MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: Status Report/Council Poll

DATE: March 20, 2008

Status Report

1. Melford Retail - Detailed Site Plan #07072 (AKA SDP#0401/01)

On Thursday, March 13th, the County Planning Board held a public hearing on Detailed Site Plan (DSP) #07072 to build three (3) one-story/8,125 square foot retail buildings along Melford Boulevard in addition to the previously approved 150,000 square foot office building. The 12-acre site is zoned M-X-T (Mixed Use Transportation Oriented) and is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Science Drive and Melford Boulevard in the Melford development.

The County Planning Board unanimously voted to recommend approval of the project with conditions that included most of the conditions recommended by the City. Mr. Bruce Pletsch, representing the Sherwood Manor Civic Association, spoke in support of the County staff’s recommended condition to have the applicant utilize pervious pavement to reduce impervious surface area. The Planning Board questioned City staff about whether it was reasonable to defer the construction of 100 parking spaces when the applicant had given testimony that there was a need for additional parking spaces. Staff relayed to the Board that deferring the construction of 100 parking spaces was one of the City’s solutions to minimizing impervious surface area as required by the approved CSP #06002 regulating the development of the project. Staff stated that another solution the Council recommended was to have the applicant consider constructing a Green Building including such features as a green roof. This condition was included in the County’s staff recommendations as follows: “The applicant shall consider utilizing ‘green’ building construction techniques and attempt to fulfill at least the basic standard for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.”

2. Economic Development Committee (EDC)

The EDC met Tuesday and discussed a business recognition event for May 2008. The event has several pieces. First, Council will be asked to issue a proclamation in late April declaring May 2008 to be Business Appreciation Month in Bowie. A joint team from the Greater Bowie Chamber, the EDC, and City staff will solicit award nominations for four categories; further details will be provided to Council in another Status Report. Then, on May 2, an awards luncheon will be held at the Belair Mansion; Maryland Comptroller Peter Franchot is the invited guest speaker.

The members present also discussed the results of the TEDCO incubator impact study. The pros and cons of the City establishing its own business incubator were talked about, and the members present asked Vice Chairman Alan Coppola to draft a letter that will be circulated to all of the EDC members for comment. A Special Meeting was called by the Chairman for Tuesday, March 25th at 4:00 p.m. to discuss and act upon the draft letter.

The meeting concluded with a discussion of the meeting's lack of quorum to conduct business. The members present expressed strong concern over declining participation and attendance. Only four of ten members were present for the meeting.

3. Bowie Business Recognition Event

The City of Bowie, in partnership with the Greater Bowie Chamber of Commerce, will recognize several businesses with awards at a luncheon ceremony scheduled for Friday, May 2, 2008 at the Belair Mansion.

A coordinating team with one representative each from City staff, the City's EDC, and the Chamber, are ready to receive nominations for possible awardees in each of these four categories:

Small Business of the Year -- This award is for a small business that has demonstrated the qualities that make for a prosperous and growing organization in Bowie.

Business of the Year – This award is for a Bowie company that has demonstrated high-level accomplishments that are a benchmark for other businesses that include financial success, visible community involvement, professional employee work environment, and will excel in customer satisfaction, strategic planning, and business development.

Entrepreneur of the Year – This award is for the Bowie business entrepreneur who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and tenacity in managing all facets of business to include growth in profit and employee numbers coupled with such factors as degree of innovation, development of a creative and ingenious product or service, exceptional selling techniques, and extent of expansion into local markets.

Community Service Award – This award is for the Bowie or vicinity business that has demonstrated throughout the year a strong record of involvement in the Bowie community.

The coordinating team is now accepting nominations; they can be submitted via e-mail to Kelly Pierce (kelly@bowiechamber.org) at the Bowie Chamber or John Henry King (jhking@cityofbowie.org) at the City of Bowie. The deadline for nominations is Monday, April 14.

Attachments