1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:30,960 Good morning. All right, calling, planning, housing, and economic development committee to order. Are we all? We are now. Good morning, everyone. Calling, planning, housing, and economic development committee to order on September 27th. Can we please call the roll? Chair Belgaire, present. Councilmember Adam Stafford. Councilmember Denova. 2 00:00:31,680 --> 00:00:32,740 Councilmember Olsen. 3 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:33,380 Here. 4 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:34,800 Vice-cheroyada. 5 00:00:34,940 --> 00:00:35,120 Here. 6 00:00:35,460 --> 00:00:35,700 Motion. 7 00:00:35,940 --> 00:00:38,500 I made five members present at the roll call. 8 00:00:39,900 --> 00:00:40,640 All right. 9 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:41,520 Thank you. 10 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:45,880 So we have a long agenda of bills today. 11 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:48,300 Can we start with? 12 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:51,360 Is this CB19? 13 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:53,360 The first one, the agenda. 14 00:00:54,200 --> 00:00:54,900 Madam Chair. 15 00:00:55,260 --> 00:00:56,040 Good morning. 16 00:00:56,340 --> 00:00:57,760 We can start with CB19. 17 00:00:58,420 --> 00:00:59,300 Or we can go. 18 00:00:59,300 --> 00:01:08,520 Okay, so let me circle back, sorry about that, I would like to bring CB89 forward and 19 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,540 act concerning sale of tobacco products and convenience stores. 20 00:01:12,220 --> 00:01:15,560 And that I think we have a motion for this bill. 21 00:01:16,920 --> 00:01:18,440 Motion to move favourable? 22 00:01:19,140 --> 00:01:19,560 Sorry. 23 00:01:19,940 --> 00:01:20,260 AB9. 24 00:01:20,660 --> 00:01:22,260 AB9 on pause lines. 25 00:01:22,420 --> 00:01:22,900 It's closed. 26 00:01:23,440 --> 00:01:23,700 The whole. 27 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:28,760 I have two bills just for clarification. 28 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:41,240 We are going to be moving this forward, originally staff thought we needed the two pieces of legislation and they are recommending only one. 29 00:01:42,220 --> 00:01:48,480 So my intention is still to pass this legislation, we're just holding the one we don't believe we need. 30 00:01:53,950 --> 00:02:02,890 Okay, thank you. So you have a motion to hold and yes, so there's been a motion, okay. 31 00:02:03,090 --> 00:02:06,710 There's a motion by the chair, second by the vice chair. 32 00:02:07,190 --> 00:02:08,090 Please call the roll. 33 00:02:11,790 --> 00:02:12,430 I. 34 00:02:13,270 --> 00:02:14,730 Councilmember Adam Stafford. 35 00:02:14,890 --> 00:02:15,050 I. 36 00:02:15,710 --> 00:02:16,610 Councilmember Danoga. 37 00:02:17,530 --> 00:02:18,390 Councilmember Olsen. 38 00:02:19,530 --> 00:02:20,170 Aye. 39 00:02:26,030 --> 00:02:26,590 Thank 40 00:02:31,230 --> 00:02:48,150 you so much. Okay. Now we can move on to Medicare 5 may interrupt or you all voted to hold indefinitely. Is that correct for CB 89. Yes. Okay. Thank you very much for the record that it is held indefinitely. Thank you. All right. 41 00:02:48,630 --> 00:03:07,730 Next on the agenda is CB81, I would note that our council member, Adams, has asked if we could hold this until Monday, because he is not able to make it, so we're holding it, and do we need to vote to hold to Monday? 42 00:03:08,230 --> 00:03:09,650 Okay, make a move. 43 00:03:10,910 --> 00:03:11,090 Second. 44 00:03:12,390 --> 00:03:14,450 Okay, there's a motion to hold. 45 00:03:14,450 --> 00:03:23,170 second. Chair Bogey. I. Councilmember Adam Stafford. I. Councilmember Denoga. Councilmember 46 00:03:23,170 --> 00:03:33,410 Olsen. Aye. Vice Chair Ouyaga. Motion carries 5-0. Yes, 8-1. And we will be bringing back 47 00:03:33,410 --> 00:03:43,050 8-1 on Monday. And thank you all. Sorry. We are moving around in the agenda today. So finally, 48 00:03:43,050 --> 00:03:51,190 We are back at CB19, and I would like to turn it over to Ms. Hightower. 49 00:03:51,730 --> 00:03:55,690 That's good morning, Chair Blaguey, and members of the PHED Committee. 50 00:03:57,530 --> 00:04:03,930 CB19, 2026, draft one, repeals the exemption from detailed site plan review for qualified data centers. 51 00:04:04,410 --> 00:04:08,370 This bill was held in the committee on April 2, 2026. 52 00:04:08,370 --> 00:04:12,670 There is a proposed draft to A and Mr. Hamlin can discuss those amendments. 53 00:04:13,190 --> 00:04:17,610 Those amendments can be located on pages 34 through 38 of your binder. 54 00:04:18,390 --> 00:04:25,190 The planning department, excuse me, the planning board voted to take no position on the legislation. 55 00:04:25,710 --> 00:04:32,090 The office of law found the bill to be in proper legislative form with no impediments to enactment. 56 00:04:32,090 --> 00:04:35,930 We previously had one person sign up online. 57 00:04:36,250 --> 00:04:42,890 I'd like to turn to either the bill's sponsor or to Mr. Hamlin to go with amendments. 58 00:04:43,350 --> 00:04:45,110 And I'm turning over to Chair Riyada. 59 00:04:45,630 --> 00:04:46,170 Thank you. 60 00:04:47,310 --> 00:04:59,990 So this is a piece of legislation that I promised to move forward the moment that myself, many of my colleagues and the community have learned about a piece of 61 00:05:00,000 --> 00:05:29,800 The legislation that passed before I came to serve on this body that for me, I have to be honest, I felt like really blindsided the community. It created a process that would allow for data centers not to come before the council. It would allow them to go straight to permitting. And as I said before, I'll say again, I think it was done 62 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:38,580 unintentionally to allow for the land oversight to get where it was in the dark of night. 63 00:05:39,140 --> 00:05:45,180 I think it's why so many residents, not just in Prince George's County, I think around 64 00:05:45,180 --> 00:05:52,800 the country are distrustful of politicians because they take money from special interests 65 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:56,120 and they do things like that piece of legislation. 66 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:01,420 So, then that when it opens up, they can say, well, I didn't approve it. 67 00:06:01,540 --> 00:06:02,720 I had no hands in it. 68 00:06:03,000 --> 00:06:10,140 It happened not on my watch, but there's an accountability where anything of that magnitude 69 00:06:10,780 --> 00:06:17,180 should one come before this body and that it should have a process that allows for community 70 00:06:17,180 --> 00:06:17,800 input. 71 00:06:18,700 --> 00:06:24,920 And so, what this piece of legislation will do here today is rectify what I think was 72 00:06:24,920 --> 00:06:38,120 a huge wrong and it was a way to cut out democracy and the community's voice and things that 73 00:06:38,120 --> 00:06:45,340 can be the most impactful to them. I also have amendments that the lawyers will go over that 74 00:06:45,340 --> 00:06:54,840 specifically looks at besting rights and abilities so that no project, no matter the time 75 00:06:54,840 --> 00:07:00,460 time in which it started here in Prince George's County, would be able to benefit from that 76 00:07:00,460 --> 00:07:06,620 law that was passed, a permanent solution to something that we have been advocating for. 77 00:07:07,260 --> 00:07:13,240 So I hope that my colleagues will support me in passing this piece of legislation today. 78 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:20,160 I just think that it's important that we center the community and the residents and that 79 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:26,420 that they have a voice and that we write the wrong of the body that, to me, passed something 80 00:07:26,910 --> 00:07:31,260 in the dark of night and we have an opportunity to do something that's right and one step 81 00:07:31,260 --> 00:07:36,260 closer to restoring the faith of residents and those that they elect to serve them. 82 00:07:36,660 --> 00:07:37,240 So thank you. 83 00:07:38,540 --> 00:07:45,940 Thank you and I also want to say something because I was part of the group I personally promised 84 00:07:45,940 --> 00:07:50,400 that I would put this forward, that was one of the promises that I made last year. 85 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:52,600 And I do want to apologize to many. 86 00:07:52,900 --> 00:07:58,140 I was also blindsided and felt a bit foolish as I went around telling people, 87 00:07:58,380 --> 00:08:01,660 oh, if there's a data center coming and they're concerned from the residents, 88 00:08:01,660 --> 00:08:03,280 it has to come before the council. 89 00:08:03,480 --> 00:08:04,680 I said that multiple times. 90 00:08:05,220 --> 00:08:10,140 I did not find out until I served on the qualified data center task force. 91 00:08:10,540 --> 00:08:13,800 And during that time, that was when we discovered 92 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:21,840 heard that there had been a bill that would remove this process in 2021 prior to me coming 93 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:28,080 on the council. No one even council members that we served with even notified us about 94 00:08:28,080 --> 00:08:35,540 this, which made us feel then that it had to go back and actually tell people that actually 95 00:08:35,540 --> 00:08:42,640 I was wrong, it doesn't come before the council. I am all about transparency. I've been 96 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:52,400 about transparency, that's been something that I pushed on the council, that's why we have been very vocal about every part of the process, even when it makes me look vulnerable. 97 00:08:53,440 --> 00:09:12,620 And in this one there, even, let's just say whether you're four or opposed data centers to cut out the process that gives at least the ability for the community to be a part of the process, meaning that pressuring their council members using the democracy that's been put before. 98 00:09:12,620 --> 00:09:20,140 for us makes it, makes it clear to people and it almost sends a picture that everyone 99 00:09:20,140 --> 00:09:24,880 is in on putting the data center in the community and doesn't want the community to have a 100 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:25,100 say. 101 00:09:25,540 --> 00:09:27,060 I would say that this is not. 102 00:09:27,320 --> 00:09:30,860 We have been lobbied hard against doing this. 103 00:09:31,460 --> 00:09:36,380 And even colleagues that I have supported in the past have said don't do this because this 104 00:09:36,380 --> 00:09:38,720 might send the wrong message, but we're sending the right message. 105 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:46,360 If a data center wants to come to the community, they got to go through the same process as everyone else, there should be no exceptions. 106 00:09:47,060 --> 00:09:55,580 And in fact, there should be even more scrutiny on the data center because it has more impact on our community than building a town home or an apartment building. 107 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:59,960 the amount of electricity that is taken, we're going into a- 108 00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:29,920 Another cold, they say that this is even going to be a colder winter. And now we're going to have to deal with all of the people who can't pay their bills because they're competing now with a data center in their community. We are also dealing with a lot of impact that we're looking at water. They're things I've heard everyone. So for this, I am a solid support of this. I am unwavering. I'm asking nobody, please do not come and ask me if I'm going to vote against it because the answer is no. 109 00:10:29,920 --> 00:10:31,400 So, don't even bother. 110 00:10:31,780 --> 00:10:34,620 All right, so we are moving on to, 111 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:37,400 we are moving on to, 112 00:10:40,500 --> 00:10:42,820 oh yes, yes and we do not want 113 00:10:42,820 --> 00:10:45,420 to put any pressure on our great 114 00:10:45,420 --> 00:10:47,140 Shayla, our councilmember here 115 00:10:47,140 --> 00:10:49,300 to have people at her door 116 00:10:49,300 --> 00:10:51,640 at everywhere begging to make sure 117 00:10:51,640 --> 00:10:53,400 that we don't have this happen. 118 00:10:53,560 --> 00:10:56,020 So we do not want to repeat history. 119 00:10:56,020 --> 00:10:57,840 So I want to turn it over to councilmember 120 00:11:00,380 --> 00:11:09,920 I believe I asked to be added as a co-sponsor of this bill, but there was so much happening at the time, I'm not sure if I was added on, so I'd like to be added. 121 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:19,540 And I just want to thank my colleagues for really jumping into action once we realized really what was happening was I was gotten to office last year. 122 00:11:19,540 --> 00:11:28,900 We contacted the community, came together as colleagues and said, what can we do to ensure that this doesn't happen to any other community in our county. 123 00:11:29,540 --> 00:11:45,820 For something of this magnitude as my colleagues have said, it's really important that the community has a say in how it presents itself, whether that be through regulation, whether that be through, you know, just some of the guidelines. 124 00:11:45,820 --> 00:12:05,620 It's unconscionable to think that something would be just placed in a community, and I think that we have historical legacies of large scale industrial operations being put into communities of color with no input, no feedback. 125 00:12:05,980 --> 00:12:09,340 And so I'm really grateful for this piece of legislation. 126 00:12:09,340 --> 00:12:16,120 I think that, again, this is really sending a strong message that the council is the voice 127 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:21,040 of the people, and so anything like this needs to come before us. 128 00:12:21,280 --> 00:12:24,520 So again, I'm really grateful, and I ask to be added. 129 00:12:24,680 --> 00:12:24,920 Thank you. 130 00:12:26,300 --> 00:12:27,600 Thank you so much. 131 00:12:27,740 --> 00:12:31,040 And I'll go back to Ms. High's hours to discuss amendments. 