[RP TownTalk] A busy Cafritz-filled week! Town meetings & Planning Board Thurs., 1/17 Hearing

[Kate Kelly]

There has been a lot happening on the Cafritz front recently. Those of us
concerned about the Cafritz project need to stay informed AND let our
elected officials know we still care. Now is the time to make your voice
heard.

This week all three affected towns--Riverdale Park, University Park, and
College Park--will be taking positions on the Cafritz Preliminary Plan in
advance of the Thursday, January 17 Planning Board hearing in Upper
Marlboro. You may view the Planning Board agenda here:
http://mncppc.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1106.

*M-NCPPC staff has recommended disapproval.* However, in the very recent
past, the Planning Board has *overridden* the objections of individual
towns. The Planning Board needs to hear from you, as do our elected
officials. Let's not settle for a half-baked plan that gives the developers
the leniency and latitude to do what they wish and disregard the conditions
and covenants.  (A summary of staff concerns is provided at the end of this
email.)

Currently the towns appear to share several concerns regarding what can
only be termed a haphazard preliminary plan. Many of the conditions
required by the rezoning and in covenants with the towns have not been met.
In addition, each town has a number of town-specific problems with the
preliminary plan's current status.

The staff report is over 200 pages and was released very late.
Procedurally, this is again a very flawed offering from the developer
produced by a process that has been far from transparent. *Please let town
and county officials know that this project remains very important to you
and your community's future.
*

   1. *Write to the mayor and your council representative to let them know
   you want the town to insist that the District Council's rezoning conditions
   be fully and completely met (contact info below). *
   2. *Attend the town council meeting. *
   3. *Write to the Planning Board by noon Wednesday to state your
   objections while insisting that all conditions be met **(contact info
   below).
   ***
   4. *Attend the Planning Board meeting. *
   http://mncppc.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_Meeting.aspx?ID=1106
   5. *URGENT: Be sure you are a Person of Record for the Preliminary Plan.
    Application # 4-12004 CAFRITZ PROPERTY  *
   http://www.pgplanning.org/Resources/Person_of_Record.htm This is VERY
   important.*
   *

*Town Meeting*
Riverdale Park Tuesday, January 15 7:30 PM, Town Hall. Agenda:
http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/January%2015%202012%20Special%20Legislative%20agenda.pdf

*Written Planning Board Testimony*
You may also submit written testimony. Try to keep your testimony brief and
to the point: focus on the unmet conditions as well as that one issue that
has engaged you most. Write to Planning Board, Elizabeth M. Hewlett, Chair,
<ehewlett at co.pg.md.us> and to info at ppd.mncppc.org  Please make sure that
any written testimony is received before noon on Wednesday!

*Attending the Planning Board Hearing*
There is limited street parking. Please try to carpool, arrive early, bring
quarters, and your cell phone chargers. It may be a long afternoon; the
case is late on the agenda. Regardless, proceed and sign up to testify (if
you wish to do so) on the blue sheet at the front of the room (check and
make sure it's the right case number) and sit down.

*Town Meeting Info*

*Tuesday 1/14, 7:30 p.m., Town Hall*
*Riverdale Park Council Members & Mayor*

   1. Jonathan Ebbeler jebbeler at riverdaleparkmd.gov
   2. Alan Thompson akthompson at riverdaleparkmd.gov
   3. David Lingua  djlingua at riverdaleparkmd.gov
   4. Christopher Henry Cell: 301-910-9855 Fax: 301-474-3246
   5. Raymond Rivas rrivas at riverdaleparkmd.gov
   6. Alejandro Silva Cell: 301-801-3021

Mayor Vernon Archer varcher at riverdaleparkmd.gov

NOTE the earlier starting time.
*
*
*Summary of **Planning Board Staff Concerns*
The rezoning of the Cafritz property contains 27 conditions. The Planning
Board's Staff believe that six conditions have not been met (Conditions
10(b), 18, 19, and 25(b), 25(c), and 25(d))  because of the Cafritzes'
failure to submit documentation that demonstrates that the woodland
conservation threshold is to be met on-site to the fullest extent
practicable per Condition 10(b); the failure to document a commitment to
provied a private shuttle service per Condition 18 and participate in a
circulator bus program per Condition 19; the failure to document the
establishment of a funding mechanism for the construction of the CSX
crossing per Condition 25(b); failure to submit an approval for the
location of the CSX crossing from the affected landowner per Condition
25(c); and *failure to submit cost estimates for design, permitting, and
construction of the CSX crossing per Condition 25(*

Thanks for considering this,
Kate and Joe Kelly
Tuckerman Street
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