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<DIV style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; LINE-HEIGHT: 0; MARGIN: 5px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; HEIGHT: 0px; FONT-SIZE: 0px; BORDER-TOP: #ccc 1px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #ccc 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 0px" class=hr contentEditable=false readonly="true"></DIV><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Sarah Wayland <sarah.wayland@gmail.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> TownTalk <towntalk@riverdale-park.org><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, August 9, 2011 11:07 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [RP TownTalk] if you support mixed use development of Cafritz property...<BR></FONT><BR>I know that there are lots of varied opinions about whether the<BR>proposed Cafritz development in Riverdale Park is appropriate;<BR>this message is for those who support the proposal for changing<BR>the
zoning from single family residential to mixed-use.<BR><BR>A resident of our neighboring community of College Park is organizing<BR>people who are in support of the proposed Whole Foods Market<BR>development on the Cafritz property in Riverdale Park. If you support<BR>this development, she is collecting signatures for a letter (text<BR>included below) to be sent to the elected officials for the<BR>communities bordering the proposed development.<BR><BR>If you would like to sign her letter, please send your name and street<BR>address to her at <<A href="mailto:cynthia.a.finley@gmail.com" ymailto="mailto:cynthia.a.finley@gmail.com">cynthia.a.finley@gmail.com</A>>.<BR><BR>----<BR>The text below will be sent in a letter to the Riverdale Park Mayor<BR>and Town Council, the College Park Mayor and City Council, the<BR>University Park Mayor and Town Council, and the Prince George?s County<BR>Council and County Executive. If you would like to have your
name<BR>added to the letter, or if you have any questions about the letter,<BR>please send an email to Cynthia at <A href="mailto:cynthia.a.finley@gmail.com" ymailto="mailto:cynthia.a.finley@gmail.com">cynthia.a.finley@gmail.com</A>.<BR><BR>----<BR><BR>As residents of Riverdale Park, University Park, the Calvert Hills<BR>neighborhood of College Park, and surrounding areas, we understand<BR>that the owners of the Cafritz property, located on the east side of<BR>Route 1 in Riverdale Park, are requesting a zoning change from single<BR>family homes to mixed use development. This zoning change would<BR>accommodate development of a retail center, which would include a<BR>Whole Foods market, and new residential units. We recommend that the<BR>Town of Riverdale Park, the Town of University Park, and the City of<BR>College Park support this rezoning request and that the Prince<BR>George?s County Council approve the zoning request.<BR><BR>We believe that a Whole
Foods market and the associated development of<BR>the Cafritz property would be a valuable asset to our community. A<BR>Whole Foods market would provide a shopping opportunity that is unique<BR>for our community, which currently lacks a full-service specialty<BR>grocery store. This development would provide important tax revenue<BR>and jobs while also making our area more attractive to families. Whole<BR>Foods has been a catalyst for community redevelopment in many areas,<BR>including at its P Street NW location in Washington, D.C. and in<BR>Silver Spring. A Whole Foods at the Cafritz property would complement<BR>the existing and proposed redevelopment projects in our area, such as<BR>the Hyattsville EYA Arts District and the East Campus project.<BR><BR>We urge our local elected officials and citizens to work with the<BR>Cafritz development team to find creative solutions to the potential<BR>issues involved with development of the property. These issues
? which<BR>may include increases in traffic congestion and stormwater runoff ?<BR>are not unique to the Cafritz property. They will be issues for any<BR>development along Route 1 and they have been dealt with successfully<BR>in many other locations throughout the country. Traffic signal and<BR>lane modifications can be used to mitigate traffic congestion. Green<BR>infrastructure solutions, such as vegetated swales and green roofs,<BR>can be used to retain stormwater on site. In addition, the amount and<BR>location of parking spaces and green spaces in the development can be<BR>negotiated with the development team.<BR><BR>Since the Cafritz development team has not presented a detailed plan<BR>for the residential portion of the site, we ask that the County only<BR>allow this portion of development to proceed after all of the impacts<BR>are fully considered. Dense residential development in the vicinity of<BR>transit hubs, such as the College Park Metro
station, is more<BR>environmentally sustainable than the current zoning for single family<BR>homes. However, the density may also necessitate an alternate<BR>vehicular access point to the Cafritz property. The increase in public<BR>school enrollment will depend on the type and number of housing units,<BR>and this impact will also need to be evaluated. These are issues that<BR>can be addressed with proper cooperation between the community and the<BR>developers.<BR><BR>We appreciate your consideration of these comments. Again, we urge<BR>support and approval of the rezoning of the Cafritz property to a<BR>mixed use designation, along with continued involvement to ensure that<BR>the development proceeds responsibly and realizes its potential as an<BR>asset to our community.<BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR>-- <BR>Sarah Wayland<BR><A href="mailto:sarah.wayland@gmail.com"
ymailto="mailto:sarah.wayland@gmail.com">sarah.wayland@gmail.com</A><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>TownTalk mailing list<BR>To post to the list, send mail to <A href="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org" ymailto="mailto:TownTalk@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk@riverdale-park.org</A><BR><A href="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org" ymailto="mailto:TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org">TownTalk-request@riverdale-park.org</A> is for automated subscription processing only<BR><A href="http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk" target=_blank>http://riverdale-park.org/mailman/listinfo/towntalk</A><BR><BR>For more information about Riverdale Park, visit <A href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/" target=_blank>http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info</A><BR><BR><BR></DIV></DIV></div></body></html>