132 00:12:34,100 --> 00:12:37,320 Madam Chair, I'd like to defer to Mr. Hamlin. 133 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:38,680 Thank you very much. 134 00:12:41,340 --> 00:12:41,760 Okay. 135 00:12:41,820 --> 00:12:42,200 Good morning. 136 00:12:42,200 --> 00:12:50,980 As it was noted, the intention of the original bill was to undo a provision in CB-120-1 137 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:56,180 that exempted qualified data centers from the detailed site plan. 138 00:12:56,900 --> 00:13:06,920 Draft1 did that, but what Draft2 does is it reaches back into projects which may be 139 00:13:06,920 --> 00:13:12,660 be proceeding pursuant to the zoning ordinance's transitional provisions under the prior zoning ordinance. 140 00:13:13,540 --> 00:13:22,960 And what it does then is reach back and basically put a stop to any project which may have been proceeding under the old ordinance unless they have vested rights. 141 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:25,820 And that's a legal issue that we can't deal with. 142 00:13:25,980 --> 00:13:35,940 But essentially what this does is foreclose even projects which were able to proceed under the prior ordinance from doing so. 143 00:13:35,940 --> 00:13:41,500 So it strengthens it, and I think really fulfills all the sponsors intent. 144 00:13:43,460 --> 00:13:47,880 Draft 2 also does one other thing, and that is it adds language. 145 00:13:47,920 --> 00:13:50,760 This is on page 3, line 7 and 8. 146 00:13:51,860 --> 00:13:55,820 It would require, in addition to the detailed site plan approval, 147 00:13:56,660 --> 00:14:00,120 that qualified data centers be consistent with the general plan 148 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,560 and conform to all applicable area master plans, sector plans, 149 00:14:03,560 --> 00:14:09,880 and functional master plans, and this is another sort of check or control on data centers 150 00:14:09,880 --> 00:14:13,560 proceeding against kind of the wishes of the people. 151 00:14:18,380 --> 00:14:23,060 Is anything else, that's it? 152 00:14:24,200 --> 00:14:26,380 That's, that's, that's, that's something to be it, yeah. 153 00:14:26,460 --> 00:14:26,500 Okay. 154 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:28,060 All right. 155 00:14:28,180 --> 00:14:32,280 Now we'll turn to the speaker list that we have starting with Beth Mondry. 156 00:14:56,870 --> 00:14:57,230 Testing. 157 00:14:57,450 --> 00:14:57,630 Okay. 158 00:14:57,810 --> 00:14:58,110 There we go. 159 00:14:58,270 --> 00:14:58,570 Thank you. 160 00:14:58,570 --> 00:14:59,950 Thank you very much. 161 00:15:00,000 --> 00:15:23,880 Good morning, Chair Blighay and members of the Pied Committee. My name is Beth Landry, and I represent C-Can Action Fund. We respectfully wish to raise a very important question regarding CB-119-2026. Being our concern that by passing this legislation puts the hyper-scale data center more auditorium at risk, and we would appreciate clarification that this does not do that. Thank you. 162 00:15:25,340 --> 00:15:26,700 Thank you. 163 00:15:26,700 --> 00:15:27,800 Thank you. 164 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:27,960 Sure. 165 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:29,480 It does not. 166 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:30,740 At all. 167 00:15:32,000 --> 00:15:40,500 This is to the moratorium focus on anything moving forward, right? 168 00:15:41,260 --> 00:15:46,500 But we had an issue because there are certain projects that had already moved forward. 169 00:15:46,960 --> 00:15:50,820 So we need this legislation as a stop gap for that. 170 00:15:54,810 --> 00:16:14,210 And yeah, and I would just agree to make sure people understand you have to, I know that people want to permanent moratorium, but there is right now, unless until we get that and have the votes for that, we want to make sure that nobody skips through the process, understand there are a lot of ways to get around this, and this is one of them and we have to stop it. 171 00:16:15,150 --> 00:16:17,530 Okay, so next person is Sarah Hines, 172 00:16:21,380 --> 00:16:26,260 and after Sarah Hines, we have Terry Ardvinson, 173 00:16:28,180 --> 00:16:30,720 an indivisible. Thank you. 174 00:16:31,540 --> 00:16:40,340 Good morning, and thank you for your time. I'm Sarah Hines, and I'm with Route 1 Indivisible 175 00:16:40,340 --> 00:16:46,360 Quarter. Oh, Route 1 Quarter Indivisible Group, and I live in Beltsville. Although we move 176 00:16:46,360 --> 00:16:53,360 from today's agenda, I would like to voice concern about CB085 2026, which permits 177 00:16:53,360 --> 00:17:00,940 qualified data centers in agricultural and residential areas, and repeals detailed plan 178 00:17:00,940 --> 00:17:08,440 review. I'm very happy that you are supporting that you have CB019 2026, which repeals that 179 00:17:08,440 --> 00:17:15,200 exemption from the detailed site review of the data centers. You know, from an environmental 180 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:29,720 which I know you've raised and you're all aware, but I'll just bring it up again from Lawrence Berkeley National Lab reports that 66 billion leaders of water were used in 2023, 181 00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:36,140 and they project 124 billion leaders of water in 2028. 182 00:17:36,140 --> 00:17:42,800 The amount of electricity was 4% in 2023. 183 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:47,160 They're projected it would be 12% by the end of the decade. 184 00:17:48,760 --> 00:17:53,040 And this would bring in hundreds of tons of carbon emissions into the environment. 185 00:17:54,800 --> 00:18:01,380 Microsoft reports employment of 50 employees for an average size data center. 186 00:18:01,520 --> 00:18:03,800 So we're not bringing in great employment. 187 00:18:06,220 --> 00:18:12,020 And yes, there's construction employment, but that ends after it's built. 188 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:17,640 And the one more thing I'd like to add is Dario Amide, co-founder of Anthropic, 189 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:27,920 believes we should be slowing down the pace of this pace of AI and of due to cyber security breaks. 190 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:34,620 So let's do the same, and I'm also in support of our two-year moratorium. 191 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:35,240 Thank you. 192 00:18:36,460 --> 00:18:37,580 Thank you. 193 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:39,640 Next, Terry Arvinson. 194 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:43,960 And after Terry Arvinson, we have Nancy Bison. 195 00:18:44,380 --> 00:18:45,040 Bisoner. 196 00:18:47,070 --> 00:18:47,910 Good morning. 197 00:18:48,610 --> 00:18:49,950 My name is Terry Arvinson. 198 00:18:50,110 --> 00:18:53,850 I'm a Laurel resident in Mr. Dernogas district. 199 00:18:54,150 --> 00:18:57,590 And a proud indivisible member with indivisible buoy and beyond. 200 00:18:59,250 --> 00:19:16,010 Thank you. I did not fully realize what CB-19 was going to do and I really appreciate that you recognize that loophole and have strengthened the moratorium. I would urge you to take it further and work very hard to get a permanent ban. 201 00:19:18,610 --> 00:19:24,050 the onus or the load that is going to be put on communities in terms of water and sewer 202 00:19:24,540 --> 00:19:33,230 in terms of noise and other types of pollution is not contributing to the quality of life 203 00:19:33,230 --> 00:19:35,570 that we appreciate here in Prince George's County. 204 00:19:36,170 --> 00:19:39,570 So I urge you to please keep working towards that. 205 00:19:39,570 --> 00:19:40,490 Also, 206 00:19:42,950 --> 00:19:50,130 I am concerned about development plans and the streamlining of them, and I'll talk 207 00:19:50,130 --> 00:19:57,470 about that later when I come back up, but I do believe that the promise of increased 208 00:19:57,470 --> 00:19:59,730 revenues that is being touted by 209 00:20:00,430 --> 00:20:28,830 Others in support of establishing data centers, especially hyper data centers, is totally out of line with the cost that will be paid by the communities in which they're placed. And again, the load on the infrastructure that this state cannot support right now, especially given as Councillor Blay, like they said, with an upcoming cold winter. 210 00:20:28,830 --> 00:20:34,530 And all the other things that we've got going on is just not going to work for this state. 211 00:20:34,970 --> 00:20:35,870 Thank you very much. 212 00:20:36,670 --> 00:20:37,710 Thank you. 213 00:20:38,530 --> 00:20:39,890 We have Nancy. 214 00:20:41,590 --> 00:20:43,990 And after Nancy, Kathy, Bob Solomon. 215 00:20:52,160 --> 00:20:55,280 Hi, Honourable Council. I have feedback for you today. 216 00:20:56,320 --> 00:20:59,920 I was in District 4. I'm so sorry, Tim Adams isn't here right now. 217 00:21:00,300 --> 00:21:04,800 But I was at District 4 and I represent today myself and 30 voters. 218 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:10,820 And I wanted to give you feedback for the moratorium. 219 00:21:11,140 --> 00:21:16,080 You had said something in that day that it finally got passed that 80% of our constituents 220 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:17,660 don't want data centers. 221 00:21:17,820 --> 00:21:22,480 And I found for my 30% sampling that it's your wrong counsel woman. 222 00:21:22,920 --> 00:21:25,420 It's actually closer to 100%. 223 00:21:25,420 --> 00:21:27,600 So I went and I talked to people. 224 00:21:27,760 --> 00:21:31,440 I asked them if they knew anything about the moratorium and the words that I got back 225 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:35,060 or common sense, good for them, it makes sense. 226 00:21:35,420 --> 00:21:35,920 Thank goodness. 227 00:21:37,160 --> 00:21:38,700 Then I got, when I said to them, 228 00:21:38,820 --> 00:21:40,500 what would they like me to say to the council? 229 00:21:41,040 --> 00:21:43,980 I got, they know that data centers and AI 230 00:21:43,980 --> 00:21:45,360 are not good for the communities. 231 00:21:45,820 --> 00:21:47,400 They know that they're all over Virginia. 232 00:21:48,060 --> 00:21:49,820 People say they don't want them in Peach County. 233 00:21:50,140 --> 00:21:54,860 Prince George's, I had a student, a data science student. 234 00:21:55,240 --> 00:21:58,060 He said, they require so much energy, they're needed. 235 00:21:58,060 --> 00:22:04,680 the big pollution they don't they don't want them in a college city, so everybody is against them. 236 00:22:05,260 --> 00:22:10,740 But I also wanted Mr. Councilmember Adams to know that the people that I said, 237 00:22:11,040 --> 00:22:14,920 did you know that your own councilperson voted against the moratorium? 238 00:22:15,600 --> 00:22:18,260 And they were surprised by that. They were very surprised. 239 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:23,660 And I'm happy to go to anybody's district and inform people and get their feedback. 240 00:22:23,660 --> 00:22:32,340 back. And they were all saying respect the two-year hold. And so, of course, I'm in support 241 00:22:32,340 --> 00:22:39,580 of 019 and I'm in support of the two-year moratorium. We need more listening tours. I appreciate 242 00:22:39,580 --> 00:22:45,880 that. But I also want to read this thing from a lady. This encompasses everything. I reject 243 00:22:45,880 --> 00:22:50,100 having a data center built in Prince George's County. I live 4.6 miles from the proposed 244 00:22:50,100 --> 00:22:54,080 Those development, the quality of life in land over and surrounding areas, is already 245 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:56,020 depressed in this lower income community. 246 00:22:56,580 --> 00:22:59,980 The light and noise pollution from a data center would further degrade the quality of 247 00:22:59,980 --> 00:23:00,660 life in the area. 248 00:23:01,040 --> 00:23:05,380 There are times we can hear concerts playing in Northwest Stadium, which is 4.6 miles away. 249 00:23:05,820 --> 00:23:10,240 I can't imagine the compounded impact of no more noise from the data center on our peace 250 00:23:10,240 --> 00:23:11,040 and quality of life. 251 00:23:11,540 --> 00:23:14,920 My electricity costs of these past two years have ballooned tremendously. 252 00:23:15,380 --> 00:23:19,940 Higher cost for electricity due to data centers' demands would make living in Prince George's 253 00:23:19,940 --> 00:23:21,200 County untenable. 254 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:25,120 During summertime droughts, PG County has been under water restrictions. 255 00:23:25,480 --> 00:23:30,100 The strain of data centers, immense water requirements, blah, blah, blah, you all know all this. 256 00:23:30,620 --> 00:23:33,420 Lastly, her property value, her property value, would decrease. 257 00:23:34,540 --> 00:23:38,080 And then she says, the citizens of Land Over surrounding areas and 258 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:40,700 Prince Georgians as a whole deserve better. 259 00:23:40,940 --> 00:23:44,900 We deserve to be protected by our County Council and we deserve better. 260 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:47,380 And I really wanted Tim Adams to hear that, sorry. 261 00:23:47,380 --> 00:23:49,300 Thank you very much. 262 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:51,620 Thank you so much. 263 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:52,240 I'm Kathy. 264 00:23:52,500 --> 00:23:53,000 Are you here? 265 00:23:53,360 --> 00:23:53,920 You are. 266 00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:55,800 And John Robinson after her. 267 00:24:01,280 --> 00:24:02,880 Good morning, Kathy Burtomeo. 268 00:24:06,140 --> 00:24:13,620 I'm concerned about the CB19 in hoping that we can make it better. 269 00:24:14,220 --> 00:24:21,780 Do we have the expertise in the county council and the planning board to address the concerns regarding data centers? 270 00:24:21,780 --> 00:24:22,000 members. 