Council supporting the
creation and implementation of a business incubation program in Bowie. They
expect to review and complete that statement on April 11, 2007, their next
regular meeting.
5. High-End Retail
In your package is an article about attracting high-end retail. The authors
name various stores generally considered to be "high-end" and
then talk about an analysis technique they have devised and "proven" that
shows where these "high-end" retailers are most likely to locate.
The five high-end retailers they studied are Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman
Marcus, Nordstrom, and Saks. They also determined that high-end retailers
are most likely going to locate in areas with household incomes of $150,000
or greater.
Bowie's highest median incomes are within Zip Code 20721 ($116,520) which
says we are not likely to be attractive to one of these high-end retailers.
However, we are home to a Macy's.
This material was provided to the Bowie EDC at their March 14 meeting.
6. Race Track Road Traffic Signal
On Friday, March 9th, staff met with representatives of Councilwoman Ingrid
Turner, Cornerstone Assembly of God Church, and Prince George's County
Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPW&T) to discuss the
status of the traffic signal system at Idlewild Drive/Marquette Lane. Staff
learned that the church is anticipating receiving a use and occupancy permit
for their 50,000 square foot addition from the County around the end of
March. A related condition of the County Planning Board's September 2004
approval of the Detailed Site Plan for the Cornerstone addition (DSP-95042/07)
is that a full traffic signal system shall be installed prior to access
being permitted from the proposed driveway accessing Race Track Road. DPW&T
also previously conditioned the driveway/haul road access permit on the
traffic signal installation. According to the County permit, the permanent
internal connection of the parking lot on Cornerstone's property will not
be constructed unless and until the funding is secured for all necessary
road improvements to Race Track Road (including traffic signalization).
Signal design work has been delayed because engineering plans, including
plans for lane modifications north of Idlewild Drive, have not been prepared.
Cornerstone asserts that they have more than paid their fair share toward
the traffic problem, including studying the Race Track Road corridor and
identifying a solution, agreeing to provide off-site improvements between
their driveway entrance and Idlewild Drive, and agreeing to fund a traffic
signal at their driveway when warranted. Since there is currently no other
source of funding, other ways to resolve the impasse were suggested, including
contacting the developer of the unbuilt Beall Crossing subdivision, located
between the funeral home and Cornerstone's driveway to ascertain their
willingness to participate. A follow-up meeting between the Beall Crossing
developer, Cornerstone and Councilwoman Turner was viewed as a key step.
Cornerstone will commence the curb-and-gutter and sidewalk improvements
north of their driveway noted above as soon as possible, but it is likely
that the use and occupancy permit for the addition will be granted by the
County with the site having its only access from MD 450 (unless the signal
issue is resolved).
7. PT-1/Woodmore Highlands Resident Meeting
On Tuesday, March 13th, City Planning staff met with four (4) Woodmore Highlands
residents regarding the PT-1 Trail, proposed in the City Trails Master
Plan within the corridor of the former PT-1 alignment. The meeting was
arranged and attended by Councilman Todd Turner and also included staff
from M-NCPPC's Planning and Parks Departments. The residents provided a
brief history of their efforts to have the parcels in the Woodmore Highlands
community, which comprise the PT-1 corridor, vacated for the purpose of
having this land conveyed to the adjacent property owners, since the District
Council removed the trail from the corridor at the time
the new Bowie and Vicinity Master Plan was approved last year. The M-NCPPC
representatives added that a trail is still proposed within the former
A-44 (ICC) corridor, which runs north/south in this area, and further noted
that similar resident concerns were encountered in other areas of the County
(citing the WB&A Trail) where trails were proposed yet, when constructed,
those residents become users of those trails. M-NCPPC staff also provided
an example of a community requesting the Parks Department to construct
a short trail link to connect their neighborhood with the WB&A Trail.
City staff noted that, although the County had removed the PT-1 trail from
its Master Plan, it remains identified on the City's adopted Trails Master
Plan, since it would provide off-road access from the Church Road corridor
to the City's Dog Park, the Bowie Town Center area and new Northview Elementary
School and facilities. The residents expressed their concern about the
responsibility of the removal of dead trees within the former PT-1 parcels
and questioned who actually owns the parcels. According to the Woodmore
Highlands record plats, the PT-1 parcels were "Dedicated to Public
Use", in anticipation of a public transitway being constructed. It
appears that any public agency, including the City, could claim the right
to use all (or a portion) of the parcels for a public purpose. A specific
trail right-of-way that would be much narrower than the 100-foot width
of the current PT-1 parcels was discussed as a possibility, with the remaining
land being vacated through the subdivision process. The meeting closed
with M-NCPPC and City each offering to continue to research the matter
further. The group will meet again in the next few weeks to continue the
discussion.
8. Prince George's County Public Safety Radio Tower -- Nash Property
As Council is aware, Prince George's County has plans to construct a 330-foot
tower on the Nash property as part of their 700/800 MHZ public safety radio
system. Staff has been informed that an informational meeting will be held
at the Glenn Dale Fire Station, 11900 Glenn Dale Blvd, Glenn Dale Maryland
on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 at 7 p.m. (see attached). When staff became
aware of the location of this meeting, we attempted to have this relocated
to City Hall. However, the County has already provided public notice of
this meeting and felt that they could not change the location. The Nash
property is located outside the jurisdiction of the City, this proposed
tower is not being constructed on City property, and the County by right
has the ability to construct this tower on public property without having
to obtain a variance or special exception. Staff intends to send letters
to all properties within 500 feet of the Nash property informing residents
of this County informational meeting. This is the normal distance notification
requirements the City would use on a land use issue. Staff also intends
to attend this meeting and will report back to City Council any additional
information regarding this project.
9. Mower Acquisition for Church Road Park
The Parks and Grounds Division of the Department of Community Services has
identified a State of Maryland Bid 001B6900707 with Turf Equipment and
Supply Co., Inc. of Jessup, MD to supply a Toro Reelmaster 5410 for $39,232.80
that will be used to cut the Bermuda grass at Church Road Park. As provided
by Section 62 of the City Charter, this will serve as the required seven
(7) day notice of intent to sign a contract to provide this piece of equipment. If Council has no objection,
we will proceed with the purchase.
10. Planning Board Results – Mills Property (Preliminary Plan #4-05148)
Today, the Prince George's County Planning Board voted unanimously to approve
the Preliminary Plan for the Mills property. The subject property includes
approximately 20 acres in the R-R (Rural Residential) and C-M (Commercial Miscellaneous)
zones, located on the west side of US 301, just north of Mitchellville Road.
Council voted to approve the plan, which contains 14 single-family lots and
two (2) commercial parcels, at your February 20th Regular Meeting. The Planning
Board's approval included 26 conditions, which covered all of the City's conditions.
DJD/asf
Attachments