<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 14 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
/* Font Definitions */
@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;}
@font-face
{font-family:Verdana;
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:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-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.MsoAcetate, li.MsoAcetate, div.MsoAcetate
{mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text Char";
margin:0in;
margin-bottom:.0001pt;
font-size:8.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
span.EmailStyle17
{mso-style-type:personal-compose;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:windowtext;}
span.BalloonTextChar
{mso-style-name:"Balloon Text Char";
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-link:"Balloon Text";
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif";}
.MsoChpDefault
{mso-style-type:export-only;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";}
@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>Hi Andrew –<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I just received a lengthy document from the town’s architect and Urban Planner, Paul Mortensen that I need to go through and prepare the legislation for tonight’s session that outlines in detail the objections. There was a meeting last week in which SHA stated a desire for a much wider right-of-way on Route 1 north of East-West Highway, and wider lanes, that in my opinion, and the opinion of most of the 20+ people that were in attendance, will be completely contrary to what every municipality is trying to do on Route 1 from Mount Rainier up to through College Park. The proposal violates the 1994 Master Plan for Area 68, the Mixed-Use Town Center (M-U-TC) Development Plan of 2004, as well as the Route 1 Sector Plan which all state or indicate planning goals of ensuring that US-1 is a slower-speed, pedestrian friendly roadway.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Somehow SHA will allow traffic circles in Mount Rainer, on-street parking in front of EYA in Hyattsville, yet they think it is appropriate to ignore what Riverdale Park is trying to do along Route 1 – get people out of their cars and into shops. I realize that the criticism to this is ‘what shops?’ But this is the core and fundamental principle. Decades ago the town allowed itself to be bifurcated through the expansion of East-West Highway, Takoma Park and others fought successfully against such expansion. Our town center was perfectly situated as a commercial hub prior to SHA’s decision to bypass it with a bridge diverting thousands of cars a day. If we allow similar decision making to occur anywhere along Route 1 any renaissance of the town’s commercial infrastructure will essentially be obviated and we will be relegated into a high-speed pass-through.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Decision points like this will have urban planning impacts to Riverdale Park for decades to come. SHA has no investment in our town, or our town’s vision – they are just responsible for state-owned infrastructure. The consideration of economic development, commercial visioning, and impact to communities are not at the forefront of their priority list when making recommendations – they exist to build highways and move cars.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Best,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Jonathan<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#000040'>Jonathan W. Ebbeler | </span></b><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Councilman – Ward 1<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>4711 Oliver Street</span></b><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>