Old Town Local Advisory Committee

Approved: 040920 Local Advisory Committee (LAC) for the Old Town College Park Historic District August 27, 2019 City Hall – Lower Level Conference Room LAC Members Present: Richard Biffl, Chairman, James McFadden, Vice Chairman, Bob Schnabel, Hassan Tariq LAC Members Absent: Nigel Key Staff Present: Tyler Smith, M-NCPPC -HPC Staff, Miriam Bader, Senior Planner, City of College Park, Sheryl DeWalt, Contract Secretary. Also present: Scott Vieth, Design Collective, Katie Hearn, Red Gate, David Dorsch, Resident of College Park, Scott Somers, College Park City Manager, Bill Campbell, UMD Real Estate office, Terry Schum, College Park Director of Planning, Community and Economic Development The meeting was called to order at 7:305 p.m. by Mr. Biffl, Chairman. 1. The agenda was reviewed. Mr. Schnabel made a motion to accept the agenda. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. Motion carries 4-0-0. 2. The draft minutes from the August 6, 2019 meeting were reviewed. Mr. Schnabel made a motion to accept the minutes as written. Mr. McFadden seconded the motion. Motion carries 4-0-0. 3. 4500 Knox Road, College Park City Hall The building of the City Hall Complex and Plaza is a joint venture with the City of College Park, the University of Maryland and the Terrapin Development Company (TDC). There will be retail space on the lower level and it will be managed by TDC. The first two floors will house offices and Council Chambers for the City of College Park. The upper two floors will house offices for the University of Maryland. This is being presented as a Mandatory Referral case. City Council will review at their September 3 meeting. The HPC will review at their September 16 meeting. It will be presented to the Prince George’s County Planning Board at the October 3 hearing. After many meetings with City Staff, Residents of College Park, and the University of Maryland, this is the design plan being presented. It is a L-shaped building with a plaza on the corner of Baltimore Avenue and Knox Road. There will be a central lobby. City Council Chambers will overlook the plaza. There will not be a basement. The power lines cannot be buried. The lower level will have gray brick around the bases. City Council Chambers will be in a white limestone. The remainder of the building will be done in a  buff/terra cotta brick with glass. There are still development guidelines to work on for signage of the retail spaces. The plaza will have gray unit pavers. The loading dock and the mechanical room will be off Yale Avenue. Once the trees are mature on the plaza, they are expected to be about 20 feet high. No Rooftop garden, but there is consideration for solar panels on the roof. Parking will be on Lehigh Street and ADA parking will be on Yale Street with a ramp to the plaza. Utilities will be kept separate between the City and the University of Maryland. The street lights will be the standard lights with goosenecks. The flag pole will be on the corner at Baltimore with four flags: US, Maryland, Prince Georges County and City of College Park. Mr. Schnabel made a motion to approval the application as presented with the provision that the building signage will emphasized the civic purpose over the retail purpose. Mr. McFadden seconded. Motion carries 4-0-0. 4. It was noted that the City did not appeal the Kay Dunn decision with regards to the house on Howard Lane. 5. St. Andrew’s Rectory just submitted a HAWP for a new storm door. The Tri-Delta sorority house have amended their HAWP to do a slate roof. The LAC would like to see copies of the HAWP and all information before deciding if they will meet on them or allow staff to make a decision. Mr. McFadden made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Tariq seconded the motion. Motion carries 3-0-0. The meeting was adjourned at 8:45p.m. Respectfully submitted by Sheryl DeWalt, contract secretary.