Here is a copy of the letter I sent this morning to the mayor and members of the council:<br><br>
<p class="MsoNormal">My opposition the Cafritz group’s request for rezoning of
the Calvert tract is well known. As you prepare your letter to the developer,
please consider these points:</p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"> <span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>What exactly does the town stand to gain from
this development? So far, all we’ve heard about is the possibility of envy for
our upscale retail. The $11 million in annual tax revenue is an interesting
number, but where did it come from? What kind of taxes are we talking about:
federal corporate income taxes? state sales taxes? local property taxes? And to
what degree would that <b>revenue offset</b>
the additional expense to the town? Where are the data?</p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>The town should pursue a <b>homesteader’s tax credit</b> to ensure that property taxes on current
Riverdale Park residences are not increased to pay for the new development.</p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"">
</span></span></span>Shouldn’t the <b>astonishingly sparse details</b> in the plan be considered a deal stopper
at this point? If the town agrees to the zoning change—no matter what replaces
the R55 designation—we will have ceded control to the developer. The best we’ll
be able to hope for is to negotiate a slightly less awful outcome.</p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Contrary to the developer’s assertions, we are
not “early in the process.” Cafritz needs to have this move forward now to beat
the plans for the <b>East Campus project</b>,
which will be a direct competitor in virtually every aspect. That means it must
have the zoning change before the end of 2011 so it can start clearing the land
in the spring of 2012.</p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Will access on Maryland Avenue help or hurt the
town center? Will it become just another <b>commuter
shortcut</b>? </p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>A <b>serious
market analysis</b> is called for. What has been the experience of the truly
locally owned businesses in Hyattsville since the opening of the EYA project? How,
for example, has the vacuum cleaner repair store been affected? Has anyone
asked?</p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>If you cannot guarantee that <b>Tuckerman and Sheridan Streets</b> west of
the bike path will never be opened to connect to Maryland Avenue, we’d like to
know that right now. Not too long ago we were assured that extending Maryland
Avenue was not a possibility. </p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>How will isolating the <b>farmer’s market</b> in the new development benefit its established
customer base?</p>
<p style="margin-left:38.25pt"><span style="font-family:Symbol"><span>·<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span>Isn’t it ironic that the <b>solar decathlon</b> is in process at West Potomac Park? Did you know
that one team has formed a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to donate its
house to a resident of the Deanwood neighborhood of Northeast Washington, D.C.?
<a href="http://parsit.parsons.edu/our-house/" target="_blank">http://parsit.parsons.edu/our-house/</a>.
Where’s the real <b>leadership on
sustainability</b>? How can we let this opportunity pass to demand a real
difference? As it is the plan will be <b>exactly
like EYA</b> and all the other places just like it everywhere else.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:20.25pt"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:20.25pt">This is just the tip of the
iceberg. We should request a lot more than a donated ambulance.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:20.25pt"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:20.25pt">Thanks for your attention,</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left:20.25pt">Kate Kelly</p>
<br>