271 00:24:22,220 --> 00:24:24,340 I'm a member of the climate justice wing. 272 00:24:25,380 --> 00:24:35,400 This is a group that talks to legislators at the Maryland General Assembly, and we have 273 00:24:35,400 --> 00:24:42,100 engineers, we have scientists, we have many people that we talk to and interview talked 274 00:24:42,100 --> 00:24:47,860 with the legislators on the bills that they're planning, and we are involved with the Charles 275 00:24:47,860 --> 00:24:54,500 County, Frederick, Calvert, and Eastern Shore people, working to learn about their concerns 276 00:24:54,500 --> 00:24:59,960 about data centers, and what the developers are wanting, and how... 277 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:11,320 We're trying to oppose these great demands that data centers are having on our counties. As in Fritter County, they're line up the farmland. 278 00:25:13,360 --> 00:25:29,980 Building close to an elementary school, just very close and keeping a power plant that was scheduled to close, but now it's going to remain open because of electricity demand. But I admire Hartford County who has banned data centers. And as you know, water is needed. 279 00:25:29,980 --> 00:25:32,640 that we can't live without it for two or three days. 280 00:25:33,620 --> 00:25:36,300 In the Potomac River, it's the most endangered river 281 00:25:36,300 --> 00:25:37,400 in the United States. 282 00:25:37,580 --> 00:25:41,180 People think Colorado, because that feeds all these states, 283 00:25:42,120 --> 00:25:46,460 but the Potomac River is the most endangered due to economics 284 00:25:46,460 --> 00:25:49,060 and for people needing water. 285 00:25:51,780 --> 00:25:57,540 Also, planning, how can the council put in data centers 286 00:25:57,540 --> 00:26:04,680 when they're going to use PFAS. There's no way to gather and protect people from the PFAS. 287 00:26:04,800 --> 00:26:10,300 That's going to be used in these data centers. You can't retain them. And the EPA now is no longer 288 00:26:12,220 --> 00:26:19,280 handling the PFAS short on time, I guess. But as you know, the electricity shortage we're 289 00:26:19,280 --> 00:26:25,780 expecting rolling blackouts more than 13 days a year is a future scenario. In Virginia schools 290 00:26:25,780 --> 00:26:29,640 already had part black out outages on the first day of school. 291 00:26:30,720 --> 00:26:36,460 So I'm hoping that we can follow the climate action plan more carefully. 292 00:26:37,220 --> 00:26:37,420 Thank you. 293 00:26:37,820 --> 00:26:38,600 Thank you so much. 294 00:26:38,820 --> 00:26:40,100 And Councilmember Austin. 295 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:43,380 Yeah, if I could just, Ms. Bratolimo, I appreciate your comments. 296 00:26:44,360 --> 00:26:51,980 So current law says that data centers don't have to go before the public don't have to go for 297 00:26:51,980 --> 00:26:52,940 a detailed site plan. 298 00:26:52,940 --> 00:26:59,460 And we're just saying in this, say a future council someday wants to do that, that should 299 00:26:59,460 --> 00:27:00,200 be taken out. 300 00:27:00,900 --> 00:27:05,020 They should absolutely have to go, even if we don't want them, they should go before 301 00:27:05,020 --> 00:27:05,520 the public. 302 00:27:05,740 --> 00:27:08,720 So, that's what this bill does. 303 00:27:09,640 --> 00:27:12,580 We're on the side of the residents here, I believe. 304 00:27:13,820 --> 00:27:15,760 So, and the moratorium stays in effect. 305 00:27:16,380 --> 00:27:17,340 Thank you. 306 00:27:17,340 --> 00:27:24,180 Thank you. As I said before, we have to catch every loophole. If something happens with 307 00:27:24,180 --> 00:27:29,180 that vote in the moratorium is pulled up, that means that a data center can go through 308 00:27:29,180 --> 00:27:35,580 without any detailed site plan. And that means that your voices will not be heard. John, 309 00:27:35,740 --> 00:27:40,980 and after John Taylor. Yes, thank you. My name is John Robinson. 310 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,320 I live in a 311 00:27:47,320 --> 00:27:48,280 of CB19. 312 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:55,400 I think there should be no shame in admitting that one has been duped by the 313 00:27:55,400 --> 00:28:01,300 tech bros. I mean, they can be very convincing. I understand. But I think another thing we 314 00:28:01,300 --> 00:28:08,100 need to do is look at the long-term intentions. And if you pay attention to what they've 315 00:28:08,100 --> 00:28:17,320 been saying amongst themselves, their plan is to use generative AI to basically replace 316 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:25,380 us not only in the areas where we use our intellectual powers but also replace physical 317 00:28:25,380 --> 00:28:26,300 labor with robots. 318 00:28:27,880 --> 00:28:32,640 And you need to look at the end point that they're planning to go to with generative AI. 319 00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:55,380 There's the argument has been made by people that look at the economics of this that they actually have no intention of ever turning a profit because they have this fantastic grandiose plans to, quote, live forever upload their brains to a computer, shoot it off into space and escape to Mars. 320 00:28:55,380 --> 00:29:03,600 Now Mars has no significant atmosphere, but if you're a quote silicon being, which is what they talk about, it really won't matter to them. 321 00:29:04,380 --> 00:29:13,000 And they're talking about simulating all the things that we enjoy here on Earth, on the computer, whether it's hearing birds sing or forest and so forth. 322 00:29:13,480 --> 00:29:23,320 I think we need to be aware of where they're trying to take this and just recently, you know, one of the chief architects at Anthropic pointed out that 323 00:29:24,100 --> 00:29:31,580 There's a 10% chance in his estimation that by 2030, AI will have decided that human 324 00:29:31,580 --> 00:29:38,180 beings are superfluous, and that's only four years from now, by the way, and could wipe 325 00:29:38,180 --> 00:29:38,660 us out. 326 00:29:39,420 --> 00:29:45,460 And so, you know, use your imagination, is it that hard to imagine that, say, somebody with 327 00:29:45,460 --> 00:29:52,220 gigafactories might manufacture an army of robots that potentially could, you know, be controlled 328 00:29:52,220 --> 00:29:59,580 by AI that could do us all in. I mean these sound fantastical and ridiculous but these are 329 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:06,180 As that the tech elite have been talking about amongst themselves for a very long time. It's been 330 00:30:06,180 --> 00:30:11,760 well-documented by Gilderan, who's been following them. And he has a new book out called The 331 00:30:11,760 --> 00:30:17,280 Nerd Right, Obvious Play On Words. So I hope that you'll take that all into consideration. 332 00:30:17,540 --> 00:30:25,020 And I strongly support CV19. Thank you. Thank you so much, and Taylor. And after Taylor, 333 00:30:25,020 --> 00:30:26,460 or our last one is Kevin. 334 00:30:35,000 --> 00:30:35,760 All right, good morning. 335 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:37,260 I'm Taylor Frazier McCollum, 336 00:30:37,440 --> 00:30:40,800 and I'm here to speak on CB19, 2026. 337 00:30:41,700 --> 00:30:43,760 Last year, I started a petition on change.org 338 00:30:44,220 --> 00:30:45,600 to stop the hyperscope data center 339 00:30:45,600 --> 00:30:46,740 proposed in land over Maryland. 340 00:30:47,260 --> 00:30:48,680 So I want to start with the position. 341 00:30:49,300 --> 00:30:51,240 This right here is 25,000 signatures, 342 00:30:51,980 --> 00:30:54,720 and we have more than 25,000 signatures at this point. 343 00:30:55,280 --> 00:30:56,920 And over 25,000 people agree 344 00:30:56,920 --> 00:30:58,540 that data centers bring more detriment 345 00:30:58,540 --> 00:30:59,580 than revenue potential. 346 00:31:00,060 --> 00:31:01,840 I support this legislation with amendments. 347 00:31:01,840 --> 00:31:07,280 The legislation would allow, would still allow a qualified data center on the Bowie State 348 00:31:07,280 --> 00:31:08,120 University campus. 349 00:31:08,540 --> 00:31:11,960 This week, Bowie State is the location for the Center for Engagement, Environmental 350 00:31:11,960 --> 00:31:13,420 and Health and Justice Symposium. 351 00:31:14,060 --> 00:31:16,860 Bowie State also hosted the county's environmental conference last year. 352 00:31:17,220 --> 00:31:19,240 So how can such conflicting messages be sent? 353 00:31:19,640 --> 00:31:23,140 On one hand, Bowie wants to be seen as a leader in environmental justice, but they should 354 00:31:23,140 --> 00:31:24,860 still be allowed to have a data center on campus. 355 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:25,820 I disagree. 356 00:31:26,080 --> 00:31:30,100 There are so many other ways for Bowie State to lead in technology innovation without loss 357 00:31:30,100 --> 00:31:34,760 a tree line in Habitat, Maryland is in a drought currently, and we import 40% of our electricity. 358 00:31:35,280 --> 00:31:38,880 We don't have water or energy to spare on any level for a data center. 359 00:31:39,400 --> 00:31:43,060 I'm curious what exempts Bowie State and if other universities will want similar exemptions 360 00:31:43,060 --> 00:31:43,560 in the future. 361 00:31:44,020 --> 00:31:47,060 If this is the best we can do, we are still not keeping the promises to residents. 362 00:31:47,580 --> 00:31:51,440 PG County has a climate plan, and with an efforting from the American Lung Association, 363 00:31:51,700 --> 00:31:53,800 we can't afford another environmental burden. 364 00:31:54,220 --> 00:31:58,360 Science that we look past the exception, yes, I'll be over the moon when Landlewer is officially 365 00:31:58,360 --> 00:31:58,700 stopped. 366 00:31:58,700 --> 00:32:04,680 But I promise those that sign my position that I will fight to stop hyperscale data center development in the county and this exception for 367 00:32:04,680 --> 00:32:06,360 Bowie State puts that promise at risk. 368 00:32:06,480 --> 00:32:11,120 We have no details on the size or scope of any future development of a data center at Bowie State. 369 00:32:11,280 --> 00:32:14,520 But we know it will raise electric costs and use precious drinking water. 370 00:32:14,900 --> 00:32:18,400 We as a county only have 24 to 48 hour emergency supply of water. 371 00:32:18,540 --> 00:32:22,280 And until those issues are addressed, we need a permanent pause on data centers. 372 00:32:22,460 --> 00:32:22,820 Thank you. 373 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:25,320 Thank you so much. 374 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,080 Okay, Chair. 375 00:32:27,640 --> 00:32:36,460 Yeah, just for clarity, the pause for the two year, more time stops any data service, including the state. 376 00:32:36,740 --> 00:32:44,060 There is no place that could move forward with any type of conceptual design, detailed site plan. 377 00:32:44,480 --> 00:32:49,780 No data center period could move forward within any process in the county. 378 00:32:49,780 --> 00:32:58,740 The issue was that the legislation that was passed before some of us were elected caused 379 00:32:58,740 --> 00:33:07,140 for a project to move forward in the process that the moratorium did not impact, meaning 380 00:33:07,140 --> 00:33:08,980 it could live outside the moratorium. 381 00:33:09,400 --> 00:33:14,720 It could continue to go forward because it would not be captured in the moratorium. 382 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:20,300 So the only way to deal with that was with separate piece of legislation. 383 00:33:21,420 --> 00:33:26,760 So this is a stopgap for anything that lived outside of the moratorium, but 384 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:32,220 the moratorium stops any project for moving for the two years. 385 00:33:32,500 --> 00:33:34,800 But I just want to echo my sentiment. 386 00:33:35,060 --> 00:33:36,420 I am for a full band. 387 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:39,820 I've said it every time I have an opportunity to say it. 388 00:33:40,220 --> 00:33:42,500 But it takes six votes for us to get there. 389 00:33:42,500 --> 00:33:52,420 But we have two years, and I say we, as advocates, to hopefully get other people there where we can hopefully pass a full ban. 390 00:33:52,500 --> 00:33:55,480 I don't think this can be regulated. I think it needs to be stopped. 391 00:33:56,020 --> 00:34:03,140 But I'm doing everything that I have in my power now to make sure that we listen to the residents. 392 00:34:03,500 --> 00:34:06,120 We stop what we can with the votes we have. 393 00:34:06,600 --> 00:34:10,600 But I'll continue to fight to make sure that we permanently stop it here in Prince George County. 394 00:34:10,600 --> 00:34:11,560 thank 395 00:34:14,960 --> 00:34:24,120 you and now we lastly we have Kevin. Good morning. I just want to I think Taylor was talking 396 00:34:24,120 --> 00:34:34,200 about the line on page three under section four B, part three. There's a line about 397 00:34:34,200 --> 00:34:41,380 B, our campus center. I don't know if that's like yeah just clarifying what that means and then 398 00:34:41,380 --> 00:34:49,080 And just to add on to everyone saying people are in support of a permanent ban, I wanted 399 00:34:49,080 --> 00:34:57,660 to add that within the task force report hidden in the appendix, there are dozens of pages 400 00:34:57,660 --> 00:35:00,000 is people are just saying, you know. 401 00:35:00,000 --> 00:35:27,020 No data centers. I don't want, don't build data centers. Don't put it here. Find another solution. Huge concern. It's these are very clear statements. Unfortunately, a task force of force doesn't even reflect that as a possibility or an option. But just wanted to run the council that this is the popular demand or the presence. Thank you. Thank you, Chair. Do we know anything about the boy's date? 402 00:35:28,200 --> 00:35:31,620 Yeah, so he's referencing what the current code says. 403 00:35:32,060 --> 00:35:37,300 So when you look at the legislation, the underlining part is what's being added to the code. 404 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:48,700 So when they originally passed the legislation, they had things that passed in the code at that time. 405 00:35:49,160 --> 00:35:55,860 So all we're doing is stopping it so nothing can move forward, because right now nothing can move forward, no matter what's in the code. 406 00:35:56,520 --> 00:36:10,860 The reason why we're not doing a full like what you consider like regulation change where we start to say oh, you can't put it here, you can't put it there. That's a separate slope when you talk about comprehensive legislation. 