Cafritz Consensus Closer But Major Hurdles Remain

City officials and said they are closer to a consensus on the proposed Whole Foods Market project in Riverdale Park.

Over recent weeks, elected officials and lawyers from College Park, Riverdale Park and University Park have met several times with the Cafritz team to discuss the unsettled issues surrounding the proposed mixed-use development. At a College Park mayor and council worksession Tuesday evening, developers presented two revised designs for the property, a result of the conditions put forth by the three municipalities.

But with some major issues still unsettled, like a timeline for the construction of a CSX railway crossing on the east side of the development, Councilwoman (Dist. 3) isn’t confident all parties can be on the same page in time for the county planning board hearing next week.

“I think there has been progress. I don’t know if it’s been enough progress,” Stullich said.

She thanked the developers at Tuesday’s meeting for responding to comments from the three municipalities. She said she was particularly pleased the developers are working toward less surface parking and a more pedestrian-oriented entrance on U.S. Route 1.

“We’re very encouraged by [Stullich’s] positive comments,” said Chip Reed, the developers’ attorney.

The Cafritz team hopes to construct a Whole Foods Market, fitness center, hotel, almost 1,000 residential units and offices on a 37.35-acre parcel in Riverdale Park, just south of Calvert Hills. The area is currently zoned for residential use only (R-55), and so developers must be granted a zoning change to Mixed-Use Town Center (MUTC) before the project can move forward.

Responding to pressure from the councils of College Park, University Park and Riverdale Park, the to ask the Prince George’s County Planning Board to postpone its rezoning hearing by one month to Jan. 12. The College Park Council plans to vote on the rezoning at Tuesday’s meeting.

CSX Crossing

Stullich, whose district includes Calvert Hills, has spearheaded the council’s role in the development. But as of Tuesday, she wasn’t sure whether her motion would be to support or oppose the project.

Part of her decision will depend on whether or not she is satisfied with the developers’ commitment to building the CSX railway crossing, a feature that officials and residents hope will relieve the traffic impact on U.S. Route 1.

“I don’t know, yet, if we’re going to come to an agreement that everyone is comfortable with,” Stullich said.

Reed said after Tuesday’s meeting that he expects the municipalities’ positions to come down to the crossing issue. While officials have pushed to get the developers to , Reed has said they can’t afford it until the second phase.

“Basically we’re crunching a lot of numbers at this point,” he said.

New Design Proposals

The developers said the two design proposals they presented Tuesday incorporate a much larger green space than their initial plan. Woodberry Street is shifted north, and alleyways now divide the townhomes aligning it. The hiker/biker trail that will cut through the property is also further west than in the previous plan.

Additionally, Rhode Island Avenue will now enter into the development from the south, but won’t exit at the north in Calvert Hills. Reed said developers do not intend to create a vehicular access point at the north, .

Stullich said the work group is also working to develop a process by which the Cafritz team would create a detailed site plan before each stage of new development.

Legal Agreements

But the county planning board will not consider several of these consensuses at the rezoning hearing. Stullich explained that these conditions are legal agreements between the municipalities and the developers.

The College Park Mayor and Council will hold its voting meeting Tuesday evening in the Council Chambers on the second floor of , 4500 Knox Road. The Prince George’s County Planning Board hearing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Jan. 12. (It will be live streamed here.)

While the county’s planning staff suggested in December that the planning board approve the rezoning application with conditions, the final decision will go before the Prince George's County District Council.