Tonight's Mayor and Council meeting will center largely on the Cafritz Whole Foods Market rezoning application and the Maryland Book Exchange student-housing plan.

Council will recess for worksession discussions on the two major development projects, following the usual council meeting rituals, a Martin Luther King Jr. tribute, a farewell to outgoing student liaison Marcella Morris, consent agenda and appointment to boards and committees.

Cafritz

The Cafritz team is hoping to get the property south of College Park rezoned from residential use (R-55) to Mixed-Use Town Center so that it can construct a Whole Foods Market, residential and office space. The developers have been meeting over the past weeks with officials to reach agreements on several of the contentious issues, like traffic impact. City Council is set to vote on its first position on the project Tuesday, and developers will go before the Prince George's County Planning Board on Thursday in Upper Marlboro.

Book Exchange

Council will also discuss the plans to construct a student-housing complex where the Maryland Book Exchange sits. Last week, developers presented their revisions that incorporated a four-story taper to the six-story building, but city and county planning staffs were not satisfied. This is council's second vote on the project, after opposing it in October. The developers will go before the county planning board for a second time Thursday, Jan. 19, after being granted a continuance in December.

After the worksession is complete, council will reconvene for the regular session, so that it can vote.

Parking: If you're attending the council meeting, you can obtain parking passes at the customer service window just inside City Hall.