top of page
Council Member Dernoga's Staff

From the Office of Council Member Tom Dernoga November 2023

Updated: Nov 21, 2023





Our recent secure paper shredding event with District 1 Team members Katherine Fuentes, Michelle García, and Jerri Jones who are all residents of Beltsville.

District 1 Community Conversation: Superintendent Millard House II

Beltsville residents are invited to join the District 1 Virtual Community Conversation on Thursday, November 30, at 7:00 PM. You're invited to meet the new Superintendent of Prince George's County Public Schools, Mr. Millard L. House II. Questions may be submitted with your registration. Request ASL or Spanish translation assistance by November 20. Advance registration is required online at https://bit.ly/d1house1130


High Point High School Replacement

The Prince George’s County Public Schools' Department of Capita; Programs will host a virtual Project Information Town Hall meeting via Zoom on Monday, November 6, at 5:30 PM. Register online at https://bit.ly/HighPoint-Nov6

Residents can learn updates and share views on the replacement project for High Point High School.


Update: Proposed Vansville Townhouse Development

A developer is seeking to develop 7.75 acres of land at the southeast intersection of Old Baltimore Pike and Ammendale Way (11701 Old Baltimore Pike, Vansville) into a Harmony Garden townhouse community with a maximum of 67 units. To view the plans, visit here: https://bit.ly/11701OldBmorePikeDev

In February of this year, a neighborhood meeting was held with the developer to discuss this project in greater detail, per Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) guidelines. In September, our office hosted another community meeting with the developer about the proposed townhouse project for anyone who missed the earlier informational meeting.

The project is on the M-NCPPC Planning Board agenda for Thursday, November 30 at 10:00 AM. To sign up to speak or submit written comment, speaker registration and all materials for Planning Board consideration must be submitted by 12:00 NOON on Tuesday, November 28, two days prior to the Planning Board meeting. The registration link will be available at https://bit.ly/planningboardtestify

All interested people are encouraged to become a "person of record" for this application. As a person of record in a zoning case, you are notified of upcoming meetings, actions, and decisions made at certain stages of the zoning application process and relevant appeals procedures. Requests to become a person of record may be made online at http://bit.ly/MNCPPCpor or call 301-952-3530 for additional information. Please reference the subject application number: PPS-2022-043


Proposed Centerpark Development in Beltsville

A development has been proposed for multifamily dwellings located at the south side of MD 212 & Beltsville Drive intersection. By Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) guidelines, a virtual neighborhood meeting will be held on Monday, November 6 at 6:30 PM at via Zoom to discuss this project in greater detail with the community. The Zoom access link is: https://bit.ly/centerparknov6; Passcode: 098617; Dial in by your location: 301-715-8592. If you would like more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/centerparkbeltsville


All interested persons are encouraged to become a "person of record" for this application. As a person of record in a zoning case, you are given notice of upcoming meetings, actions, and decisions made at certain stages of the zoning application process, as well as relevant appeals procedures. Requests to become a person of record may be made online at http://bit.ly/MNCPPCpor or call 301-952-3530 for additional information. Please reference the subject application numbers: PPS-2023-025 & DET-2023-010



It’s Time for Development to Work for Us

For 60 years, County leaders and planners have promised forward-looking development focused on Metro stations and inner Beltway revitalization. But most Metro stations have little development, and townhouses pop up all over the County leading to some of the worst congestion in the U.S., overcrowded schools in the north, and old, crumbling schools throughout the County. The police department is understaffed and overstretched, and crime is rising. The backlog for new and renovated fire stations is overwhelming. The debt service that the County pays on capital projects has increased dramatically, approaching our 8% limit, which will threaten our AAA bond rating.

My new resolution, Council Resolution 83-2023, attacks this problem head-on, targeting development to go where we want it. For 20 years, the County has averaged 2,800 dwelling units built each year, but almost 80% of these units have been outside the Beltway. In addition, where 20 years ago, over 70% of these units were single-family detached, recent years have seen almost two-thirds of housing outside the Beltway become townhouses and multi-family. The County needs denser development, but it should follow our designated County plans to build where we have invested in infrastructure.

What does CR-83-2023 do?



- Targets 75% of new development to Regional and Local Transit Centers

- Allows 25% of new development to continue to go to suburban and rural areas

- Provides a 6-year window to address deficiencies in school, road, fire and police facilities

- Creates an annual review process to target public facility deficiencies

Plan 2035, our latest County development plan from 2014, sets a goal of 75% of new development to be built in Regional and Local Transit Centers. The County Climate Action Plan has the same goal. Eight years after Plan 2035, we are still failing to achieve these goals because Plan 2035 has no teeth.

Is 60 years of not following growth plans acceptable? We need to take control of our futures. CR-83-2023 will control sprawl and refocus new development to priority areas, allowing the County to address infrastructure deficiencies.


Join our District 1 Senior Living Newsletter List

Don’t miss out on resources, local activities, and events for seniors. Sign up for our monthly senior email newsletter: bit.ly/D1SeniorNewsletterOptIn


Contact Us

Please keep in touch. Email us at councildistrict1@co.pg.md.us or call 301-952-3887. Se habla español. On parle français. نحن نتكلم العربية. Follow us on Facebook, X, Threads, and Instagram: @TomDernogaD1

26 views0 comments

Comentarios


bottom of page