As a key hearing of the Prince George's County Planning Board draws near, the developers of the Cafritz property are employing new tactics to rally community support for their rezoning plan.

According to College Park Councilwoman Stephanie Stullich (Dist. 3), a number of Calvert Hills residents received calls late last month from people claiming to be a part of a citizens’ group supporting the plan. The neighborhood runs along the northern boundary of the property.

Cafritz attorney Chip Reed confirmed that the calls came from a public relations firm employed by the development team but said he was not aware of the communications until Stullich inquired about them on Dec. 27.

“Those calls were the result of an overzealous person and the calls will cease,” Reed said. Stullich said residents have not reported any additional calls since last Tuesday.

Robert Ramsey, who lives in Calvert Hills, was one of the residents contacted by the firm.

"[The caller] was offensive and condescending and who she was representing was not at all clear,” he said.

She talked about the benefits of the development, Ramsey said, implying there was a plot among some elected officials to block the development and asking if he would be willing to call Stullich in support of the project. She hung up on him when he said he would not, Ramsey said.

Another Calvert Hills resident, Douglas Shontz, reported receiving a similar phone call. Both Shontz and Ramsey said the woman claimed to be from a citizens’ group.

“We’re just anxious to get out there that the calls were made, but on further review, we thought them overzealous and they were ceased,” Reed said. He added he did not know who the Cafritz public relations firm is.

Calls from Patch to the Cafritz family were not immediately returned.

Last week, the developers also sent a direct mailing to residents of College Park, Riverdale Park, and University Park asking them to sign and return a postcard in support of the development. Although Reed said he does not approve of the phone calls, he described the mailers as a legitimate outreach effort.

“We feel that there is a lot of support out there, and we are looking for ways to tap into that public support,” Reed said.

Citizen Support, Opposition

Among that support is a petition signed by 114 residents in municipalities surrounding the property, submitted to the county’s planning board.

“We believe that it would be a tremendous benefit to our community, providing retail opportunities that are currently lacking in an accessible location, as well as adding quality housing near transit hubs," Cynthia Finley wrote in the letter. Finley is a College Park resident who helped organize the petition.

Those opposed to the rezoning are involved in a grassroots effort as well.

College Park resident Joseph Grikis is one of several locals who wrote letters to the county planning board opposing the rezoning. He said in an email that he plans to spend this weekend petitioning for signatures and distributing information with his concerns about the development.

Grikis added that this is part of an ongoing effort among College Park, University Park and Riverdale Park residents who oppose the project.

In addition to the Whole Foods Market, Cafritz developers hope to build almost 1,000 residential units, a fitness center, and a hotel in Riverdale Park. The area is currently zoned for residential use only (R-55), but developers are pursuing a zoning change.

In recent weeks, the developers have been meeting with area municipalities to reach a consensus about the proposed development.

"How College Park will vote on this depends largely on how the negotiations go," Stullich said.