University Park's Cafritz Oversight & Monitoring Committee is set to hold its first meeting tonight (Monday) from 7:30 to 9 p.m. at University Park Elementary School.

The newly-formed body is charged with tracking the progress of the Cafritz development, which won a key zoning approval in July from the Prince George's County District Council.

Earlier this month, the town council unanimously appointed councilmembers Roy Alvarez, Len Carey, Michael Cron, and Arlene Christiansen plus University Park resident Linda Verrill to the committee. One vacancy still remains.

The Cafritz plan calls for some 900 units of housing, a 35,000-square-foot Whole Foods, a 120-room hotel, and additional office and retail space to be built on a 36-acre directly adjacent to University Park.

The developer must clear several more hurdles before any construction can begin, including a preliminary plan of subdivision, a detailed site plan, subdivision plats, and certain benchmarks for a road bridge over the neighboring CSX tracks. 

Supporters say the project will spur economic growth and bring a desirable mix of retail and residential development to the area. Critics charge that the plan will impose extreme fiscal, environmental, and traffic pressure on the surrounding communities.

Tonight's meeting will be held in the UPES Media Center (read the agenda here).