GREENBELT News ReviewAn Independent Newspaper VOL. 80, No. 6 15 Crescent Rd., Suite 100, Greenbelt, MD 20770-1887 DECEMBER 29, 2016 Top Stories of 2016 The News Review presents highlights of major stories of the past year. The reviews were prepared by Deanna Dawson, Amy Hansen, Kathleen Gallagher, James Giese, Sue Krofchik, Cathie Meetre, Diane Oberg and Mary Lou Williamson. FBI Headquarters In January council approved sending a letter to the GSA sup- porting the Greenbelt Metro Station site for a new FBI headquar- ters saying, “It is our strong belief that the Greenbelt site is the best location for a consolidated FBI headquarters.” Springfield, Va., and the old Landover Mall are the two competing sites, each with its own cheerleader. A decision was expected by year’s end. Lack of an early decision delayed providing a trail for the new residents of the South Core to reach the Greenbelt Metro Station. Anticipation that the Democrats would win the White House brought awareness that the balance might be swinging toward the Virginia site. In early December, the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure passed a resolution authorizing a new fully- consolidated FBI headquarters. Requirements in that resolution now seemed more favorable to the Maryland site. Still needed are funding from Congress and a final decision on the site location. Community Fund Celebrates PHOTO BY DINAH COHEN, AGE 13 DINAH COHEN, AGE BY PHOTO For seven months of this year the Greenbelt Community Foun- dation (GCF) celebrated the contribution to this community of the Rainbow over Greenbelt, December 27 at 7:45 a.m. organizations it has funded through its first 10 years of operation. Under the umbrella Explore Your Greenbelt, weekly articles in this paper and twice-monthly events showcased the variety of activities produced by each funded organization as part of their efforts to Council Approves Bridge MOU sustain and improve life in the city. Over $150,000 has been granted by GCF to organizations in amounts up to $5,000 including a Blues Festival, the restoration For Greenbelt Station Parkway of the Stream Valley Trail, a News Review Open House and en- by Diane Oberg vironmental work by the Girl Scouts. Beltway Plaza’s Back to School Night and St. Hugh’s Food Pantry also celebrated their With a meeting before and one The bridge is a jurisdictional Metropolitan Area Transit Au- involvement in the Explore Your Greenbelt Program. right after its December 12 meet- mess. It serves Greenbelt resi- thority expressing the city’s con- ing, the Greenbelt City Council dents by connecting the South cerns regarding the proposal to New City Manager? made short work of its agenda. Core to Greenbelt Road; however, permanently eliminate late-night The workload of the Greenbelt City Council was greatly in- Among other issues, they heard it is legally within the boundaries Metrorail service and the B30 creased by its need to find a replacement for retiring City Manager an update on escalating costs of of Berwyn Heights, even though bus between the Greenbelt Metro Michael McLaughlin. Since McLaughlin’s May announcement, repairing the dam at Greenbelt it does not connect to any Ber- Station and the Baltimore-Wash- council has held numerous executive worksessions to select and Lake, approved a draft memo- wyn Heights roads. The bridge ington International Thurgood employ an executive search firm, recruit potential candidates na- randum of understanding (MOU) provides transit over Branchville Marshall Airport. The letter will tionwide, identify the strengths a new manager should bring to establishing maintenance respon- Road, which is within the town also call for improved marketing the job and interview and select and negotiate terms of appoint- sibilities for the Greenbelt Station limits of Berwyn Heights and is of the B30 service. ment with potential candidates. In September, GovHR USA, the Parkway bridge and approved a maintained by Prince George’s Legislation executive search firm selected by council, met with city officials, grant program for low income County. The slopes north of the A resolution to authorize the city staff, various stakeholders including businesses, developers renters. Council also introduced bridge are privately owned. negotiated purchase of a package and representatives of city boards and committees and conducted a resolution for the purchase of Under the MOU, as described including police body cameras, two public meetings to seek input on what attributes and skills police body cameras. in a memorandum from City video storage and support and the next city manager should have, what challenges face the city Lake Dam Planner Jessica Bellah, the city replacing the department’s Tasers and what positive aspects the city has that candidates might find Council agreed to defer re- would take on oversight and was introduced for first reading. appealing. On November 