407 00:36:11,460 --> 00:36:20,060 So we don't want to pass comprehensive legislation that regulates where data center can and cannot go what the specifications are or not. 408 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:25,520 So someone windowed dresses that as a good thing, the moratorium that ends, right? 409 00:36:26,040 --> 00:36:32,000 And then what we've been done is mapped out where they can and can't go and the parameters 410 00:36:32,000 --> 00:36:35,140 of what they have to have and not have. 411 00:36:35,680 --> 00:36:40,460 And so that's one of the reasons why I have not looked at anything that's around regulation 412 00:36:41,120 --> 00:36:42,640 because I want a full band. 413 00:36:43,100 --> 00:36:45,320 And regulation is windowed dressing. 414 00:36:45,760 --> 00:36:47,180 A band is where I want to be. 415 00:36:47,180 --> 00:36:55,780 And so, I'm not doing anything that's comprehensive, I just want to do the moratorium, stop Gap for what's moving as I continue to advocate for a full ban. 416 00:36:57,340 --> 00:37:01,880 Okay, so any comments from our committee? 417 00:37:03,120 --> 00:37:09,680 If not, and motion to move everyone, draft to? 418 00:37:09,680 --> 00:37:17,260 Second. All right. Draft 2A. As of been a motion and a second. Can we please call the roll. 419 00:37:17,780 --> 00:37:23,820 Chair Bougay. I. Councilmember Adam Stafford. Councilmember 420 00:37:23,820 --> 00:37:32,640 Danoga. Councilmember Olson. Aye. Vice Chair Royada. Aye. Motion carries 5-0. All right. 421 00:37:32,640 --> 00:37:33,380 Thank you. 422 00:37:33,860 --> 00:37:42,400 Now moving on to CB-76, and I'll turn it over to Ms. Heishauer. 423 00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:43,540 Yes. 424 00:37:43,720 --> 00:37:49,200 Track one of this bill creates a faster track for certain commercial projects in transit-oriented 425 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:56,760 areas that meet specific location and mix-use criteria and are not seeking to have variances. 426 00:37:56,760 --> 00:38:05,860 The bill and the amendment, excuse me, the bill in the agenda item summary can be found on pages 39 through 46. 427 00:38:06,520 --> 00:38:11,680 Ms. Creganu is here and can provide a fiscal and policy overview of the legislation. 428 00:38:12,240 --> 00:38:20,380 But I did want to tell the committee that there is a proposed draft to of the bill, which is all located on pages 70 through 75. 429 00:38:20,380 --> 00:38:27,560 The planning board voted to take no position on this bill, and their staff are hearing, can explain that. 430 00:38:28,700 --> 00:38:36,480 I would like to ask Madam Chair if she would like to have the bill sponsored speak, or if she would like to defer to Mr. 431 00:38:36,620 --> 00:38:37,420 Hamlin for amendments. 432 00:38:38,300 --> 00:38:40,340 Let the bill sponsor speak first. 433 00:38:40,900 --> 00:38:41,720 Thank you. 434 00:38:42,460 --> 00:38:50,000 So colleagues, as many know, I've been working really around how to see meaningful development. 435 00:38:50,580 --> 00:38:54,220 in parts of the community where we really want to see it. 436 00:38:55,280 --> 00:38:58,820 You know, we have this conversation around how we don't want to see sprawl, 437 00:38:58,880 --> 00:39:02,700 how we don't want to see development in areas where the infrastructure does not make sense 438 00:39:02,700 --> 00:39:05,040 for the level of development that we're seeing. 439 00:39:05,660 --> 00:39:08,900 And then we also know that there are certain areas in the county that, 440 00:39:08,900 --> 00:39:11,460 even though they're prime in the sense for development, 441 00:39:11,700 --> 00:39:16,080 that they're central to metro stations like a lot of the properties inside the beltway 442 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:20,720 in my district, they're not as attractive as some areas to develop. 443 00:39:21,400 --> 00:39:27,120 And so I've really been trying to work around, how can we attract the development we want 444 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:31,200 in the communities that we actually want them to be in. 445 00:39:31,720 --> 00:39:38,040 And so I've been working on this piece of legislation for a little over a year, I want to thank 446 00:39:38,040 --> 00:39:43,300 Councilmember Denogue and some others that have looked at variations of the legislation. 447 00:39:43,300 --> 00:39:53,440 And I'm hopeful that we can get there because there are parts of the county that are not getting the development that they need. 448 00:39:53,960 --> 00:39:59,000 But then I also hear my colleagues where I know there's parts of their districts where they're being overdeveloped. 449 00:40:00,000 --> 00:40:29,920 My goal is to have a balance where we're not stifling development period because some communities are developed and harming most of the predominantly communities of color and lower economic areas where they really do need an investment in development. And instead we incentivize the development to actually take place there. So that's the attempt of this legislation and others that I'm working on. And my hope is that I can 450 00:40:29,920 --> 00:40:33,300 and have the support of this body in doing so. 451 00:40:33,720 --> 00:40:34,020 Thank you. 452 00:40:36,080 --> 00:40:37,580 Thank you so much. 453 00:40:37,700 --> 00:40:42,060 Now we will turn over to staff to go over and limit. 454 00:40:43,260 --> 00:40:44,000 Okay, thank you. 455 00:40:46,480 --> 00:40:50,140 So, draft one of the bill, it was reviewed. 456 00:40:50,440 --> 00:40:52,000 Planning staff had made some recommendations 457 00:40:52,000 --> 00:40:53,060 in their staff report. 458 00:40:53,200 --> 00:40:55,240 There were some concerns expressed by council members 459 00:40:55,240 --> 00:40:56,560 about certain provisions. 460 00:40:56,740 --> 00:40:58,560 And a draft two is an attempt to address 461 00:40:58,560 --> 00:41:06,120 Both planning staffs recommended technical amendments and the concerns that were expressed by council members 462 00:41:07,480 --> 00:41:14,000 Just that the key points are that it shifts to add and this is on page two at the very top a 463 00:41:14,620 --> 00:41:19,640 specific definition for this this type of project a commercial reinvestment and innovation project 464 00:41:21,020 --> 00:41:26,220 Substantively, it's the same as the language which was originally included in the provisions 465 00:41:26,220 --> 00:41:33,460 conditions for the applicability, but a planning staff made that recommendation. 466 00:41:33,680 --> 00:41:38,840 We concur, and we put it in there, a couple of other recommendations in the planning staff 467 00:41:38,840 --> 00:41:43,980 report regarding language and sentence structure and things like that were incorporated into 468 00:41:43,980 --> 00:41:45,240 that definition as well. 469 00:41:46,610 --> 00:41:53,880 The sort of second issue that's addressed is it, and this is also on page 2, but down like 470 00:41:53,880 --> 00:42:03,240 lines 23 to 30. There was an existing problem with the language in the code that didn't 471 00:42:05,620 --> 00:42:13,240 separate the sort of locational requirements and the structural requirements. And so this 472 00:42:13,240 --> 00:42:23,860 new language basically for the existing ETOD projects that fixes that issue. 473 00:42:26,950 --> 00:42:27,510 Finally, 474 00:42:31,140 --> 00:42:35,880 there, you will have some, an amendment sheet I think that's been distributed that 475 00:42:35,880 --> 00:42:43,360 addresses a couple legal concerns and one, just oversight on the drafting side of things. 476 00:42:43,720 --> 00:42:50,920 This proposed amendment sheet would remove language in the bill that provides that if the 477 00:42:50,920 --> 00:42:56,580 The District Council doesn't act on an appeal within 28 days that the Planning Board's 478 00:42:56,580 --> 00:42:58,000 decision is deemed affirmed. 479 00:42:59,200 --> 00:43:07,980 That's a legal issue, and it will add language to account for the periods of recess when 480 00:43:07,980 --> 00:43:12,780 it comes to the timelines that are required to be followed by adding that the months of 481 00:43:12,780 --> 00:43:16,240 August and December should not be considered for the purpose of calculating time. 482 00:43:17,520 --> 00:43:20,080 I think that pretty much covers that. 483 00:43:20,080 --> 00:43:29,720 All right. Thank you. We do have one person on the speaker's list. We have John Robinson on the speaker's list. 484 00:43:35,860 --> 00:43:36,120 Yes. 485 00:43:37,720 --> 00:43:44,400 I have concerns about things that accelerate. I certainly understand the desire to have a good development and 486 00:43:45,660 --> 00:43:48,260 redevelopment where it's needed in the county. 487 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:53,380 I'd like to suggest that there may be alternative models to 488 00:43:53,380 --> 00:43:59,960 to, you know, these efforts at acceleration, and instead of waiting for developers to 489 00:43:59,960 --> 00:44:04,580 come in and propose something that will provide them the maximum profit, you could look 490 00:44:04,580 --> 00:44:08,640 at situations like, for example, how they handle it in Finland. 491 00:44:10,940 --> 00:44:17,420 There, they have experts come in and design an area, you know, I have it to be familiar 492 00:44:17,420 --> 00:44:19,600 with it because I was married to a Finn for 19 years. 493 00:44:21,760 --> 00:44:28,160 They come in and design like a whole downtown or something like that, and then they have the 494 00:44:28,160 --> 00:44:34,760 developers and contractors come in and make proposals as to how they're going to implement 495 00:44:35,140 --> 00:44:40,120 the design that has been focused on what the community needs and what the people need 496 00:44:40,120 --> 00:44:43,060 as opposed to what will generate a profit for the developers. 497 00:44:43,060 --> 00:44:48,600 and I think that might be a better model for meeting the long-term needs of 498 00:44:49,140 --> 00:44:53,040 prestigious county and the communities that want to see redevelopment. 499 00:44:53,880 --> 00:44:54,540 Thank you. 500 00:44:55,780 --> 00:44:57,480 Thank you so much. 501 00:44:58,260 --> 00:44:59,900 Do we have any comments from committee members? 502 00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:28,940 Questions? A few questions about the bill, not necessarily about the amendment. Is that okay now? So this changes to 15 days, I guess, is that right? But then I see the 28 calendar days. So it shortens the amount of time that residents have to appeal this to 15 days from what, from how many days? 503 00:45:28,940 --> 00:45:38,840 I believe it's 30 for the standard ETOD, and this is 15 business days. 504 00:45:39,200 --> 00:45:40,180 15 business days. 505 00:45:40,700 --> 00:45:42,260 And 30 is the current. 506 00:45:42,680 --> 00:45:43,000 Yeah. 507 00:45:43,320 --> 00:45:50,600 And it will say that for non, you know, for ETOD expedited projects that don't meet this definition. 508 00:45:51,740 --> 00:45:52,020 Okay. 509 00:45:52,020 --> 00:45:56,160 And then in 510 00:45:58,460 --> 00:46:11,200 terms of the sites, this includes everything that's in a regional transit district or local transit center in the general plan. 511 00:46:12,900 --> 00:46:23,760 And then I see in the technical staff report, this expands it, I assume they're not already designated as either regional transit or local transit center. 512 00:46:23,760 --> 00:46:29,140 include Southern Avenue Metro, Mercury, Mark, Sebrick Mark, Riverdale Mark, Booyee Mark, 513 00:46:29,440 --> 00:46:31,720 and then the purple line stops. 514 00:46:32,380 --> 00:46:40,640 So those are being added to, well, they're being included in this, where even though 515 00:46:40,640 --> 00:46:46,740 they're not currently designated a regional transit district or local transit center, is 516 00:46:46,740 --> 00:46:47,060 that correct? 517 00:46:49,670 --> 00:46:49,990 I'm sorry. 518 00:46:50,350 --> 00:46:52,950 I'm looking to Josh, but yeah, whoever wants to answer that. 519 00:46:55,840 --> 00:47:01,620 Yes, sir, I'm reviewing the revised definition and we do appreciate the council's consideration 520 00:47:01,620 --> 00:47:07,040 for planning board comments on adding a definition for this important initiative and use. 521 00:47:07,920 --> 00:47:14,400 I do see on page two, lines seven through eight that the added language here would include 522 00:47:14,400 --> 00:47:19,780 any constructed heavy or light rail transit stations, so that would include the mark stations 523 00:47:19,780 --> 00:47:23,400 that exist in a county and the purple line stations that will soon be operational and 524 00:47:27,380 --> 00:47:31,980 I'm sorry, and I have looked at the bill but not with the fine tooth comb. 525 00:47:32,240 --> 00:47:40,520 So forgive me, is the reduction from 30 days to 15 days, the only major change in this? 526 00:47:41,040 --> 00:47:45,340 Or is there other major changes in this, whoever 527 00:47:51,550 --> 00:47:52,270 wants to answer that? 528 00:47:52,270 --> 00:47:58,870 I mean, with regards to the appeal process, it eliminates the call-up as well. 529 00:47:59,250 --> 00:48:02,070 It's just by a petition appeal. 530 00:48:02,230 --> 00:48:09,850 It eliminates the call-up and a short count of numbers wouldn't have the ability to call-up, it wouldn't. 531 00:48:09,850 --> 00:48:16,830 So under this bill, council members would not be able to call-up projects if they're within near transit. 532 00:48:17,830 --> 00:48:19,790 As it's drafted, that's what it is. 533 00:48:19,790 --> 00:48:25,910 Yeah, that's, to me, that's a concern, Madam Chair, that's a concern to me. 534 00:48:28,770 --> 00:48:36,050 Yes, you know, for me, I, I know many of my colleagues in how they fill about the call of option. 535 00:48:37,730 --> 00:48:47,810 I do feel like they're, and I've always had this feeling there should be a balance when we know that there's projects that are approved because it's not any project that's built there, right? 536 00:48:47,810 --> 00:48:56,010 It's only projects that are deemed to be a priority project, not anything that's developed 537 00:48:56,010 --> 00:49:03,970 in the transit oriented space that we create a faster process and that a process with 538 00:49:03,970 --> 00:49:04,610 more certainty. 539 00:49:04,610 --> 00:49:06,530 That is my personal feeling. 