[RP TownTalk] Fwd: Cafritz development - public participation

[Alan Thompson and Sarah Wayland]

Just got this Very Interesting e-mail from our county council person,  
Eric Olson.

-Sarah

Begin forwarded message:

> From: EricOlson12 at aol.com
> Date: May 13, 2007 3:03:45 PM EDT
> To: EricOlson12 at aol.com
> Subject: local development - public participation
>
> Dear Riverdale Park, University Park, and College Park residents,
>
> Our corner of the County is being looked at for some significant  
> development projects in the years ahead.  Preliminary planning is  
> starting for development at the “Cafritz Property” – between the  
> Armory and Albion Road along Route 1 – and for the “East Campus”  
> area of the University of Maryland.
>
> I have insisted on a public planning process with a great degree of  
> community engagement in the planning for both potential projects.   
> For me, the effect of development on roads, schools, the  
> environment, and our community’s quality of life must be addressed  
> appropriately and to the satisfaction of the community in order for  
> these projects to move forward, and I strongly urge your  
> participation.
>
> There has been one community meeting about the East Campus project,  
> which was held at the University’s Ritchie Coliseum on Monday, May  
> 7th, and there will be many more opportunities for the project to  
> come before the public in the months to come.  There is information  
> about the East Campus project on the University’s website at  
> www.eastcampus.umd.edu/
>
> Today, however, I am primarily writing to discuss the potential  
> development of the Cafritz property.
>
> I am pleased that the Cafritz family has agreed to conduct two days  
> of public workshop meetings to hear from the community, and a third  
> meeting to review with the public what they have heard from the  
> community.
>
> The initial workshops will all be held at Riverdale Elementary  
> School, 5006 Riverdale Road, Riverdale Park, MD.  They will be held  
> on June 2nd (10am-2pm - come anytime), June 7th (7-9pm), and a wrap- 
> up meeting on June 14th (7-9pm).  The June 2nd and 7th workshops  
> will give each of us a chance to share our ideas and concerns for  
> this project.  Note that unlike other proposed developments, the  
> Cafritzes do not have a drawing of actual buildings or a fixed plan  
> for the site.  They are, as many of us are aware, interested in the  
> possibility of a Whole Foods grocery store and a cultural community  
> arts center, but beyond that they are looking to hear from the  
> community on our likes and dislikes, what we would like to see  
> versus what we do not want at the site.  On June 14th (7-9pm), all  
> of our suggestions from the community workshops will be pulled  
> together to establish principles to guide potential development at  
> this location.  The development team will then come up with a more  
> complete proposal for more community meetings in the fall.  There  
> will even be a website – www.cafritzpop.com – so you can enter even  
> more comments and see what others are saying.
>
> I urge you to please attend and participate.  Rarely do developers  
> seek so much community input.  Your participation will also help me  
> represent the community’s desires if and when development of the  
> site moves through the County process.
>
> I also want you to know that I have had some preliminary meetings  
> with Jane Cafritz, who is spearheading the project.  I let her know  
> that I have been hesitant at the prospect of development at the  
> site, but that I would listen to the community and would insist on  
> an open, public planning process so that the community could convey  
> to her its desires for the property.  She has been committed to  
> doing just that and is eager for community involvement so that  
> whatever may happen on the site will fit with our community.
>
> If it is to be developed, I stressed a number of other items that I  
> thought would be important, some of which I have listed below:
>
> First, I stressed the wooded beauty of the site, the animal  
> habitat, and the need to protect its natural environment and  
> provide a significant buffer of trees between our neighborhoods and  
> development there.  Further, it should include “green building”  
> techniques in order to prevent an increase in stormwater runoff and  
> pollution, as well as use energy efficiently.
>
> Second, in the event that there may be housing on the site, I let  
> them know that it should be designed as best as possible to reduce  
> the number of school-age students as I do not want the development  
> to put more enrollment pressure on our local schools.  I especially  
> encouraged them to look at housing for active retirees and senior  
> citizens, which would not only keep from adding children to our  
> schools, but would also have less of a traffic impact, especially  
> during rush hours.  I will note that they are not interested in  
> housing for University of Maryland students at this location, which  
> I think will coincide with the community’s view as well.
>
> Third, I suggested that if they are seeking a commercial presence  
> on the site, that it would have to pass muster with the community  
> and mentioned that only high-quality establishments would be  
> acceptable, and that the area is lacking in ethnic restaurants.  As  
> many of you know, a Whole Foods grocery store has also been  
> discussed for the   site.
> There are a number of other factors that deserve consideration,  
> like making it as pedestrian and bike-friendly as possible, seeking  
> amenities that serve our community, and ensuring that it is transit- 
> oriented with pedestrian connections from the site to Riverdale  
> Park’s MARC station and to the College Park Metro station.
>
> Rarely do I find a developer who is so willing to engage the public  
> before a complete plan is in hand, and who is so agreeable, so I do  
> want to acknowledge what I see as a true commitment to the  
> community from Jane Cafritz and her family.  In our hands, we have  
> the ability to guide the future of our community and I hope you  
> will join me at these workshops to make your voice known.  If you  
> have questions, please contact me or my Legislative Aide, Dannielle  
> Glaros: 301-952-3060, or dmglaros at co.pg.md.us.  I look forward to  
> working with you through this process and representing the  
> community’s interests.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Eric Olson
> Council Member
> District 3
>
>
>
> See what's free at AOL.com.

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