MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager
SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll
DATE: March 29, 2007
Status Report
1. Hall Road Library Negotiations
Late last week, staff learned that negotiations between Cenhall, LLC and
Prince George's County regarding a public library site on Hall Road had
taken a turn for the worse. According to Council Member Ingrid Turner's
office, the developer offered the site to the County for $3.8 million,
but the high price was deemed unacceptable by the County. Council Member
Turner tasked County staff with identifying alternate properties owned
by the County that might be used as replacement sites for the library.
The Zoning Hearing Examiner (ZHE) is scheduled to conduct a hearing on
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in order to receive cost information relating to
the library construction, which pertains to the pending request to amend
the language of rezoning Condition #5. Condition #5 of A-9838-C currently
states, in part: "5. Construction of the library shall proceed concurrently
with construction of the first phase of the project..." The developer
requested substitute wording for Condition #5 so that the remainder of
the project is not held hostage to the library negotiations with the County
Executive. The ZHE previously recommended approval of reworded Condition
#5. Subsequent to the April 17 ZHE meeting, the case will come before the
District Council for final resolution.
2. City Green Infrastructure Action Strategy Plan
This week, Planning staff convened the first meeting of the Steering Committee
working with the City to create a Green Infrastructure Action Strategy
Plan. The Steering Committee, which includes residents Gary Allen, Jeff
Bell, Ed Stone, Mike Bottega and Jacob Abeyta, will be helping staff create
and refine objectives and recommendations of the City's inaugural Action
Strategy Plan. The City received a grant from the Maryland Department of
Natural Resources for this project, which will also make use of data collected
in the two (2) Watershed Restoration Action Strategy (WRAS) studies previously
prepared for the Bowie area by the State. In February, Council authorized
award of a consulting contract to Environmental Resources Management, Inc.
of Annapolis to assist City staff in this effort. The current work schedule
involves the majority of work being done over the next few months, with numerous Steering Committee meetings scheduled for May-June,
a public forum (tentatively scheduled for June 9) and a City Council Worksession
on July 2, 2007. The project will yield specific action-oriented recommendations
for environmental conservation projects, programmatic changes, and pollution
prevention/educational outreach that will build on the policy recommendations
contained in the City's approved 2003 Green Infrastructure Strategy Plan.
3. Nash Property Tower
Staff attended a Prince George’s County informational meeting on March
28th on the public safety communication tower proposed for the Nash property.
This tower is one of 21 towers being constructed by Prince George’s
County and the State of Maryland in Prince George’s County, that will
allow for compatibility with other jurisdictions in the Metropolitan Washington
area concerning public safety and emergency communication services. This
compatibility does not currently exist. Approximately eight residents and
twelve representatives from the County, the State of Maryland, M-NCPPC and
technical consultants attended. County Council Member Ingrid Turner also
attended. State Delegate Gerron Levi attended for a portion of the meeting.
Attached is information handed
out at the meeting regarding this project.
Also, attached are site illustration plans showing the proposed location
of the tower on this property. The State of Maryland rather than Prince George’s
County will actually be constructing this tower. Access to the tower will
be off of the old entrance to this property off of Route 3. Construction
vehicles will access the property in this fashion. One resident raised the
issue that access and egress onto Route 3 can sometimes be dangerous. The
existing gravel road on site will be used to get to the tower site on the
property. No trees will be removed to construct this tower. The tower will
be located near where the old house on this property was located. M-NCPPC
is the owner of the Nash property. The County and the State will work with
Commission staff to meet all environmental requirements. This includes an
investigation regarding any endangered plant species on site.
In response to a citizen question, it was communicated that this equipment will not interfere with television, cable television, Direct TV, Dish Networks or Wifi trans-missions. Residents also inquired about the process that the County and the State went through to choose this site over other locations. County staff indicated that they looked at publicly owned sites where the tower would not adversely impact any future uses. Some residents felt like the notification concerning the informational meeting could have been more widely communicated. Prince George’s County advertised in the three County newspapers of record that included The Bowie Star, but not The Bowie Blade-News. The Bowie Blade did have an item in the “Bowie Briefs” section of the newspaper regarding this meeting. City staff sent notices to 141 property owners that live within 500 feet of this property to supplement the County’s communication effort.
The technological aspects of the tower are designed to be operational until at least 2021 with an upgrade to 2026 possible. Residents inquired about whether any adverse health impacts would occur as a result of this tower. It was indicated that none would occur. One of the handouts provided additional resource information regarding this issue. Lighting for the tower will use sensitive, red, non-intrusive lighting. Strobe lights will only be used during daylight hours. An example of a tower of similar height to the proposed Nash property tower of 330’, is the 340’ State Police Tower located at Route 1 and the Beltway. The County has been working on the engineering of this project for two years. This involved designing the 21-tower system that will serve Prince George’s County. The Nash property site meets all zoning, setback and height requirements; has received approval from the FAA; has received approval from SHA for access off of Route 3; and a historic site preservation review is also being conducted. Environmental approval is still pending. It is anticipated that building permits will be applied for in May or June of this year, with construction anticipated for August or September of this year.
Should power outages occur, the site will be equipped with two generators (one for the County and one for the State) located in enclosed structures of 12’x 34’ and 12’ x 38’. Overall, the site will consist of an 80’ x 80’ area. The tower is designed to withstand significant winds. No additional transmission lines will need to be brought onto the property, although a transformer will be added. The M-NCPPC indicated that they have no future plans for this property and their intent is to keep this property as open space and preserve the tree buffer on this site. One resident asked about the impact on property values as a result of this construction. The County responded that there have been no indications that the construction of these towers has any adverse impact on property values.
4. Jericho Park Tower
At the meeting on the Nash property tower, staff was informed by the County
that the height of the tower on City property previously approved by City
Council at the Jericho Park has been reduced from 330’ to 286’,
as a result of comments from the FAA.
5. Removal/Disposal of Tree Debris
Following the February 14, 2007 ice storm, tree debris was collected and
stored at the lower yard of the Public Works facility.
On June 2, 2006, Anne Arundel County awarded a contract to McKnew Chipping, Inc. for shredding and mulching services (contract #06-018), which meets the City’s needs. The price for shredding, mulching and disposal is $11.95 per cubic yard. The estimated measured volume of storm debris is 5,000+ cubic yards. The Public Works Department recommends that we “piggyback” on the Anne Arundel County contract for shredding, mulching and disposal services by McKnew Chipping, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $60,000.
As provided by Section 62 of the City Charter, this will serve as the required seven (7) day notice of intent to enter into a contract with McKnew Chipping, Inc. for the shredding, mulching and disposal of storm debris in an amount not to exceed $60,000. This work is to be accomplished prior to May 15, 2007.
DJD/JLF/asf
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