<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 12 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@font-face
{font-family:"Cambria Math";
panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Calibri;
panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;}
@font-face
{font-family:Tahoma;
panose-1:2 11 6 4 3 5 4 4 2 4;}
/* Style Definitions */
p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal
{margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
a:link, span.MsoHyperlink
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:blue;
text-decoration:underline;}
a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed
{mso-style-priority:99;
color:purple;
text-decoration:underline;}
p
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-margin-top-alt:auto;
margin-right:0in;
mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
margin-left:0in;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";}
span.EmailStyle18
{mso-style-type:personal-reply;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D;}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;}
@page WordSection1
{size:8.5in 11.0in;
margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;}
div.WordSection1
{page:WordSection1;}
--></style><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapedefaults v:ext="edit" spidmax="1026" />
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:shapelayout v:ext="edit">
<o:idmap v:ext="edit" data="1" />
</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Hi Vern<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Thanks for the heads up.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Consider asking Cafritz to provide access for the businesses along Rhode Island Ave north of E/W highway as part of the Town’s proposal. This means that Rhode Island Ave access through the Town Center parking lot would be closed under the E/W highway bridge and provided through the Cafritz RR crossing which will connect to River Rd. This would alleviate the related truck traffic (tractor trailers) on Queensbury and Lafayette, which is sorely needed since these are residential streets. In addition, the Town Center parking lot would be dedicated to the Town Center and not also serve as an access road. Traffic congestion at the Queensbury Rd RR crossing and the Rt 1/Queensbury intersection will also be reduced.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Cafritz will be getting a big pay day if we support their request for a zoning change. We are going to have to live will all of the traffic at E/W highway and Rt 1, which will result from this development. I think Cafritz should provide something in return, which will directly benefit the Town and this proposal certainly will. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org [mailto:towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Vernon Archer<br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, October 30, 2011 9:21 AM<br><b>To:</b> TownTalk<br><b>Subject:</b> [RP TownTalk] Cafritz zoning request<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><div><p class=MsoNormal>Friends and neighbors,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Because my monthly Crier report is again about the Cafritz development and the development is now becoming more time sensitive I am presenting it below for your information.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Please be sure to visit the town web site (see below) as there are significant new pieces of information posted.<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Best wishes,<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>Vern<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal>______________________________________________<o:p></o:p></p></div><div><p class=MsoNormal><br>Mayor’s Report<o:p></o:p></p></div><p>By Vernon Archer<o:p></o:p></p><p>The Cafritz proposal to develop the very northeastern most point in town is moving into a very significant new stage during the months of November and December. I know that many of you have been following this closely and know that the development will need to be given new zoning in order to build the Whole Foods grocery, other commercial spaces, town houses, and apartments they desire. The proposal will receive a hearing before the M-NCPPC Planning Board, tentatively scheduled for December 15. <o:p></o:p></p><p>This is one of the two major steps in getting a zoning change, with the final step coming when the proposal will be acted upon by the County Council acting as District (Zoning) Council. As the real power in this matter rests at the county level, we at the municipal level have been wrestling with how best to influence the process in a way that is most beneficial to Riverdale Park as a whole. It has been my position from early in the process that the way to maximize our influence over the final outcome and have the county back our position, is to work constructively with neighboring municipalities as well as the developer. <o:p></o:p></p><p>Ultimately our power will largely rest in the written testimony the Town Government will present to the Planning Board and ultimately the District Council. Over the next month we have scheduled several meetings that will see our ultimate positions crafted by the Town Council with significant input from the Mixed Use/Town Center (MUTC) Committee and a professional planning firm that the town has contracted with to advise us.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Important meetings: <o:p></o:p></p><p> · October 31, 2011 at 8:00 p.m. – Council meeting at Town Hall. Town’s planning contractor will present his report on the project and a highlight overview. <o:p></o:p></p><p>· November 2 at 7:30 p.m. – MUTC design committee meeting at Town Hall. Agenda will include review of how the proposed zone change by Cafritz will affect the existing MUTC zone. <o:p></o:p></p><p>· November 9 at 8:00 p.m. – Council meeting at Town Hall. Town planning contractor will present point by point review of Cafritz proposal and Council will review all items to create the Town’s testimony for the Planning Board and District Council. <o:p></o:p></p><p>· November 28 at 8:00 p.m. – Council Worksession and possible Special Legislative Session at Town Hall. This is the final date for the Council’s position to be considered/included in the M-NCPPC staff report<o:p></o:p></p><p>· December 5 at 8:00 p.m. – Council meeting at Town Hall. <o:p></o:p></p><p>· December 15 at 9:00 a.m. – Expected Planning Board hearing date at County Administration Building.<o:p></o:p></p><p>· January or February is probable time frame for District Council to act on the zone change request. <o:p></o:p></p><p>In my report last month I provided a copy of a proposed response to the Cafrtiz team of concerns and needs the Town has that should be addressed before the Town can support this project. Action on that letter by the council was postponed at the last legislative meeting, though it appears that most of the council is using this letter as a starting point in evaluating the issues associated with project. Also, the Cafritz team has sent a letter back to the town that suggests a clear willingness to work with us on the project. You can find both my proposed letter and the Cafritz response on the town website at <a href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/cafritz.cfm">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/cafritz.cfm</a> <o:p></o:p></p><p>One last point to consider in evaluating this proposal is how the project will financially impact the town. To date the developer has committed to reimbursing the town for $25,000 to procure independent professional services to advise us in all aspects of the project. We will need more if this project goes forward, but $25,000 is sufficient to at least get us through the rezoning issues.<o:p></o:p></p><p>Lastly, Town staff has prepared a report of how this project will financially impact the town if it is completely built as currently proposed and Town services and taxes remain at current levels. The report estimates that increased Town revenue would exceed new expenditures by $1,260,668 per year. This report can also be found on our website at <a href="http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/cafritz.cfm">http://www.riverdaleparkmd.info/cafritz.cfm</a><br clear=all><br>-- <br>Vernon Archer, Mayor<br>Town of Riverdale Park, Maryland<o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>