540 00:49:07,030 --> 00:49:14,890 I tend not to call up projects, but I do understand it's an important tool to have, but I think 541 00:49:14,890 --> 00:49:24,610 the balances that are there certain projects and the right location that meet the right standards 542 00:49:25,930 --> 00:49:34,790 that we can know don't need to have that. That's the question. I personally think that 543 00:49:34,790 --> 00:49:40,870 we should get there but that's just where I am. So I tend not to call up projects either but it's 544 00:49:40,870 --> 00:49:44,810 because developers know that I have the ability to call them up and they do it the right way. 545 00:49:44,890 --> 00:49:46,570 Okay, so I don't have to call them. 546 00:49:47,330 --> 00:49:52,430 Can I ask a clarifying question because I think you explained this before, Madam Chair. 547 00:49:52,830 --> 00:49:59,770 You were saying there were specific instances where there are specific templates. 548 00:50:00,000 --> 00:50:29,900 That are going to be the same no matter what. I feel like when we when I talked about this, like over the course of the last year, I'm trying to think of an example, but it's escaping me right now, but it's something that won't have much variance. Like something that if the template is followed, there wouldn't be much variance on what, what could be built. And I think it's because I know remember when we were talking about that, which I wanted to do where we could create a process where we had template options for certain types of 549 00:50:29,900 --> 00:50:35,620 businesses, specifically in restaurants, so that they can follow a certain format, and 550 00:50:35,620 --> 00:50:40,900 it can be fast. We weren't able to pass that at the time. But with this legislation, 551 00:50:41,340 --> 00:50:49,800 it's looking at, so for example, if I know that there's a medical facility just throwing 552 00:50:49,800 --> 00:50:56,020 a random thing out there, that we knew we needed it, we knew we needed it here, it made sense 553 00:50:56,020 --> 00:51:02,260 at a metro station and had all the qualifications, is there any type of mechanism where we can 554 00:51:02,260 --> 00:51:12,320 say this is the right development in the right place where we want it that will have a 555 00:51:13,000 --> 00:51:20,480 faster track process and more certainty to develop and that's what we'll have to decide 556 00:51:20,480 --> 00:51:27,640 as a body because I know especially the call-up feature for council members is a 557 00:51:30,600 --> 00:51:37,380 hot topic. I do feel like there's a balance between the two. That's what I'm 558 00:51:37,380 --> 00:51:42,800 trying to strike. I believe it's important to have which is why I didn't say 559 00:51:42,800 --> 00:51:46,810 let's just get rid of it everywhere for everything at any time. But the question is 560 00:51:46,810 --> 00:51:54,930 Is it, do we feel like there's times where development can have more certainty and that's 561 00:51:54,930 --> 00:52:00,190 a question that we have to desire and I guess what I'm wondering is if we could maybe 562 00:52:00,190 --> 00:52:05,410 work on developing a set of categories as you mentioned, like maybe perhaps depending 563 00:52:05,410 --> 00:52:08,930 on like the health atlas, like we would have a rubric to judge it against. 564 00:52:09,350 --> 00:52:16,690 So for example, if the project meets the standards of the mapped health atlas and falls in a 565 00:52:16,690 --> 00:52:19,310 T-O-D zone, then it doesn't need a call-up. 566 00:52:19,610 --> 00:52:21,730 Like to your medical example, right? 567 00:52:21,910 --> 00:52:24,530 So something that it's very clear, 568 00:52:25,150 --> 00:52:29,030 this fits with the general plan of the region. 569 00:52:30,270 --> 00:52:32,530 And this is something that we've well researched 570 00:52:32,530 --> 00:52:33,710 needs to go here. 571 00:52:34,470 --> 00:52:36,370 Then if we could just spend some time 572 00:52:36,370 --> 00:52:39,090 maybe defining some of those categories of parameters, 573 00:52:39,370 --> 00:52:40,470 I think this would be great. 574 00:52:44,520 --> 00:52:46,560 And then only can you explain to me, 575 00:52:46,560 --> 00:52:52,020 where is the call up because I agree I have called up things so I would say I 576 00:52:52,020 --> 00:52:58,160 have and I had because I had developers that were unwilling to listen to me 577 00:52:58,160 --> 00:53:05,180 in the community so the call up was necessary and frankly effective so I 578 00:53:05,180 --> 00:53:11,040 would say that and I think it makes sense in a general sense but that's why it's 579 00:53:11,040 --> 00:53:14,480 for projects, the types of projects 580 00:53:14,480 --> 00:53:17,600 that want to see where we want to see them. 581 00:53:17,780 --> 00:53:19,400 I think that is the nuanced difference. 582 00:53:20,080 --> 00:53:21,220 Now, what do you mean approved? 583 00:53:21,500 --> 00:53:24,920 So how do we determine that somebody? 584 00:53:25,620 --> 00:53:28,340 Because they would go to be this type of project. 585 00:53:29,760 --> 00:53:30,560 What type of project? 586 00:53:30,900 --> 00:53:38,660 So to have what's we call, thank you, commercial reinvesting. 587 00:53:38,660 --> 00:53:42,580 Okay, so only commercial reinvestment, there's no call up. 588 00:53:42,780 --> 00:53:47,340 And for any project, what's the definition here? 589 00:53:47,340 --> 00:53:49,960 Anywhere commercial reinvestment. 590 00:53:50,160 --> 00:53:51,560 I'll make sure I'm laying the right draft. 591 00:53:52,480 --> 00:53:54,200 Because I like the adjusted one. 592 00:53:54,680 --> 00:53:56,680 Because it said transit oriented, which also, 593 00:53:56,920 --> 00:53:58,640 because transit oriented is pretty broad. 594 00:53:59,060 --> 00:54:00,830 But if it says in certain protected areas. 595 00:54:01,320 --> 00:54:03,040 I want to make sure I'm laying the right definition. 596 00:54:07,370 --> 00:54:10,310 Yeah, the definition is at the top of page two. 597 00:54:10,310 --> 00:54:13,550 And it includes the sort of locational requirements that are already discussed. 598 00:54:14,210 --> 00:54:24,650 It's in a regional transit district, local transit center, any part of which is within a quarter mile radius of a constructed heavier light rail transit station. 599 00:54:25,090 --> 00:54:39,410 And then there's the building requirements, at least 50% of its total building square footage is at least five stories height and height at least 60 feet above grade contains a mix of uses in the commercial principal use. 600 00:54:39,410 --> 00:54:45,830 classification and multi-family dwelling and that excludes uses in the industrial 601 00:54:45,830 --> 00:54:51,050 principal use as well as townhouses single family. So it's basically I think 602 00:54:51,050 --> 00:54:59,070 got a particular type of high density mix use. And it can be like towns. 603 00:55:00,000 --> 00:55:04,820 I'm open to expanding the definition and qualifications. 604 00:55:08,260 --> 00:55:10,460 So that's not something I'm against. 605 00:55:12,840 --> 00:55:20,800 And I would just say this, I mean, I was represented for LARGO, right? And LARGO will be included in this. And there was some things in LARGO that I had to call up. 606 00:55:22,660 --> 00:55:26,840 So I don't, I mean, I don't know, but it would have to be so, it's not just transit 607 00:55:26,840 --> 00:55:31,100 oriented, it has to be sort of multifamily units. 608 00:55:31,640 --> 00:55:37,160 Yeah, and five stories high, you know, a bunch of those things. 609 00:55:37,380 --> 00:55:40,540 So I think the intention is for these people to build on some of those. 610 00:55:43,020 --> 00:55:57,500 I can say to Madam Chair, I really, and we spoke, I really appreciate looking to try 611 00:55:57,500 --> 00:56:04,380 to get expedited, you know, at our transit-oriented areas, and then that's what I've done my whole 612 00:56:04,380 --> 00:56:05,040 time. 613 00:56:06,200 --> 00:56:29,460 And I work on that and under the current rules and I want to support you in your areas to make sure that your areas can get the same kind of, if you feel like this is a tool that you need in the areas that you represent, you know, I'm willing to work with you on that obviously. 614 00:56:29,460 --> 00:56:37,540 I know this includes areas that are in my district that I would not be comfortable with 615 00:56:37,540 --> 00:56:38,440 having in there. 616 00:56:40,000 --> 00:56:42,080 And I do think the call-up provision is important. 617 00:56:43,120 --> 00:56:47,640 I wouldn't impose that on your district if that's not what you want, you know, I respect 618 00:56:47,640 --> 00:56:47,960 that. 619 00:56:51,860 --> 00:56:53,980 So I think there's a way through this. 620 00:56:54,620 --> 00:56:59,580 I just don't know exactly what the amendments would be right now to do that. 621 00:57:00,500 --> 00:57:02,020 I'd be happy to work with you on that. 622 00:57:03,560 --> 00:57:04,920 Madam Chair, if I may. 623 00:57:06,040 --> 00:57:07,020 Madam committee chair. 624 00:57:08,200 --> 00:57:12,640 For the record chat, Williams of Park and Planning, I do need to make a correction 625 00:57:12,640 --> 00:57:15,500 from my prior comments in response to Council Member Olson. 626 00:57:16,180 --> 00:57:19,040 My initial inclination when you asked the question, Council Member, was no. 627 00:57:19,480 --> 00:57:20,920 And I should have stuck with that instinct. 628 00:57:22,120 --> 00:57:25,600 I wrote a staff report for this, so I was remembering a staff report, but as you know, 629 00:57:25,720 --> 00:57:27,980 there's been a lot of bills floating around. 630 00:57:28,980 --> 00:57:33,920 The language, the combination of lines five and six and seven and eight on page two 631 00:57:33,920 --> 00:57:41,060 and a proposed definition means that the constructed heavier late rail station must also be a regional 632 00:57:41,060 --> 00:57:43,160 transit district or local transit center. 633 00:57:43,920 --> 00:57:47,860 And the station areas that were identified, most purple line stations, as you know, are 634 00:57:47,860 --> 00:57:50,860 are not regional transit, local transit centers. 635 00:57:51,380 --> 00:57:52,460 They are neighborhood centers. 636 00:57:52,860 --> 00:57:52,920 Right. 637 00:57:53,480 --> 00:57:55,920 Southern Avenue is also a neighborhood center. 638 00:57:56,640 --> 00:58:00,420 So the quickest solution would be to strike end 639 00:58:00,420 --> 00:58:02,920 at the end of line six, if you consider amendments, 640 00:58:03,300 --> 00:58:04,820 and replace it with the word or. 641 00:58:06,100 --> 00:58:08,000 There are other solutions that we can discuss, 642 00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:10,040 but that would be the quick and simple solution. 643 00:58:10,400 --> 00:58:11,240 I'm sorry, I'm page four. 644 00:58:11,940 --> 00:58:12,580 I'm page two. 645 00:58:12,820 --> 00:58:14,440 I'm sorry, I'm page two. 646 00:58:14,920 --> 00:58:16,720 In the definition on line six. 647 00:58:16,720 --> 00:58:17,780 6, 6. 648 00:58:18,200 --> 00:58:22,920 You would strike the term N at the end of the line and replace it with OR. 649 00:58:23,640 --> 00:58:26,900 I'm sorry, on line 6, sir. 650 00:58:28,000 --> 00:58:33,360 Line 6, N's, the line is, this is in proposed draft 2, I'm sorry, I shouldn't be doing that. 651 00:58:33,360 --> 00:58:35,080 Oh, I'm sorry, I have draft 1 in front of me. 652 00:58:36,340 --> 00:58:37,620 Thank you, thank you. 653 00:58:38,340 --> 00:58:38,700 Thank you. 654 00:58:39,160 --> 00:58:39,920 Oh, you already did this. 655 00:58:40,040 --> 00:58:40,140 Okay. 656 00:58:40,560 --> 00:58:45,940 So you would say in an area, it designated as a regional transit district or local transit center in the general plan, 657 00:58:45,940 --> 00:58:54,240 or their equivalents in any successor general plan, or any part of which is within a one-quarter mile radius. 658 00:58:55,120 --> 00:59:00,140 I would probably say any part in which the property is located within, just for clarity. 659 00:59:00,360 --> 00:59:07,740 Okay, so my question then is at the Adelphi Road UMGC, UMD purple line stop, let's just use that as an example. 660 00:59:08,600 --> 00:59:11,920 Would that fall under this bill or not? 661 00:59:12,840 --> 00:59:17,440 As the bill is currently worded and proposed draft to, it will not. 662 00:59:17,800 --> 00:59:19,600 I'm sorry, say that, please again. 663 00:59:20,140 --> 00:59:25,580 As the bill is currently worded and proposed draft to, as the definition is currently worded, it will not. 664 00:59:25,800 --> 00:59:31,820 It would not, I believe it is a designated neighborhood center if I recall correctly, it was not absent. 665 00:59:32,480 --> 00:59:38,100 You would probably know more than me if the Delphi plan reclassified it to a local transit district. 666 00:59:38,100 --> 00:59:41,140 I don't remember, honestly, off the top of my head, I do not remember. 667 00:59:41,800 --> 00:59:45,320 I think Laura is going to peachy atlas while we discuss this issue. 668 00:59:47,440 --> 00:59:50,520 But if you changed it to Orr, it would have done fine. 669 00:59:51,000 --> 00:59:54,780 It would be included to be expedited. 670 00:59:55,540 --> 00:59:56,220 Correct, sir. 671 00:59:56,220 --> 00:59:57,800 I don't want any of them. 672 00:59:58,340 --> 00:59:59,960 And again, there are many ways. 673 01:00:00,000 --> 01:00:29,040 Is to word this, but if you're looking for something quick and simple, that would include your purple line stations throughout the county. I'm not looking, yeah, I'm not looking to put the order in there then. Okay. So that's one example, right? But we have one example. We have a lot of line stations and multiple council members. Is it the desire of other council members to add purple line stations, remove purple line stations? I don't have a. 674 01:00:31,880 --> 01:00:40,100 a desire to add the purple station, I mean to my colleagues point that he said, you 675 01:00:40,100 --> 01:00:43,500 know, his metro stations are very well developed. 676 01:00:45,020 --> 01:00:52,090 I will say economic and democratically look different under the rules. 677 01:00:52,350 --> 01:00:57,170 I just, I don't want us to trivialize that since those areas were developed under the 678 01:00:57,170 --> 01:01:04,610 rules that there is not like redlining racism and things that economically have impacted 679 01:01:04,610 --> 01:01:08,830 and racial things that have impacted where development happens. 680 01:01:09,810 --> 01:01:17,310 But to say all that, I mean, I'm not looking to force it into someone else's district, 681 01:01:17,670 --> 01:01:21,710 but I just want to make sure I say for the record that I'm very sure that there's going to 682 01:01:21,710 --> 01:01:25,390 be certain parts of the county that can develop under these rules because those businesses want 683 01:01:25,390 --> 01:01:25,950 to go there. 