Business & Tech

Cafritz Back Before the Planning Board in May

Developers have submitted both a preliminary site plan and a detailed site plan for review in May.

After repeated delays due to the developers’ failure to meet several conditions, the Cafritz development is scheduled before the Prince George’s County Planning Board again in May.

Calvert Tract’s efforts to begin developing the 37-acre parcel of land in north Riverdale Park first ground to a halt back in January when the planning board staff recommended disapproval of the prelminary site plan.

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Following a letter from the American Center for Physic, it became clear the developers had established neither a location or a funding mechanism for a CSX crossing. Under the terms of the rezoning plan approved by the planning board, ground cannot be broken until this condition is met.

Developers also failed to meet several other conditions, including the establishment of a circulator bus and maintaining a tree canopy.

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The project hit another wall in March when, after several weeks of conversations, the American Center for Physics decided not to sell Calvert Tract the property for the CSX crossing.

Despite these roadblocks, the developers have continued to move forward on the project.

“So far, we are making good progress,” Larry Taub, a lawyer for the developers, told the Riverdale Park Town Council in a meeting a few weeks ago.

Most recently, Calvert Tract has filed a preliminary site plans and detailed site plan with the planning board, both of which have been accepted. The PSP is scheduled for a hearing on May 16 and the DSP is scheduled for a hearing on May 23.

Developers are working on a new CSX crossing that would be located at the south end of the property, crossing over land owned by the University of Maryland.

“Conversations are ongoing,” Taub said.

The crossing would come out into the cul de sac at Rivertech Court, he added.

The new bridge alignment would also allow for more tree preservation and an historic alignment of the hiker-biker trolley trail, as suggested by the planning board staff.

The Riverdale Park town council recently passed two pieces of legislation that could act as part of the funding mechanism for the crossing. 

The developers have also come up with a plan for the preservation of the historic ice house on the property. The current design would see a masonry drum enclosing the ice house with some descriptive signage and a seating area.

There will be a meeting on the Cafritz development in University Park at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at University Park Elementary School. 

See also: 

  • Funding the Cafritz Bridge: TIFs and Taxing Districts
  • ACP Rejects Cafritz CSX Bridge Proposal
  • Cafritz Developers Announce Intent to Refile
  • University Park Mayor Wants Cafritz Apology
  • Cafritz Team Withdraws Preliminary Plan
  • Planning Staff Recommends Disapproval of Cafritz Preliminary Plan


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