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Month: March 2011 Page 1 of 4

Mark You Calender – Oct 22 – College Park Day 2011

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On March 31, 2011

In College Park Day, Projects

College Park Day, 2010

After the grand success of the first College Park Day 2010, the organizing committee has already started gearing up for this year’s event – College Park Day, 2011. The date has been set at October, 2011; please mark your calender.

The organizing committee members have already met twice this year to brainstorm about this year’s event activities. They also have looked into what they did last year and can be done to improve this year’s event.

We’re also seeking volunteers to help out in various subcommittees, such as activities, community groups , food, publicity, public safety, logistics  and fundraising.

Event volunteers will be in full force at the Maryland Day, 2011 to spread the words about College Park Day 2011. This year’s Maryland Day will be on April 30 (from 10-4). Please contact me if you want to volunteer.

Annual Bulk Recycling Starts this Saturday

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On March 30, 2011

In Environment

Got junk? Have them recycled

The City of College Park Public Works facility (9217 51st Avenue) will be open all four Saturdays in April from 7:30 a.m. until 12:00pm.

City residents may drop off bulky trash, electronics for recycling, and yard waste; however hazardous materials, including but not limited to, paint, compressed cylinders, shingles, asphalt, chemicals, etc. will NOT be accepted. 

Air conditioners, heat pumps, refrigerators and freezers may incur a collection fee; tires will incur a disposal fee of $4.00 each.

These weekend events are only open for College Park city residents; you must show proof of residency in the City of College Park to participate.

Also, like in last year, Public Works will also have two donations groups back to accept your reusable, leftover  items – keep them out of the landfill and get a tax deduction.

  • Clothes, household/kitchen items, small furniture pieces, books, sporting goods, etc., will be accepted for donation by American Rescue Workers (Capitol Heights; 301-336-6200; www.arwus.com)
  • Building and remodeling materials (surplus or in very good condition) including bricks and paving materials, doors, hardware, tools, reusable lumber, gardening supplies, vanities, light fixtures, etc., will be donated to Community Forklift.

If there are any questions please feel free to contact Public Works Recycling Coordinator Stacey King by phone (240-487-3593) or email (sking@collegeparkmd.gov).

On Greenbelt Sector Plan, Krouse Cautions about its Troubled Impact, Asks Residents to Get Involved

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On March 28, 2011

In Development, Greenbelt

John Krouse at the 2007 Greenbelt development balloon demonstration (RethinkCollegePark)

Former councilmember John Krouse recently gave me an interview on why he is so troubled by the proposed Greenbelt development and why he thinks north College Park residents should get more involved in the process.

Along with other City officials, he is organizing a town hall meeting on this Thursday (7 pm, March 31, 2011) at Davis Hall. Please spread tthe word and try to attend.

In terms of proposed Greenbelt development, there seems to be a lot of ambiguity. Can you please elaborate this?

The process of discussion and planning really only ends when something is built (and even then, it’s never really ‘over’).   So far, nothing has been built.

Greenbelt, Berwyn Heights and College Park (including NCPCA) all supported the 2001 Sector Plan.  Since that time, the County supported a different ‘vision’ for the area near the station that did not conform with the Sector Plan that we all worked on, and agreed with.

The approved conceptual site plan of the Developer allowed much taller buildings than the Sector Plan, and did not conform to the step-back in building heights required by the Sector Plan.  Thus, the conceptual plan allowed much greater sight impacts and reflected noise impacts on the community.  It also propsed greater density, and had greater traffic impacts.

The issue of the enormous parking garage at the end of Lackawanna Street was another major problem.  Metro insisted upon construction of it’s own garage, just south of the station, which ended up as a proposed building about the size of the Washington Post Plant (!)

Is that the kind of building that we all want to see at the end of Lackawanna Street Street… and all the way down to Iroquios Street and beyond?

If not, then we might have to be involved in a process to ‘encourage’ the construction of smaller garages on the property, and less enormous buildings right next to our homes.

And there were other problems, too.  It’s a long list, really.

Read More

AT&T Plans to Install Cell Phone Tower in Sunnyside

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On March 28, 2011

In Announcements, Environment, NCPCA, Wireless

Proposed Cell Phone Tower in Sunnyside

AT&T is proposing to build a 125 ft cell phone tower on the City property at the east end of Odessa Road in Sunnyside. Please see the map below.

AT&T attorney Gregory E. Rapisarda, Esq. and other representatives will make a presentation at its meeting on April 14th, at the North College Park Citizens Association (NCPCA).

They will discuss AT&T’s proposed project and address questions and concerns about how AT&T seeks to improve its wireless services in the area.

Though AT&T has been marketing the tower to boost cell phone reception in North College Park, there have been concerns from residents elsewhere about the health risks caused by these cell towers.

The World Health Organization has said there are no established adverse health effects from cell phone base towers, but also recommended more research be conducted.

This piece of property is in the backyards of maybe 10 families.  A resident living  in that area is already furious about a piece of mail relating to this tower she had just received from AT&T.  I won’t be surprised that there are a many other residents sharing the same concern.

If you’re concerned about the proposed tower or want to find about it from the AT&T representative, please attend at the April 14th meeting.

If you’ll like to get more information on phone services, then please use this link.

March Experience & Enjoy College Park to Host Rep. Steny Hoyer

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On March 27, 2011

In Announcements

Seven Seas Chinese Restaurant

This month, the Experience and Enjoy College Park Tour will be visiting Seven Seas Restaurant (8503 Baltimore Ave.) tomorrow from 7:00pm – 10:00pm.

