Minutes of Regular Meeting on March 12, 2015

Meeting began at 7:32 pm.  Councilmember Fazlul Kabir was present.

Presentations

Branchville Gardens

Cruz Development gave a presentation on a preliminary proposal to build a small, 96 unit apartment building on the 2 acres triangular property south of University Blvd., north of Branchville Rd., east of 48th Pl., and west of Rhode Island Ave.; this would be northwest of the Branchville Volunteer Fire Dept. This would be workforce housing, with target income range of $38,000-$64,000.  It would be 7 stories, with 53 1BR units, 38 2BR units, and 5 3BR units, with 10 units handicap accessible.  Other amenities: a community room with kitchen and a play area for kids.  The exterior would be brick and precast hardieboard.  The property is zoned R10, which allows 48 units/acre.  Access would be solely from Branchville Rd.; there would be no access to MD-193, nor would SHA allow such access.  Cruz Development has spoken with residents of nearby 48th Pl., who expressed great concern about the building’s placement near their properties, so Cruz relocated the building to thee eastern corner of the property.  Some variances would be needed to place the building there.  There is proposed 118 parking spaces, or 1.1/unit.

Mothers Day 5K Race

The College Park Community Foundation will host the May 10 Mothers Day 5K race.  It will start at 7:30 at the Hollywood Shopping Center.

Greenbelt Metro FBI Project Update

Garth Beall, of Renard Development Co., gave members the latest update about the development’s plans.  Timeline: On 12/19 GSA issued a phase 1 Request for Qualification; by May the bidder list will be shortened to 5 (all bidders are bidding on the Greenbelt property); the award will be made May 2016.  Three things will happen soon: GSA will announce the qualified bidders (May), a study as required by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) will be completed (June or July), and SHA completed 30% of the interchange design (Dec 2014).  SHA is scheduled to complete its design by spring 2020, and GSA wants to be in the building by Dec 2022.  Other features: buildings will be designed with two fronts (one of them facing northern College Park), the walls will be acoustically porous to absorb rather than reflect noise, and there will be some parking over the bus loop and the Kiss&Ride area.

Announcements and Reports

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

Moved by John Krouse/Mary Cook: Adopt the minutes of NCPCA February 12 meeting without change; motion passed.

Treasurer Jackie Pearce-Garrett reported a current balance of $1,260.28; no expenditures have been paid since the last meeting.  She has filed the annual report with IRS, and will one with MD by Apr 1.  There were no other officer reports.

Announcements: 3/21 third annual Book Festival; 3/27 will start Community Dialogue, a 7-week series; 3/28 Good Neighbor Day at Lake Artemesia; 3/30 Live Smart Eat Local monthly dining at 7pm; 4/6 Aging In Place forum at 6:30pm at St. Andrews Church; 4/7 senior spring luncheon; starting 4/10 we will have 4 weeks to comment on the City’s draft Strategic Plan; at the City Council meeting on 5/26 residents will be able to tell a story or say a few word to Ms. Caskey, th Principal at Hollywood Elementary School who is retiring at the end of the school year.

Members voted to extend the meeting beyond 9:30.

New Business

Branchville Gardens

Moved by John Krouse/Dave Turley: Oppose the Branchville Gardens plan due to concerns about the grade of materials being used, the building height, setbacks that are needed, quality, number of handicapped spaces, the need for more information on parking, and property access.  Substitute motion moved by Larry Bleau/John Krouse: NCPCA express its concerns about the aforementioned issues in a letter to Cruz Development.  Substitute motion passed, which disposed of the original motion.

The meeting adjourned at 9:58 pm.

Submitted by Larry Bleau, Secretary.