[RP TownTalk] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property...

[Sarah Wayland]

I know that there are lots of varied opinions about whether the
proposed Cafritz development in Riverdale Park is appropriate;
this message is for those  who support the proposal for changing
the zoning from single family residential to mixed-use.

A resident of our neighboring community of College Park is organizing
people who are in support of the proposed Whole Foods Market
development on the Cafritz property in Riverdale Park. If you support
this development, she is collecting signatures for a letter (text
included below) to be sent to the elected officials for the
communities bordering the proposed development.

If you would like to sign her letter, please send your name and street
address to her at <cynthia.a.finley at gmail.com>.

----
The text below will be sent in a letter to the Riverdale Park Mayor
and Town Council, the College Park Mayor and City Council, the
University Park Mayor and Town Council, and the Prince George?s County
Council and County Executive. If you would like to have your name
added to the letter, or if you have any questions about the letter,
please send an email to Cynthia at cynthia.a.finley at gmail.com.

----

As residents of Riverdale Park, University Park, the Calvert Hills
neighborhood of College Park, and surrounding areas, we understand
that the owners of the Cafritz property, located on the east side of
Route 1 in Riverdale Park, are requesting a zoning change from single
family homes to mixed use development. This zoning change would
accommodate development of a retail center, which would include a
Whole Foods market, and new residential units. We recommend that the
Town of Riverdale Park, the Town of University Park, and the City of
College Park support this rezoning request and that the Prince
George?s County Council approve the zoning request.

We believe that a Whole Foods market and the associated development of
the Cafritz property would be a valuable asset to our community. A
Whole Foods market would provide a shopping opportunity that is unique
for our community, which currently lacks a full-service specialty
grocery store. This development would provide important tax revenue
and jobs while also making our area more attractive to families. Whole
Foods has been a catalyst for community redevelopment in many areas,
including at its P Street NW location in Washington, D.C. and in
Silver Spring. A Whole Foods at the Cafritz property would complement
the existing and proposed redevelopment projects in our area, such as
the Hyattsville EYA Arts District and the East Campus project.

We urge our local elected officials and citizens to work with the
Cafritz development team to find creative solutions to the potential
issues involved with development of the property. These issues ? which
may include increases in traffic congestion and stormwater runoff ?
are not unique to the Cafritz property. They will be issues for any
development along Route 1 and they have been dealt with successfully
in many other locations throughout the country. Traffic signal and
lane modifications can be used to mitigate traffic congestion. Green
infrastructure solutions, such as vegetated swales and green roofs,
can be used to retain stormwater on site. In addition, the amount and
location of parking spaces and green spaces in the development can be
negotiated with the development team.

Since the Cafritz development team has not presented a detailed plan
for the residential portion of the site, we ask that the County only
allow this portion of development to proceed after all of the impacts
are fully considered. Dense residential development in the vicinity of
transit hubs, such as the College Park Metro station, is more
environmentally sustainable than the current zoning for single family
homes. However, the density may also necessitate an alternate
vehicular access point to the Cafritz property. The increase in public
school enrollment will depend on the type and number of housing units,
and this impact will also need to be evaluated. These are issues that
can be addressed with proper cooperation between the community and the
developers.

We appreciate your consideration of these comments. Again, we urge
support and approval of the rezoning of the Cafritz property to a
mixed use designation, along with continued involvement to ensure that
the development proceeds responsibly and realizes its potential as an
asset to our community.





-- 
Sarah Wayland
sarah.wayland at gmail.com