684 01:01:25,950 --> 01:01:31,610 they want to go there because of where your district looks and they want to go 685 01:01:31,610 --> 01:01:36,730 there because of the financial situation of your district and that is not the 686 01:01:36,730 --> 01:01:41,430 same in my district. So I just want to make sure that I clearly state that 687 01:01:41,430 --> 01:01:47,590 difference. Sure and I'm happy to work with you on this or something that works for 688 01:01:47,590 --> 01:01:51,990 your district as well as my district and you know for the whole county therefore 689 01:01:51,990 --> 01:01:55,550 it works the whole county so we're on the same page. We have an answer to 690 01:01:55,550 --> 01:01:56,170 Mr. Olson. 691 01:01:56,690 --> 01:01:56,830 Yes. 692 01:01:57,110 --> 01:02:02,230 The Delphi sector plan did upgrade the center classification to regional transit center. 693 01:02:02,690 --> 01:02:08,070 So it is, so it is a regional transit center councilmember Olson. 694 01:02:08,330 --> 01:02:08,470 Yeah. 695 01:02:08,770 --> 01:02:10,250 It's not a regional transit district. 696 01:02:10,450 --> 01:02:14,250 It's a local transit center, but it is inclusive under subsection one. 697 01:02:14,690 --> 01:02:15,910 Thank you for clarification, Mar. 698 01:02:16,030 --> 01:02:21,070 So under the current draft two, it would be included. 699 01:02:21,190 --> 01:02:21,870 It is still included. 700 01:02:22,490 --> 01:02:23,030 Yes, ma'am. 701 01:02:23,030 --> 01:02:49,010 And since I had to make just two minor grammatical typographical revisions to consider, on that same page, line 25, it states the proposed development consisting of at least one building, I think shall consist of at least one building is probably a better, a clearer clause for staff to work with when we're reviewing these and making recommendations. 702 01:02:49,010 --> 01:02:58,530 And on page three, line 23, where you start to see the appellate procedures, it's unclear 703 01:02:58,530 --> 01:03:01,070 what the term special appeal may mean. 704 01:03:01,570 --> 01:03:06,130 So you may want to just leave this as appeal procedures for commercial reinvestment 705 01:03:06,130 --> 01:03:07,090 innovation projects. 706 01:03:09,500 --> 01:03:09,940 Okay. 707 01:03:13,660 --> 01:03:20,900 Is there a way to, maybe this is an offline conversation, but I know you, so I want to 708 01:03:22,500 --> 01:03:35,700 I don't know where the sense of the committee is, but is there a way, there's always a way to exclude certain areas from this? 709 01:03:37,220 --> 01:03:46,220 Not at this table at this moment, even if they're designated as regional transit sector, or local transit center. 710 01:03:47,460 --> 01:03:56,120 Not in here now, this would be an offline conversation if the sponsor and the committee's desire were to hold the bill for a few days. 711 01:03:58,760 --> 01:04:10,900 Or it could pass, you know, the other option, and I know it's putting pressure on all of us, but I want to work with the chair, is, you know, that we could have before introduction, it could have amendments. 712 01:04:10,900 --> 01:04:15,440 If that's possible, I mean, I'm trying to work with your manager. 713 01:04:17,620 --> 01:04:24,500 I'm open to either to either Monday or yeah, I think we can get everything done by Monday. 714 01:04:25,040 --> 01:04:32,440 I think that we have everything set all of the changes done and then that way we can add it to the agenda on Monday and get it passed then. 715 01:04:33,900 --> 01:04:37,360 I just want to ask the question, is local activity center part of it? 716 01:04:38,740 --> 01:04:39,960 I just want to make sure it's not. 717 01:04:39,960 --> 01:04:41,040 No, local attorney. 718 01:04:41,520 --> 01:04:42,740 Okay, thank you. 719 01:04:47,440 --> 01:04:48,420 Councilmember Dan Algood. 720 01:04:48,720 --> 01:04:53,860 Yeah, I just want to say that when you look at the general plan, it gets very confusing 721 01:04:53,860 --> 01:04:58,300 as to what the title is for the different types of transit centers. 722 01:04:58,300 --> 01:04:58,540 Thank you very much. 723 01:05:00,000 --> 01:05:12,800 How many categories are there must be like seven or eight different categories? Five. Five. I think it's important that everybody get a copy of that page or two pages that the breaks out, which, which centers are under which category. 724 01:05:15,860 --> 01:05:21,760 Yeah, but I think I think my colleagues probably haven't looked at that in a while. So it's important that they see that. 725 01:05:24,890 --> 01:05:31,970 Right. So I think we're, we do a motion to hold to Monday. Motion to hold to Monday. 726 01:05:31,970 --> 01:05:32,050 Okay. 727 01:05:32,270 --> 01:05:32,570 Second. 728 01:05:33,430 --> 01:05:33,710 Right. 729 01:05:33,910 --> 01:05:35,010 Can we please call the roll? 730 01:05:35,750 --> 01:05:36,510 Chair Belgae. 731 01:05:36,710 --> 01:05:37,190 Aye. 732 01:05:37,750 --> 01:05:39,110 Council Member Adam Stafford. 733 01:05:40,070 --> 01:05:41,430 Council Member Denoga. 734 01:05:42,650 --> 01:05:43,570 Council Member Olsen. 735 01:05:43,810 --> 01:05:43,950 Aye. 736 01:05:44,450 --> 01:05:45,370 Vice Chair Ouyaga. 737 01:05:45,730 --> 01:05:45,850 Aye. 738 01:05:46,150 --> 01:05:47,370 Motion carries 5-0. 739 01:05:52,220 --> 01:05:52,640 All right. 740 01:05:52,840 --> 01:05:53,280 Thank you. 741 01:05:53,480 --> 01:06:01,880 So the next bill on the agenda is a CB-77, and I'm turning over to Ms. High's power. 742 01:06:01,880 --> 01:06:12,400 Yes Madam Chair, this bill allows the reuse of commercial buildings and residential single family in the residential single family attach zone. 743 01:06:12,620 --> 01:06:21,880 It permits restaurants and existing buildings without expanding their footprint while assessing their traffic impact and neighborhood character. 744 01:06:21,880 --> 01:06:29,540 It also allows certain places of worship under specific standards considering their suitability 745 01:06:29,540 --> 01:06:32,080 and effects on nearby properties. 746 01:06:32,760 --> 01:06:36,740 The bill and the agenda item summary on pages 76 through 84. 747 01:06:37,200 --> 01:06:43,760 Ms. Ganyu is here again if you would like to have a fiscal and policy impact overview. 748 01:06:43,760 --> 01:06:46,960 The planning board voted to oppose this bill, 749 01:06:47,600 --> 01:06:52,760 their letter and technical staff reporter on pages 86 to 99, 750 01:06:53,320 --> 01:06:56,260 as well as we know that their staff are here and can explain. 751 01:06:57,520 --> 01:07:00,560 That concludes my overview, Madam Chair. 752 01:07:00,740 --> 01:07:01,100 Thank you. 753 01:07:01,400 --> 01:07:04,400 All right, thank you, and I'll turn it over to Bill Sponsor. 754 01:07:05,700 --> 01:07:06,580 Thank you. 755 01:07:06,920 --> 01:07:13,020 This is another piece of legislation that I've been working on for a while now. 756 01:07:13,020 --> 01:07:17,000 For some unique issues that we sometimes see in the county, 757 01:07:18,220 --> 01:07:21,260 where we have spaces that are existing, 758 01:07:22,880 --> 01:07:26,980 developments could be commercial spaces that currently exist. 759 01:07:27,380 --> 01:07:29,720 And then when they go to redevelop, 760 01:07:30,880 --> 01:07:34,920 they run into some problems because of maybe how they're zoned. 761 01:07:35,660 --> 01:07:39,460 And we know that that's a very expensive process that change. 762 01:07:40,440 --> 01:07:59,280 So we were trying to look at what are some things that we could offer to make it easier for existing properties that have these commercial uses that are trying to expand to bring the type of things you want to see like restaurants that are not don't have a drive through child care facilities, etc. 763 01:08:00,340 --> 01:08:07,300 to those communities with and do it in a way that is not a cost burden. 764 01:08:07,980 --> 01:08:14,200 So I know that there are developments in my district that would be greatly impacted 765 01:08:14,200 --> 01:08:16,820 by being able to have this type of flexibility. 766 01:08:17,760 --> 01:08:23,620 So that's the impotence of the legislation and hope to have the body support. 767 01:08:25,870 --> 01:08:27,410 All right, thank you so much. 768 01:08:27,970 --> 01:08:32,210 And we don't have any speakers, so do we have any questions from the committee? 769 01:08:36,240 --> 01:08:38,700 I'd like to make a motion. 770 01:08:39,340 --> 01:08:40,600 A little question, I'm sorry. 771 01:08:44,820 --> 01:08:50,300 So I know this, do we know how many properties this was to? 772 01:08:55,430 --> 01:08:58,870 Park and planning, do we know, do we have a? 773 01:09:03,190 --> 01:09:05,230 I mean, it's probably not many. 774 01:09:05,790 --> 01:09:15,140 Right. I mean, it's, I mean, I'm guessing that it's not many, but I'm just interested if we, we know 775 01:09:17,510 --> 01:09:21,910 there's no map in the folder. 776 01:09:23,950 --> 01:09:30,770 So, again, for the record chat, Williams, the planning director's office maintains a legislative tracking folder. 777 01:09:31,130 --> 01:09:37,690 And I do not see any map present in this folder, so it doesn't look like that we requested a map for this particular bill. 778 01:09:37,690 --> 01:09:44,090 Would it madam chair would it? I mean I'm willing to get this out of committee, but could we maybe get a map before 779 01:09:44,090 --> 01:09:48,510 Introduction sure just so we have some information and yeah 780 01:10:08,510 --> 01:10:26,390 Okay. I'm willing to, you know, pass it on a committee. I just, you know, if we can get some more information, I mean, just, I expect it's fine, but I really would just like to see that. All right. Thank you. Do we have a motion? I'm Councilmember Zanogo. 781 01:10:33,180 --> 01:10:43,180 I had a problem with the development like this many years ago in college part, where there was an old corner store. 782 01:10:43,180 --> 01:10:49,780 type of facility that had residential over top and laundry underneath, and I forget how 783 01:10:49,780 --> 01:10:53,260 it was zone, we had to go to tax amendment to try to deal with it because they needed 784 01:10:53,260 --> 01:10:59,000 to be redeveloped. And there wasn't any logical way to deal with this. I think this is similar 785 01:10:59,560 --> 01:11:04,460 where you have a longstanding commercial uses in the zone that's RSFA. 786 01:11:07,280 --> 01:11:08,260 So looking at the 787 01:11:08,260 --> 01:11:16,340 bill. I know in the past that Park and Plain have pointed out that on page 6, 788 01:11:19,440 --> 01:11:21,420 where 789 01:11:21,420 --> 01:11:27,640 it has the, I'll call it the standards, the requirements. You put a church, it talks 790 01:11:27,640 --> 01:11:35,880 about suitable proposed place of worship, a restaurant, it talks about synonymously affect 791 01:11:35,880 --> 01:11:43,160 the character of the neighboring properties because this would be a not a special exception 792 01:11:43,160 --> 01:11:44,760 but go straight to building permit. 793 01:11:46,220 --> 01:11:53,560 I know deep behind the past, they don't make those decisions, so that potentially creates 794 01:11:53,560 --> 01:11:54,160 a problem. 795 01:11:55,140 --> 01:11:57,280 My question is, can we change this? 796 01:11:58,540 --> 01:12:05,580 This type of use is basically a commercial, like much of the rate. 797 01:12:05,580 --> 01:12:18,640 The CS or formally CSC, can we just impose for this, because this is for an existing building that has commercial uses that just finds itself in the wrong zone. 798 01:12:19,360 --> 01:12:25,300 Can we just impose whatever the best commercial standards are and go with that? 799 01:12:34,260 --> 01:12:37,520 I mean, is David Warner, principal counsel for the commission? 800 01:12:38,260 --> 01:12:45,000 You're right that when a use is permitted and it comes to DePie and comes to us for recommendation on a permit, 801 01:12:45,420 --> 01:12:52,240 our permit staff will look and go like, well, we don't really know how to decide if something is going to have. 802 01:12:52,980 --> 01:12:57,440 You know, we have to take into consideration the character of the surrounding properties. 803 01:12:58,260 --> 01:13:00,780 They're not in a position to do that. 804 01:13:00,780 --> 01:13:02,820 So that does make it difficult when you have this. 805 01:13:03,000 --> 01:13:09,960 So if you have some standards that would allow for the development that's proposed that 806 01:13:09,960 --> 01:13:12,960 isn't so general, it's going to be easier to go through permit. 807 01:13:13,300 --> 01:13:17,960 So if it is a standard that says something, for example, as long as it meets the requirements 808 01:13:17,960 --> 01:13:20,980 of a typical CS zone, it's fine. 809 01:13:21,860 --> 01:13:23,460 That makes it easier on the permit. 810 01:13:23,460 --> 01:13:26,280 It's the appropriate only thing. 811 01:13:26,460 --> 01:13:27,140 I don't know. 812 01:13:27,600 --> 01:13:28,440 What do you guys think? 813 01:13:28,860 --> 01:13:29,860 What was the question, sir? 814 01:13:30,880 --> 01:13:33,480 If they wanted to add standards to this bill, 815 01:13:33,640 --> 01:13:35,700 just to make it very easy for permits 816 01:13:35,700 --> 01:13:37,840 to approve the permit when it comes through, 817 01:13:38,820 --> 01:13:40,980 instead of just having them analyze 818 01:13:40,980 --> 01:13:43,800 whether the character of the surrounding properties is affected, 819 01:13:44,280 --> 01:13:49,200 what would be the criteria for a typical type of use like this 820 01:13:49,200 --> 01:13:52,540 that's reusing a commercial development 821 01:13:52,540 --> 01:13:57,640 that's, you know, no longer you being used for whatever it was used before, you know, 822 01:13:57,880 --> 01:14:04,360 a supermarket or a car, auto, a lot or something. But, you know, what would be the kind of zone 823 01:14:04,360 --> 01:14:11,900 that procedures that would be appropriate for that? I mean, to the extent that we may have any kind of 824 01:14:13,420 --> 01:14:19,780 restaurant use design standards, regulatory standards, operational standards in a CGO zone, 825 01:14:19,780 --> 01:14:21,200 That would be fine. 826 01:14:21,380 --> 01:14:27,600 What I don't recall off the top of my head is whether such exists, but a restaurant within 827 01:14:28,640 --> 01:14:33,040 any zone is akin to a restaurant in any other zone in terms of its operation. 