Minutes of Regular Meeting on September 13, 2012

Meeting began at 7:31 pm.  Councilmembers Patrick Wojahn and Fazlul Kabir were present; Mayor Andy Fellows arrived later.  Matt Dernoga (on behalf of P.G. County Councilman Mary Lehman) also attended.

Presentations

Peter Drury presented his plan for a car wash on the property next to the Budget Inn.  The surrounding areas have several small businesses, are zoned I-1, I-2 and CSC, and several have automotive uses by special exception.  Mr. Drury bought the property 6 years ago; since then Washington Gas has built a pressure reduction station on the property, leaving about ½ acre.  This is large enough for a 6 bay car wash.  Mr. Drury envisions this being self-service, no storage, no chemicals, 2 bays would be automatic, 4 bays would be self serve, water to be treated on site; he called it “auto light.”  Access would be through existing roads; there would be two access points.  He is unsure if operation would be 24 hours but is open to suggestions by residents.  There would not be much noise as the vacuums would be quiet models.  He proposes some plantings as screening and decorative fencing, though not chain link.

Kim Schumann presented the idea of a Farmers Market in north College Park.  Two proposed locations would be the Hollywood Shopping Center parking lot, Davis Hall and Duvall Field.  Kim met with the City’s Farmer’s Market Committee to work out ideas.  A survey Kim conducted showed over 60 residents wanted a walkable farmers market in the area.  Peggy Kane, who is a committee member, commented that the person who operates the Farmer’s Market at City Hall buys produce wholesale and resells it; Peggy and Kim would like to see producers only in northern College Park.  She will present the idea to City Council in November and return to NCPCA in December.

A draft preliminary plan for the Greenbelt Sector Plan is available.  John Krouse read from a letter he had written on behalf of himself in which he laid out his concerns about the project; these include density, height, reflected noise, connector road alignment, and drainage.  There are major changes from the 2001 sector plan: less detail or none at all on building design, defers to conceptual site plan (CSP) of details, reflected noise, lighting, road alignment (has been moved to western side), realigned beltway ramps, massing and location of 3700 space parking garage, building height (allows 15-20 stories, would be a wall of buildings along CSX tracks), and previous M-NCPPC approvals would stay in place.  Within ¼ mile there are 100 home in College Park, and 1000 homes within ½ mile; there are no home in Greenbelt in the area.  Patrick Wojahn commented that the document contains contradictions and is confusing; he would like to keep the 12 story limit of the CSP in place for the north core.  There will be a hearing on Oct 2; a shuttle will leave from Davis hall at 4:45.

Announcements and Reports

Patrick Wojahn announced that 9/22 will be car free day; on 9/25 and 9/27 M-NCPPC will hold two forums; there will be a community green team to obtain certification for College Park as a sustainable living city; he is looking for interested residents to take part in the Neighborhood Stabilization and Quality of Life Workgroup that will look at quality of life issues involving rental properties; rent stabilization is on hold while a working group meets to discuss issues; and College Park Day will be on 10/27, 11am-3pm at the College Park Community Center.  Fazlul Kabir announced there will be a kid’s poster contest.  Matt Dernoga announced the County will update its 10-year solid waste plan.

At this time the meeting took a short recess; snacks and beverages were served.

Moved by Larry Bleau/Donna Weene: Approve the minutes of NCPCA July 12 meeting without change; motion passed.

President John Krouse reported the Treasurer position is vacant.  Secretary Larry Bleau reported that he has updated the web site myncpca.org to include the new officers, recent agenda and minutes.  Larry Bleau also reported that, since July, we have spent $28.01 on name tent cards and have $1,434.52 on hand.  There were no other officer reports.

Moved by Mark Shroder/Donna Weene: Authorize the NCPCA president to fill the vacancy by appointment.  Motion passed.  Moved by Mark Shroder/David Turley: Approve John Krouse’s appointment of additional NCPCA directors: Donna Weene, Leslie Booth, and Joe Smith.  Motion passed.

New Business

Moved by Mark Shroder/Leslie Booth: NCPCA does not object in principle to the concept of a car wash.  Motion passed.

Moved by Leslie Booth/Robert Boone: NCPCA send a letter to M-NCPPC highlighting the issues raised earlier about the Preliminary Greenbelt Sector Plan, make NCPCA a party of record, and send a separate letter to City Council, and send a copy of each letter to County Council.  Motion passed.

There are 14 ballot questions – 7 state, 7 county – on the November ballot.  A brief discussion of these was added to the October agenda.

Committee reports: Safety (Donna Weene) reported no meeting in August, the City has taken care of the sidewalks at Attick Towers, the curb has been painted, and the stop bar on Hollywood Dr. near the post office will be repainted.  No other committee reports.

The meeting adjourned at 9:22 pm.

Submitted by Larry Bleau, Secretary.