Planners hear Waldorf Station testimony
Public comment period extended on proposed mixed-use development
Planning commission chair Angela Sherard cast a tie-breaking vote Monday night to reject a motion to recommend approval of a developer’s proposal to change the configuration of the proposed Waldorf Station project at the Prince George’s County border.
The planning commission voted instead to extend the public comment period through late November.
Greenberg Gibbons Commercial requested approval of a revision to the general development plan for the 141-acre project, which straddles U.S. 301 and is envisioned as a gateway to Charles County. It would feature mixed-use residential, commercial and civic buildings similar in concept to Greenberg Gibbons’ Waugh Chapel Towne Centre development in Gambrills.
Brian Gibbons, president and CEO of Greenberg Gibbons, explained that the developer was seeking approval to reduce the number of previously approved development “districts” from three to two. The company believes that such a change would allow it to more easily achieve a “critical mass” of completed buildings and amenities in the first district to be completed, in order to successfully attract tenants.
Gibbons explained that a significant amount of infrastructure such as utilities must be installed in advance, and they want to have those in place to meet the market demand when it occurs.
“We don’t want to lose the windows of opportunity that presents itself,” Gibbons explained.
To that end, both districts would be planned at the same time, but construction of the larger district, north of U.S. 301, would begin first.
Greenberg Gibbons acquired the properties two years ago. The properties were rezoned for transit-oriented development in 2004.
Planning commission members addressed a number of questions to Gibbons and to county planning staff about the plan, including pedestrian crosswalks and how the proposal would impact the county’s plans for a transit station in the area. Gibbons explained that the Waldorf Station development does not include the proposed transit station, which would be a county project.
Five residents testified during the public hearing. Two were opposed, arguing that the proposed Waldorf Station would not be successful and that it would have a negative impact on property values in the surrounding community. Three people urged the county to ensure that the development did not cause additional stormwater management issues in the Stonewell neighborhood south of the proposed development.
Waldorf Station is also the site of a proposed interchange along U.S. 301 connecting Mattawoman Beantown Road and the new terminus of Western Parkway. This year’s General Assembly approved $13 million for the construction of the interchange.
Planning commission member Wayne Magoon described the proposed change as a “pretty simple revision” and moved that it be approved. Member Richard Viohl, saying that Waldorf Station was “probably the biggest development in the county in 40 years,” said he favored keeping the record open for an additional 30 days to address the residents’ concerns about stormwater management.
The four commission members present were evenly split on the motion and Sherard cast a “nay” vote to break the tie. Magoon’s was the sole vote against a subsequent motion to keep the record open until close of business Wednesday, Nov. 28.