Politics & Government

Council Support of Cafritz Project Uncertain in Riverdale Park

The town council continued revising its letter Friday to the county planning board, but members say they may vote against the project.

Although they've spent many long hours and late nights going over development plans and suggesting revisions, the Riverdale Park Town Council's support of the is still uncertain.

At Friday night's worksession, Councilman Alan Thompson (Ward 2) hinted that they may not be submitting their recommendations to the planning board at all. 

"If there isn't movement on covenants, we'll be submitting a very different letter," said Thompson.

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"A much shorter letter," said Councilman Jonathan Ebbeler (Ward 1), indicating that the town may still decide not to support the Cafritz developer's request for rezoning at the Prince George's County Planning Board meeting later this week. 

Ward 1 residents Kate and Joe Kelly also raised their concerns over a proposed tax legislation bill, PG 418-12. The bill proposes tax exemptions for certain types of economic development in Prince George's County. As the Kellys understood the bill, Riverdale Park could lose as much as 80 percent of the projected revenue from the Cafritz development.

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But Mayor Vernon Archer said this was not the case. Archer and Thompson said that when they had spoken with representatives from Councilman Eric Olson's office about PG 418-12, they were assured that language would be added to the bill making municipalities exempt — and therefore still able to levy taxes on new developments.

The council did approve several changes to their letter to bring it into agreement with University Park's letter. Some of these changes included:

  • Asking the developer to comply with the newest standards of storm water development, even though the developer is grandfathered into the older standards;
  • Adopting University Park's language on their Transportation Management Plan;
  • Adding language concerning a traffic light at Van Buren Street, which would be the main entrance to the development.

The council adjourned the meeting and went into executive session to confer with its lawyer.

Members are set to hold a special legislative session Monday at 8 p.m. to continue their discussion of the town's position on the Cafritz development.


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