828 01:14:33,320 --> 01:14:39,540 So from that perspective, operation design, you would look at whatever we have in the 829 01:14:39,540 --> 01:14:45,240 current ordinance and we would want to go and just take a look at that and get back to you all on that issue. 830 01:14:45,240 --> 01:14:52,480 So, with a consideration that we might recommend that if you want this use in the RSFA zone, 831 01:14:52,780 --> 01:14:59,480 there might be some compatibility elements to the design of the and operation of this use. 832 01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:29,940 All this is for one acre or less. So I think this reminds me of the College Park situation where it was just a tiny little building in the middle of a residential area that had always been commercial. So if we're thinking in those terms. Well, when I think one acre or less, I think that the majority of restaurants operating in Prince George's County, if not all of them are on less than an acre land. There is. And I apologize. I am certainly not trying to be a Debbie down. 833 01:15:29,940 --> 01:15:39,800 But there is an unintended consequence that I see with this bill in replacing the X with the P and the RSFA zone. 834 01:15:40,360 --> 01:15:49,600 The use specific standards are explicit for restaurants to preclude any drive-through, which is fine. 835 01:15:50,420 --> 01:15:57,260 However, it is silent as to the alcohol production facility's small-scale, the shared commercial kitchen as well. 836 01:15:57,260 --> 01:16:02,700 So by making this from X to P, those uses will be permitted in the RSFA zone. 837 01:16:06,100 --> 01:16:12,280 Because you'll get back to the council chair as to the appropriate reference CGO or CS. 838 01:16:13,000 --> 01:16:20,060 We will go back and investigate whether we have such standards that are applicable to restaurants and get back to Choroyata. 839 01:16:21,160 --> 01:16:30,120 And in my opinion, David, one principle council, if you pass this out of committee, those do not sound like the type of substantive changes that you can't make after you got them out of committee. 840 01:16:30,120 --> 01:16:31,800 many of these are disclarefications. 841 01:16:33,460 --> 01:16:35,680 I'd like to make a motion to move everyone. 842 01:16:37,000 --> 01:16:37,500 Second. 843 01:16:41,590 --> 01:16:41,810 All right. 844 01:16:41,910 --> 01:16:42,430 I'm sorry. 845 01:16:42,570 --> 01:16:43,350 Please call the roll. 846 01:16:44,050 --> 01:16:44,650 Chair Begay. 847 01:16:45,290 --> 01:16:45,390 I. 848 01:16:45,850 --> 01:16:47,110 Council Member Adam Stafford. 849 01:16:47,570 --> 01:16:47,730 Aye. 850 01:16:48,290 --> 01:16:49,250 Council Member Denogra. 851 01:16:49,390 --> 01:16:49,590 All right. 852 01:16:49,930 --> 01:16:50,830 Council Member Olson. 853 01:16:51,510 --> 01:16:52,350 Vice Chair Oriada. 854 01:16:53,450 --> 01:16:53,590 Aye. 855 01:16:54,010 --> 01:16:54,870 Motion carries five. 856 01:16:55,070 --> 01:16:55,810 All right. 857 01:16:56,310 --> 01:16:59,790 Madam Chair, I'd like to make sure that we were moving. 858 01:17:00,270 --> 01:17:00,570 Yes. 859 01:17:00,710 --> 01:17:01,110 That's correct. 860 01:17:01,110 --> 01:17:01,650 That's favorable. 861 01:17:01,930 --> 01:17:03,210 I apologize for speaking. 862 01:17:03,910 --> 01:17:05,010 Thank you so much. 863 01:17:05,250 --> 01:17:05,530 All right. 864 01:17:06,310 --> 01:17:09,010 So we can move, um, extra. 865 01:17:09,170 --> 01:17:10,170 I'm just trying to get to that. 866 01:17:10,270 --> 01:17:10,970 Yeah, because I know. 867 01:17:11,310 --> 01:17:12,570 CB 82. 868 01:17:13,710 --> 01:17:15,490 Um, and try another to miss. 869 01:17:15,590 --> 01:17:16,010 High tower. 870 01:17:16,330 --> 01:17:19,630 This bill amends the zoning order to comply with state law. 871 01:17:19,770 --> 01:17:26,030 It requires cannabis dispensaries or cannabis micro dispensaries to be at least 500 feet 872 01:17:26,030 --> 01:17:32,770 from a place of worship, and any pre-existing playgrounds, recreation centers, libraries, 873 01:17:33,530 --> 01:17:34,730 and public parks. 874 01:17:35,190 --> 01:17:40,250 The bill is on pages 149 through 154, Ms. Gan, you is here. 875 01:17:40,710 --> 01:17:46,210 Again, if you would like to provide a fiscal and policy overview, the planning board voted 876 01:17:46,210 --> 01:17:51,390 to support this bill, and that is all I have, Madam Chair. 877 01:17:52,050 --> 01:17:52,170 Thank you. 878 01:17:52,170 --> 01:17:52,330 All right. 879 01:17:52,550 --> 01:17:54,050 Turn it over to Bill Sponsor. 880 01:17:56,730 --> 01:17:58,830 Yep, this is just clerical in nature. 881 01:17:59,090 --> 01:18:01,350 Something we needed to pass me along with the state. 882 01:18:04,100 --> 01:18:04,540 Thank you. 883 01:18:04,720 --> 01:18:07,080 Any comments from our colleagues? 884 01:18:07,960 --> 01:18:08,800 Any motion on the floor? 885 01:18:10,060 --> 01:18:10,640 Motion moved. 886 01:18:10,640 --> 01:18:11,120 Motion moved favourable. 887 01:18:11,180 --> 01:18:11,400 Second. 888 01:18:12,020 --> 01:18:13,640 All right, we have a motion in a second. 889 01:18:14,200 --> 01:18:15,020 Okay, please call the roll. 890 01:18:16,540 --> 01:18:17,340 Chair blue gay. 891 01:18:17,860 --> 01:18:17,960 Aye. 892 01:18:18,480 --> 01:18:19,680 Council member Adam Stafford. 893 01:18:20,540 --> 01:18:21,460 Council member Danoga. 894 01:18:22,400 --> 01:18:23,180 Council member Olson. 895 01:18:23,560 --> 01:18:23,700 Aye. 896 01:18:24,000 --> 01:18:24,720 Vice Chair Yada. 897 01:18:25,760 --> 01:18:27,340 motion carries 5-0. 898 01:18:29,120 --> 01:18:32,800 All right. Next on the agenda is CB-84. 899 01:18:34,060 --> 01:18:35,440 Did we do 84 already? 900 01:18:37,380 --> 01:18:38,760 Can I turn over to Ms. Asawa? 901 01:18:40,080 --> 01:18:41,200 I'm on 84. 902 01:18:41,400 --> 01:18:43,980 No one is concerning streamlining site plan. 903 01:18:45,560 --> 01:18:45,820 83. 904 01:18:46,400 --> 01:18:46,940 Right. 905 01:18:50,420 --> 01:18:52,280 No, I thought that's a bad problem. 906 01:18:52,440 --> 01:18:53,800 The convenience was, I thought we skipped. 907 01:18:53,800 --> 01:18:55,800 Well, 89 is what we need to know. 908 01:18:55,960 --> 01:18:57,540 Got it. Okay, CB 83. 909 01:18:58,480 --> 01:19:03,100 We are AB 3 and ordinance concerning convenience stores to back up product sales. 910 01:19:03,780 --> 01:19:22,420 Yes ma'am, this bill amends zoning ordinance transitional provisions to prohibit food or beverage stores under the prior zoning ordinance and amends the definition for an existing convenience store to prohibit convenience stores from selling tobacco and tobacco related products. 911 01:19:22,420 --> 01:19:26,780 The bill also includes an amortization period for 912 01:19:26,780 --> 01:19:35,980 impact existing places, and allows them to allow them to adjust to the new requirements of this bill. 913 01:19:37,290 --> 01:19:42,020 The bill and the summary on pages 168 through 174. 914 01:19:42,400 --> 01:19:47,480 Again, we have Ms. Ganyu here who can provide you with a fiscal and policy overview. 915 01:19:47,480 --> 01:19:51,760 the planning board voted to take no position on this bill with amendments. 916 01:19:52,780 --> 01:19:58,260 There are or were three people here signed up to speak at this time. 917 01:19:58,940 --> 01:19:59,960 Madam Chair. 918 01:20:01,740 --> 01:20:31,060 All right, concludes. Thank you so much and turn it over to our bill sponsor. Thank you. As many of my colleagues know, the issue with tobacco stores is one that I have been fighting around for probably the last four years that I've served in this body. As many know, we have such a over saturation. 919 01:20:31,060 --> 01:20:53,480 of these 20 bar tobacco stores on every corner in certain communities where there's this really known strip in my district where there's four of them all right next to each other, and then two liquor stores across the street. 920 01:20:53,480 --> 01:21:16,320 And we and many of my colleagues joined me in passing different legislation that where we would try to constantly address some of the loopholes that they would constantly find to open up and those have not been working, they're continuing to open up and they're not slowing down. 921 01:21:16,320 --> 01:21:45,600 As many of you know, I passed the moratorium that didn't allow any more to get permits in district seven for the next year while I continued to work on legislation that really addressed this no better way to say epidemic, I feel like that is happening in Fisher's County, and in particular areas of the county and a lot of these shops also are breaking the law. 922 01:21:45,600 --> 01:21:50,160 They're not even purchasing their products from Maryland, they're purchasing their products 923 01:21:50,160 --> 01:21:55,220 from Virginia, so that they don't have to pay the tax, so that they can make a higher 924 01:21:55,220 --> 01:21:55,680 profit. 925 01:21:55,960 --> 01:22:00,460 Because we wonder how can they turn a profit, it doesn't make sense, if they were paying 926 01:22:00,460 --> 01:22:06,020 the same cost as other vendors, it wouldn't be profitable, the math wouldn't make sense. 927 01:22:06,320 --> 01:22:14,300 But they're constantly acting as bad actors, starting the law, not paying and following 928 01:22:14,300 --> 01:22:22,520 the proper procedures. And so when I had a meeting with DPI and we were going over every 929 01:22:22,520 --> 01:22:28,880 piece of legislative option that we had, it came from an inspector. They said honestly 930 01:22:28,880 --> 01:22:37,500 the easiest thing is the use, simplifying it that way. And I think we've done our best 931 01:22:37,500 --> 01:22:45,540 to try to work to find solutions but well I think this industry has shown us that 932 01:22:45,540 --> 01:22:51,520 they don't care at all about what we're saying we want to see in our 933 01:22:51,520 --> 01:23:00,450 community and I've hit the end of trying to work with them. I feel like at this 934 01:23:00,450 --> 01:23:06,070 point we just don't want to see that use and it's a hundred percent in our 935 01:23:06,070 --> 01:23:13,050 our purview to say that we don't want to see this use permitted in certain areas in the 936 01:23:13,050 --> 01:23:18,210 county and so I hope to see your support in this piece of legislation because I think 937 01:23:18,210 --> 01:23:22,830 this might actually get us to where we've been trying to get for the last three years 938 01:23:22,830 --> 01:23:28,410 around the oversaturation of the 24 hour tobacco stores in the county. 939 01:23:28,750 --> 01:23:29,170 So thank you. 940 01:23:30,730 --> 01:23:36,170 Thank you, we do have a speaker's list for this bill, starting with Mike O'Hallorin. 941 01:23:40,450 --> 01:23:44,910 Good afternoon, members of the Planning Housing and Economic Development Committee for the record. 942 01:23:44,910 --> 01:23:49,170 My name is Mike O'Hallorin, and I represent the Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Distributors Association. 943 01:23:49,750 --> 01:23:55,170 MAP does a trade association representing energy marketers, so at Maryland, Delaware, and the District of Columbia. 944 01:23:55,490 --> 01:24:00,230 Our members also own and operate gas stations and convenience stores located in Prince George's County. 945 01:24:00,230 --> 01:24:09,790 Okay, CB 83 effectively prohibits the sale and distribution of tobacco and tobacco related products at convenience stores without fuel service in the county. 946 01:24:10,550 --> 01:24:15,810 Though this bill exempts gas stations from the legislation, it still impacts standalone convenience stores. 947 01:24:16,350 --> 01:24:29,770 Based on the gas station exemption and recent changes to county zoning rules, it seems the council is continuing to look as the council chair just mentioned in her remarks for ways to combat the proliferation of quote unquote smoke shops throughout the county. 948 01:24:29,770 --> 01:24:33,530 Map the members share in the concern these attachments have created. 949 01:24:33,750 --> 01:24:37,650 Our stores take great pride in distinguishing themselves from these businesses. 950 01:24:38,190 --> 01:24:42,070 We offer fresh food options, groceries over the counter medication, and more. 951 01:24:42,710 --> 01:24:50,750 Our hope is to work with the council to improve this bill and create a clear distinction between the convenience store industry and these quote unquote smoke shops. 952 01:24:51,150 --> 01:24:56,970 We recently worked with your colleagues in the Baltimore County Council to pass local legislation to better define the differences. 953 01:24:56,970 --> 01:24:59,950 We'd like to couple this effort with legislation our- 954 01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:29,980 Partners in the Maryland General Assembly passed during the 20, 2026 legislative session, excuse me, legislative session. That bill sent a bill A-20 enables the alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis commission to seize illegal products and cite these establishments, whether civilly or criminally, that sell them. Convenient stores are fundamentally different operations from smoke shops. Our industry is made up of general purpose retail businesses whose principal function is to provide a broad 955 01:25:29,980 --> 01:25:34,320 a large range of everyday consumer goods and services for quick and convenient purchase. 956 01:25:34,940 --> 01:25:39,200 Tobacco and tobacco related products may constitute an important product category, 957 01:25:39,600 --> 01:25:44,640 but they are one component of a diversified retail offering that typically includes food, 958 01:25:44,880 --> 01:25:47,980 beverages, major order meals, and other consumer products. 959 01:25:48,580 --> 01:25:51,820 Thank you and we look forward to working with the council on this legislation. 960 01:25:54,280 --> 01:25:56,480 Thank you, next on the list of Sarah Price. 961 01:25:56,480 --> 01:25:57,580 Good 962 01:26:05,740 --> 01:26:10,400 afternoon. Now, council members, Sarah Price, on behalf of the Maryland Retailers Alliance. 