“WE HAD 10 YEARS TO GET IT RIGHT - WE GOT IT WRONG - AND Berman Enterprises PLANS TO MAKE IT WORSE”
Advisory Planning Board Meeting – 11/15/2016
I am Larry Swank, a 40-year resident on Scarlet Lane, which is on the southwest boarder of the city-planned Bowie Main Street. I have talked with many impacted neighbors who are concerned about preserving the character our original section of Levitt Bowie.
The 2006 Bowie and Vicinity Master Plan envisions a mixed-use activity center which includes the Marketplace. The plan paints an attractive picture with active commercial and residential components. It also sets forth a policy that “…development of Bowie Main Street not adversely impact the character of the existing residential neighborhood.” A key strategy of the plan is to “…transition in building density and intensity from more intense uses located at the core of Bowie Main Street along MD 450 to less intense uses along the “edge”, adjacent to residential neighborhoods. Well …
WE HAD 10 YEARS TO GET IT RIGHT - WE GOT IT WRONG - AND BermaN Enterprises PLANS TO MAKE IT WORSE
We only have one or two chances in a century to impact real change on a site like the Marketplace. We have lost out on the appealing Bowie Main Street vision of an upscale destination with “unique character and sense of place.” In my opinion, we now have just another nice suburban strip mall. I believe this misfortune was the result of not involving the community early in the project planning.
The developer agreed in writing with the city to “… redevelop the Marketplace in accordance with … concepts contained in the Master Plan.” The developer has elected to ignore key components of Plan, and other guiding documents, in development of the commercial component of the Marketplace.
The Planning Department now comes to you with recommendations to disapprove the Conceptional Site Plan, Preliminary Plan, and Detailed Site Plan for the proposed residential component of the Marketplace. It is well thought out and come up with correct decisions involving:
1) Excessive density for both the available space on-site and the proximity to the adjacent residential neighborhood (about 5 dwelling units per acre may be approvable – not the proposed 57 units per acre)
2) Excessive vehicle traffic on city streets that do not meet current City and County maximum service volume, and
3) Excessive scale, mass and bulk of the proposed building being incompatible with both the existing detached residential homes and the new Market Place retail buildings, which will adversely impact the character of existing neighborhood
I recommend disapproval of all plans; however, If the Preliminary Plan application is approved by either the Advisory Planning Board or the City Council I am requesting that the following condition be added to ensure compliance with City/County policies, strategies and citizen input at any future DSP review:
· Add to page 38, Section VI, B, 2, an item (g) that reads – (g) Provide a plan that conforms to all the Zoning Ordinance site design guidelines.
This would ensure that policies from PG Zoning Ordinances such as:
o limiting trash collection hours, noise levels from music, and a ban outdoor dining and other outdoor activity within 200 feet of a detached dwelling
o exterior lighting guidelines, which are being violated by the current Marketplace configuration, and a
o ban on balconies for units overlooking adjacent single family residences