Mayor & City Council

MINUTES Special Session of the College Park City Council Tuesday, December 5, 2017 Council Chambers 7:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Wojahn; Councilmembers Kabir, Nagle, Brennan, Dennis, Stullich, Day, Kujawa and Cook. ABSENT: None. ALSO PRESENT: Scott Somers, City Manager; Bill Gardiner, Assistant City Manager; Janeen Miller, City Clerk; Suellen Ferguson, City Attorney; Terry Schum, Director of Planning; Miriam Bader, Senior Planner; Chris Keosian, Student Liaison; Julianne Heberlein, Deputy Student Liaison. Councilmembers-elect Denise Mitchell, John Rigg and Kate Kennedy. During a regularly scheduled Worksession of the College Park City Council, a motion was made by Councilmember Nagle and seconded by Councilmember Kabir to enter into a Special Session to approve a letter to M-NCPPC with City comments on the draft County Zoning Rewrite. The possibility of the Special Session was listed on the Worksession agenda. The motion carried 8-0- 0 and the Council entered into the Special Session at 9:30 p.m. AGENDA ITEMS: 17-G-144 Approval of a letter to the County with City Comments on the draft County Zoning Rewrite Ms. Schum reviewed the revised draft letter based on Council comments from last week’s meeting and updated Council on her subsequent conversation with County staff about the draft Zoning Rewrite. Council suggested additional revisions to the letter. A motion was made by Councilmember Nagle and seconded by Councilmember Kabir that the City Council approve a letter with the City Council’s comments and recommendations on the Comprehensive Review Draft of Zoning and Subdivision Regulations in Prince George’s County. Comments from the audience: Dr. Judy Blumenthal, 9205 49th Avenue (Written comments attached): The City should do a comprehensive study on the impact of development on our already over-taxed infrastructure. Explain and show the data that support recent decisions regarding development. Where are the protections for the homeowners? John Krouse, 9709 53rd Avenue: He supports the revisions discussed tonight. He discussed the issue of small lots, the decision-making matrix (decision tree), that zoning maps are not available, preservation of open space. He verified that the 2001 Greenbelt Metro Sector Plan is still in force for his neighborhood. Councilmember Nagle said she hopes that there will be continued engagement with County staff on this process. Councilmember Dennis raised the boarding/rooming house issue. Councilmember Stullich added concerns about conversion of single-family homes to boarding/rooming houses. Is our statement strong enough? Ms. Schum will wordsmith it. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. 17-G-145 Approval of a letter to County Executive Rushern Baker requesting funding for the County’s DOE “Calvert Hills Drainage Improvement Project” Mr. Somers reviewed the request in the letter for funding for all four phases of the Calvert Hills Drainage Improvement Project. A motion was made by Councilmember Day and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to send the letter as drafted to the County Executive. There were no comments from the audience or from the Council. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. ADJOURN: A motion was made by Councilmember Brennan and seconded by Councilmember Day to adjourn the Special Session, and with a vote of 8 – 0 – 0, Mayor Wojahn adjourned the Special Session at 9:50 p.m. RE-ENTER SPECIAL SESSION: A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Cook to re-enter Special Session to approve the City signing on to the Four Cites letter to Governor Hogan regarding widening I-495 and MD 295. The motion passed 8 -0- 0 and Council re-entered the Special Session at 9:51 p.m. 17-G-146 Four Cities Letter re: Governor’s Proposal to Widen I-495 and MD 295 A motion was made by Councilmember Kabir and seconded by Councilmember Brennan to approve signing the Four Cities letter expressing opposition to the proposed widening of I-495 and the Baltimore Washington Parkway (MD 295). There were no comments from the audience or the Council. The motion passed 8 – 0 – 0. A motion was made by Councilmember Stullich and seconded by Councilmember Day to adjourn the Special Session. With a vote of 8-0-0, Mayor Wojahn adjourned the Special Session at 9:52 p.m. __________________________________ Janeen S. Miller Date City Clerk Approved