14, the council held a public meet and questing bond funds to repair the maintenance responsibilities for The total price is $312,200 over greet session at the Municipal Building for residents to meet and dam at Buddy Attick Park. City the 88 feet of roadway as if it five years. speak with three finalist candidates for the position. Since then, Manager Michael McLaughlin were an extension of the city’s Council unanimously approved council has held other executive sessions, criticized by some for said that in the current phase of dedicated right-of-way for the legislation to establish a grant their secretiveness, but has yet to announce its final choice to the project they are having to rest of Greenbelt Station Park- program for very low income become Greenbelt’s seventh city manager. go deeper to make repairs than way. This includes items such renters. This program will provide expected and the materials in the as repair of potholes, sidewalks, renters approved by the state with County Zoning Rewrite dam are of poorer quality than curbs and gutters, guardrails and a payment equal to one half of Having started a year earlier for the staff of the Prince George’s expected. As a result, the cost signage. The county would be the state payment, following the County Planning Department, the proposed comprehensive rewrite estimate for the work has nearly responsible for all elements of the county’s example. The cost of of the County Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Regulations was doubled. The city wants to take a bridge’s physical structure except See BRIDGE, page 12 introduced to the public in 2015. In 2017 the document will be step back and review the project the asphalt surface. The retain- submitted to the county council, which acts as the district council to determine if changes are need- ing walls north of the bridge will on zoning and land-use matters. ed before seeking bond funds that be maintained by the Greenbelt What Goes On During 2016, the rewrite kept county planning staff extremely would need to be spent within a Station South Core Homeowners busy, periodically spiked the workload of Greenbelt’s planning limited time frame. Association. Monday, January 2 staff, attracted a high level of interest from Greenbelt Homes, Greenbelt Station The MOU was approved by City Offices Are Closed Inc., and brought out many city residents, in addition to council, Council approved an MOU a 6 to 1 vote with Councilmem- Greenbelt Connection Will to a series of informational briefings on its content and schedule. stating that if the county, the ber Rodney Roberts opposed. Not Operate The existing zoning ordinance is about 50 years old, weighs town of Berwyn Heights, the Roberts objected to city taxpay- Wednesday, January 4 in at more than 1,200 pages and has been described as confusing, developer and the homeown- ers maintaining a road outside 8 p.m., Council Worksession inconsistent, bloated, difficult to use and full of legalese. As if ers association concur, it will of Greenbelt. While having the with Principal of Eleanor that were not bad enough, county staff deemed the ordinance to establish who is responsible for land become part of Greenbelt Roosevelt High School, be no longer in sync with the county’s vision for future growth what regarding the maintenance may seem the simplest solution, Community Center and development. of roughly 88 feet of roadway Bellah reported that the city can- Thursday, January 5 The proposed document comprises three modules: Zones and on Greenbelt Station Parkway, not legally annex another town’s Uses, Development Standards, and Zoning Processes and Subdivi- 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., Free Pro- including the bridge over Branch- property. sion Regulations. Multiple listening sessions for the public were ville Road that connects Green- Metro Service duce Distribution, Springhill presented this year on each module as it was drafted. In Greenbelt, belt Station’s South Core to Council unanimously approved Lake Elementary School (See Greenbelt Road (Md. Route 193). sending a letter to the Washington city ad for details.) See TOP STORIES, page 7 Page 2 GREENBELT NEWS REVIEW Thursday, December 29, 2016 City Notes Remembering Greenbelters Public Works staff attended the commissioning of new LED Who Died in 2016 light fixtures in the Community Charles “Chuck” Roderick Ashurst, 64, January 5, 2016 Center gym. Trisha Lynn Bayles, 42, October 22, 2016 Refuse/Recycling/Sustainability John R. Beaird, 89, March 1, 2016 crews collected 23.17 tons of re- John M. Beckham, 80, March 18, 2016 fuse and 12.54 tons of recyclable Pauline Alice Bordas, 87, September 10, 2016 material. Bessie Brickman, 96, November 17, 2015 A second collection of 25 un- Kathleen Marie Brlansky, 62, April 15, 2016 wrapped Toys for Tots was deliv- Journey Butler, 13, July 7, 2016 ered to a Toys "R" Us drop box.