March’s guest speaker will be U.S. Congressman Steny Hoyer, who represents 5th Congressional district that includes College Park. 

The “Experience & Enjoy College Park Tour” is designed to bring those who work, live, and play in College Park together once a month to talk about local issues while patronizing a local restaurant. It was created by College Park residents who want to promote the idea of supporting local business.

I highly encourage anyone interested in supporting our local restaurants, meeting with other city residents, or wanting to find out more about what is going on around College Park to attend. These events are always fun and if you haven’t been to one yet now is as good a time as any to check one out.

Greenbelt Metro Station to Get Surveillance Cameras

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On March 26, 2011

In Metro, Public Safety

Greenbelt Metro north entrance

Metro revealed Thursday that it plans to install security cameras at the Greenbelt Metro entrance, the Washington Post reports.

The cameras will be part of 153 cameras that the Metro is planning to have at all stations.

The cameras will be bought using a $2.8 million from the Homeland Security Department, said Metro Chief Michael Taborn.

It’s unclear to say if there will be any camera installed in the northern entrance of the Greenbelt Metro.

North College Park residents have long demanded surveillance cameras on the path way from the Metro entrance to their neighborhood. Last year, reseidents sent a 300 signature petition to the WMATA. Metro did not respond to residents’ demand.

As for the reasons for installing the new cameras, Metro cites rise in crime activities inside the Metro station. It also says the bike theft has increased at the outside bike stations. Serious crimes in Metro have hit five year high.

Three stations  — Greenbelt, Branch Avenue and New Carrollton — were the top three stations for serious crimes in 2010.

New Rules Aim to Prevent Bamboo Spread in Neighborhood

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On March 25, 2011

In Community

Bamboo

In last Tuesday’s council session, the City of College Park introduced a resolution to prevent spread of bamboo onto adjacent properties.

The City says it has received a number of complaints from adjoining landowners that bamboo has spread onto their property without their permission, thereby creating a noxious growth.

Currently, there is no law in the city preventing the spread of bamboo to adjoining properties without permission.

The new rule will only be enforced if a neighbor complains about it, and a resident can easily address the problem by putting in barriers to prevent their bamboo from spreading into neighboring yards.

Violators of the rule will get $200 for the first violation and $400 for the second and subsequent violation every 30 days.  The penalty matches what is assessed in Tacoma Park for a violation – the City claims.

Most types of bamboo in the city are non-native species and are invasive. Once established, bamboo is extremely difficult to control, and tends to take over adjacent areas and properties, which makes it a noxious growth.

If a resident doesn’t address the problem, the City can step in and give the person a citation and a fine unless they put in a barrier.

There will be a public hearing on April 12, 2011, at 7:45 pm.

Dissecting City’s New Zoning Ordinance

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On March 24, 2011

In zoning

The new zoning ordinance that the City has recently introduced is certainly fairly complex and needs some explanation. NCPCA has recently published a side-by-side comparison chart that Larry Bleau has thankfully prepared. I’ve embedded that below for your reading. The City officials will also be having a Town Hall meeting this evening at 7pm at Davis Hall to discuss this further. Please attend, if you can.

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Council Approves ‘Neighborhood Friendly’ Skate Park Design

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On March 23, 2011

In Development, Projects

A skate park desiged by Gridline

The City Counci last night approved the design of College Park’s first skate park.

The skate spot will be built within the confines of Sunnyside Park on Rhode Island Avenue just north of Edgewood Road.

Exactly a year ago, (on Mar 22, 2010), the City awarded Seattle-based Grindline Skateparks (http://www.grindline.com/) a contract to design and build a skateboard park in Sunnyside Neighborhood Park in north College Park

The City held two public hearings on the park, one in April and another in June last year.

In October last year, the park’s design went through a few major revisions, after receiving concerns from M-NCPPC and some residents on children’s safety in the proposed park.

According to the new design, the park’s bowl wil be much shallower (four feet) compared to the previous one, which was more more than seven feet deep. The new design is expected to attract more beginning skaters and would be more safe for the community and easier to maintain. There will also be an addition of a stair element to the new design, and Grindline  presented the design at last week’s worksession.

M-NCPPC continues to have concems about maintenance and has requested that the City provide assistance. The City Manager and Public Works Director indicated that supplemental maintenance could be provided as part of the City’s routine park maintenance program.

What’s Next to Gateway Park?

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On March 22, 2011

In Development

Site trip – March 2011

The much discussed proposed Hollywood Gateway Park design work has been going “as scheduled”, with some minor changes.

At the request of the Landscape Architecture Department, student involvement in this project will be in the form of a Design Competition instead of a class assignment. 

“The Department believes that the city will get a better result because more time can be allotted, graduate students as well as undergrads could participate, preferably in teams, and they would have an incentive to work harder.” – said City Planner Terry Schum.

 The City has agreed to offer a total of $1,500 in prize money for first, second and third places.
 
Staff was scheduled to meet this week with Jack Sullivan, Landscape Architect and liaison for the Department, and provided him with the design recommendations and sketch prepared by the community. 

The Landscaping and Architecture Department has already provided information about the Design Competition to students and the students visited the site Site on March 21.

The Faculty will hold a review session with students on March 30 and the projects are due to L.A. Department on April 6. On April 13, students will present projects at community meeting at Davis Hall. On the next day (April 14), projects will be left at Davis Hall for additional review and comments by North College Park Citizens Association.

On April 18, Jury will select winners.  City will announce the Jury soon. They could include City staff and community members.

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