963 01:26:11,200 --> 01:26:20,020 I would largely echo the statement of my colleague, Mr. O'Hallarin, but ultimately, I think 964 01:26:20,020 --> 01:26:26,100 we have questions about the laws that are already on the books, the policies that have already 965 01:26:26,100 --> 01:26:34,220 been passed by the council, and why those attempts have not worked. I do appreciate the sponsor's 966 01:26:34,220 --> 01:26:40,200 explanation at the beginning. I had hoped to speak with you before this meeting just to 967 01:26:40,200 --> 01:26:43,760 get a better understanding of where the bill was coming from and why the existing laws 968 01:26:43,760 --> 01:26:51,020 haven't been working. It sounds to me like an enforcement issue and we just wanted to have 969 01:26:51,020 --> 01:26:59,600 a better understanding of how these businesses are getting around these laws and why the existing 970 01:26:59,600 --> 01:27:05,040 policies are not as effective as the council would have hoped. 971 01:27:06,510 --> 01:27:14,240 We do have some concerns about the actions of bad actors ultimately resulting in an 972 01:27:14,240 --> 01:27:19,560 entire industry sector being prohibited from selling legal regulated products. 973 01:27:21,050 --> 01:27:23,980 My organization doesn't, you know, we're not standing up for bad actors. 974 01:27:23,980 --> 01:27:28,580 We absolutely understand the issues being faced by the community. 975 01:27:28,580 --> 01:27:33,380 we're trying to be sympathetic to that, but we do want to make sure that legitimate businesses 976 01:27:33,380 --> 01:27:39,200 are still able to operate and to make the money that they need to make to operate. 977 01:27:39,800 --> 01:27:45,080 A lot of legitimate convenience stores and gas stations accept SNAP, they are providing 978 01:27:45,080 --> 01:27:50,920 food and necessary goods in their communities, and we want to make sure that those good businesses 979 01:27:50,920 --> 01:27:56,300 are still able to operate, happy to answer any questions and I hope to be able to connect 980 01:27:56,300 --> 01:27:56,580 with you. 981 01:27:56,860 --> 01:27:57,080 Thank you. 982 01:27:57,080 --> 01:28:02,700 Thank you so much and next one is here in here in Vera war. 983 01:28:05,020 --> 01:28:07,560 Okay and the next person is Taylor 984 01:28:08,480 --> 01:28:17,420 who I don't see. Thank you. Do we have a motion? Motion to move favourable. Second can we please call the roll. 985 01:28:27,440 --> 01:28:28,000 Chair 986 01:28:28,000 --> 01:28:43,700 All right. Thank you. Next that we have on the agenda is CB 84. An ordinance concerning streamlining site plan review act of 2026 turning it over to Ms. Hightower. 987 01:28:44,640 --> 01:28:54,740 Yes. Thank you, Madam Chair. As you mentioned, this bill will allow certain application types to be reviewed simultaneously during the development review process. 988 01:28:55,460 --> 01:29:00,240 The bill and the agenda on pages 195 through 200. 989 01:29:00,800 --> 01:29:03,960 There's a proposed draft too of the bill. 990 01:29:04,220 --> 01:29:08,280 Mr. Hamlin is here and can go through those amendments. 991 01:29:08,340 --> 01:29:14,340 Also, Ms. Ganyu is here if you would like to have her provide you a fiscal and policy overview. 992 01:29:14,800 --> 01:29:18,720 The planning board voted to oppose this bill, I believe. 993 01:29:19,440 --> 01:29:23,100 And that concludes my overview, Madam Chair, thank you. 994 01:29:23,100 --> 01:29:26,280 All right. Thank you. Any comments from the bill sponsor? 995 01:29:29,880 --> 01:29:52,340 Just echoing sentiments that I've stated before around, sorry, we're on 84 correct around the work that we're doing around streamlining the development process and this one change to match the concerns that my colleagues had on the subdivision. 996 01:29:52,340 --> 01:29:55,860 So this matches it so there'll be a draft to 997 01:29:56,580 --> 01:29:59,560 Reflect all the changes on the subdivision bill that we already passed 998 01:30:00,620 --> 01:30:07,740 Thank you. And we have some speakers today. I'll start with Terry Arvinson. 999 01:30:13,770 --> 01:30:14,510 Hello again. 1000 01:30:15,250 --> 01:30:27,290 Terry Arvinson from a Laurel district one. There are so many concerns and impacts to be weighed during the approval process. 1001 01:30:27,790 --> 01:30:35,530 And the range of capabilities and organizations required to properly assess these is beyond the means of any planning board, both in terms of knowledge 1002 01:30:35,530 --> 01:30:37,530 and current staffing resources. 1003 01:30:38,330 --> 01:30:40,710 Streamlining the process is not the answer. 1004 01:30:41,350 --> 01:30:44,430 Providing sufficient resources to do the job right 1005 01:30:44,430 --> 01:30:45,870 is the proper answer. 1006 01:30:46,790 --> 01:30:49,910 What I also don't see in the system right now 1007 01:30:49,910 --> 01:30:53,530 is the transparency that allows the community 1008 01:30:53,530 --> 01:30:56,570 to track inputs, reports, status, and results. 1009 01:30:57,310 --> 01:31:01,090 For example, the winery land sale on Duckett Town Road 1010 01:31:01,090 --> 01:31:05,770 outside of Old Buie has been conducted essentially in secret. 1011 01:31:06,270 --> 01:31:11,370 It is our quality of life that is potentially impinged upon by careless or 1012 01:31:11,370 --> 01:31:16,470 thoughtless development, including loss of trees and contamination of watersheds, 1013 01:31:16,970 --> 01:31:20,870 aggravated traffic patterns that are already at their limit in some areas, 1014 01:31:21,330 --> 01:31:25,650 and infrastructure capacities such as water, sewer, and electricity. 1015 01:31:26,390 --> 01:31:35,550 I have been trolling the county websites for current status on permits, bill approvals, planning submissions, but they don't seem to be available to the voters. 1016 01:31:36,490 --> 01:31:42,810 Request for information is the only way we find out what's being done without our knowledge or consent. 1017 01:31:43,470 --> 01:31:49,350 This is not right, it is not a representative government if we don't know what you're doing. 1018 01:31:49,350 --> 01:31:58,810 Help us to help you make PG County a thoughtful, considerate, and responsibly planned environment in which to raise our families. 1019 01:31:59,210 --> 01:32:00,030 Thank you. 1020 01:32:00,430 --> 01:32:01,550 Thank you so much. 1021 01:32:01,690 --> 01:32:02,790 Next is John Robinson? 1022 01:32:09,300 --> 01:32:12,260 Yes, this is John Robinson. 1023 01:32:13,200 --> 01:32:20,460 The bill has changed remarkably from what I originally saw, but I'd like to just reiterate two things. 1024 01:32:20,460 --> 01:32:28,660 One is that the process is necessarily multi-step and you have to do certain things before you do succeeding things. 1025 01:32:29,200 --> 01:32:36,060 For example, you really need to know where the flood plans are, you need to know where the natural resources are, you know, forest cover, and so forth. 1026 01:32:37,040 --> 01:32:45,220 And you have to have those before you can go to the next stages of evaluating whether a particular proposal is even appropriate for an area or not. 1027 01:32:45,220 --> 01:32:54,460 And just to piggyback the comments that were just made about the old Duckettown community. 1028 01:32:54,620 --> 01:32:58,580 This is an historic African-American community near Buoy. 1029 01:32:59,340 --> 01:33:04,700 They basically had taken for granted the forest that surrounded their community. 1030 01:33:05,340 --> 01:33:10,980 And then all of a sudden they found out that that county had sold it as surplus property. 1031 01:33:13,040 --> 01:33:23,920 and they were planning on, you know, basically cutting down the forest that they had taken for granted, that people tend to do when things have been there for hundreds of years, and they were going to put a winery there. 1032 01:33:24,120 --> 01:33:32,880 And they had no clue that this was coming down the pike. So I think that, you know, this is the important. It's why you have to have transparency. 1033 01:33:32,880 --> 01:33:38,040 You have to incorporate people and you have to evaluate the resources before you, for example, 1034 01:33:38,180 --> 01:33:43,400 sell off County property that has a mature forest on it, or any of these other activities. 1035 01:33:43,980 --> 01:33:45,480 So, thank you very much for your time. 1036 01:33:48,060 --> 01:33:50,120 Thank you, and Kathy, both on the mute. 1037 01:34:00,840 --> 01:34:02,860 Kathy from Greenville. 1038 01:34:04,940 --> 01:34:13,340 Opposed to the streamlining, we need to set down policy that must protect the public protections 1039 01:34:13,340 --> 01:34:16,360 protections have environmental protections, even a fast-track. 1040 01:34:18,400 --> 01:34:22,080 Make sure that the transportation federal and state laws are followed. 1041 01:34:22,900 --> 01:34:27,720 Concerns about the resources to develop smart growth with serial planning review process. 1042 01:34:28,360 --> 01:34:34,920 Fast-tracking using parallel processing compounds, a lack of capability, makes it highly likely 1043 01:34:34,920 --> 01:34:40,680 that mistakes in the approval process will be made that are counter to what PGE citizens 1044 01:34:40,680 --> 01:34:44,640 environmental growth and interest want. 1045 01:34:45,420 --> 01:34:49,080 We need timely and accurate reviews that are compliant with the law, 1046 01:34:49,540 --> 01:34:53,080 making this process go faster, using parallel reviews, 1047 01:34:53,300 --> 01:34:57,960 exposes PG Council, to even more legal action from failed reviews, 1048 01:34:58,180 --> 01:34:59,500 and citizens who experience 1049 01:35:00,000 --> 01:35:07,940 Financial environmental losses has a result. Data base is not working so well. Lining information 1050 01:35:07,940 --> 01:35:14,480 is very difficult and at times not available. The current permit and planning data bases 1051 01:35:14,480 --> 01:35:22,540 are insufficient as DPI is understaffed. Lack of transparency around the projects and not 1052 01:35:22,540 --> 01:35:28,580 proactively provide documents. Developers are required to file as part of the application process. 1053 01:35:29,400 --> 01:35:37,460 Only getting documents through the public record requests gives us that are not being transparent right now. 1054 01:35:38,000 --> 01:35:48,360 It seems that maybe a special treatment is being given to the big developers rather than people that are just wanting to build an addition or at a house. 1055 01:35:49,360 --> 01:35:51,880 So I hope you reconsider this bill. 1056 01:35:53,180 --> 01:35:53,620 Thank you. 1057 01:35:54,280 --> 01:35:55,780 Thank you so much. 1058 01:35:56,460 --> 01:35:57,460 Do we have a motion? 1059 01:35:59,300 --> 01:35:59,940 Move everyone. 1060 01:36:00,220 --> 01:36:00,700 Drive two. 1061 01:36:00,980 --> 01:36:01,420 Second. 1062 01:36:02,100 --> 01:36:03,560 Can we please call the roll? 1063 01:36:05,020 --> 01:36:05,640 Chair Belgae. 1064 01:36:06,440 --> 01:36:06,600 Aye. 1065 01:36:07,060 --> 01:36:08,280 Council Member Adam Stafford. 1066 01:36:09,220 --> 01:36:10,160 Council Member Denoga. 1067 01:36:11,320 --> 01:36:12,340 Council Member Olson. 1068 01:36:13,080 --> 01:36:13,200 Aye. 1069 01:36:13,660 --> 01:36:14,520 Vice Chair Ouyaga. 1070 01:36:15,440 --> 01:36:15,580 Aye. 1071 01:36:15,860 --> 01:36:17,100 Motion carries 5-0. 1072 01:36:17,600 --> 01:36:18,020 All right. 1073 01:36:18,300 --> 01:36:21,300 And finally, we have CB-35, is that the last one? 1074 01:36:21,940 --> 01:36:22,160 Yes. 1075 01:36:23,260 --> 01:36:36,700 And this bill was held in committee on May the 12th and this bill would allow child care centers without the requirement of special exception. 1076 01:36:37,680 --> 01:36:47,940 There is a proposed draft too, and Mr. Hamlin is here, the Planning Board voted to support it, the original version with amendments. 1077 01:36:47,940 --> 01:36:55,800 There was a letter received from Reverend Dr. Matthew Wattley from Kingdom Fellowship, 1078 01:36:56,380 --> 01:37:00,340 AME Church, strongly supporting the legislation. 1079 01:37:01,040 --> 01:37:07,460 There's also Ms. Heather, and I apologize if I mess up your last name, Ms. Heather Dorskley, 1080 01:37:07,940 --> 01:37:11,700 submitted a letter of support and is signed up to speak. 1081 01:37:12,160 --> 01:37:13,120 Thank you, Madam Chair. 1082 01:37:16,100 --> 01:37:18,780 Okay, so we had turned over to a bill sponsor. 1083 01:37:19,940 --> 01:37:21,140 Thank you, colleagues. 1084 01:37:22,500 --> 01:37:28,480 This was part of the package of bills I presented on the Universal Child Care Roadmap. 1085 01:37:29,040 --> 01:37:34,860 As we look at how we're going to expand access to child care, as to be a layered approach. 1086 01:37:35,320 --> 01:37:40,360 One, we did that with creating the first ever Printer Church County Scholarship and funding 1087 01:37:40,360 --> 01:37:41,760 it during this budget cycle. 1088 01:37:41,760 --> 01:37:46,060 So, I thank my colleagues for their advocacy and our ability to get that funding. 1089 01:37:46,780 --> 01:37:52,660 But outside of also creating scholarship opportunities, we also have to create opportunities 1090 01:37:52,660 --> 01:37:54,160 to expand the seats. 1091 01:37:54,700 --> 01:38:00,300 So one of the pieces of legislation I wanted to do was look at the barriers to actually 1092 01:38:00,300 --> 01:38:02,160 open up child care facilities. 1093 01:38:02,660 --> 01:38:09,000 And so I think that this piece of legislation will make it easier for us to expand and have 1094 01:38:09,000 --> 01:38:15,940 more seats across the county, which is a big part of creating access to affordable 1095 01:38:15,940 --> 01:38:19,880 child care and print shortage county. So I hope to have your support. Thank you. 1096 01:38:22,120 --> 01:38:31,320 Thank you so much. We do have some speakers, Ms. Heather, the pot ski, Paul's ski. 1097 01:38:33,500 --> 01:38:34,160 Good afternoon, 1098 01:38:39,230 --> 01:38:43,350 a little bit taller, not usually tall. Good afternoon, Heather, Dell, Paul's 1099 01:38:43,350 --> 01:38:47,770 And I respond to many variations on my last name, so I know where he's there. 1100 01:38:48,290 --> 01:38:50,290 Good afternoon, Madam Chair and members of the committee. 1101 01:38:50,450 --> 01:38:54,610 As I said, Heather Dullapulski, I'm a land use and zoning attorney with WireGill. 1102 01:38:54,830 --> 01:38:57,970 And I'm here on behalf of Kingdom Fellowship AME Church. 1103 01:38:58,170 --> 01:39:00,710 They are based on Beltsville Drive in Beltsville. 1104 01:39:01,130 --> 01:39:04,890 And it is our client who submitted the very strong letter of support for this bill. 1105 01:39:04,990 --> 01:39:07,630 And we do appreciate its introduction and moving forward. 1106 01:39:08,210 --> 01:39:12,850 We are strongly in support of both the bill and the overall proposal to make it easier 1107 01:39:12,850 --> 01:39:15,130 to provide daycare in Prince George's County. 1108 01:39:15,550 --> 01:39:19,790 We did submit a lengthier written letter yesterday, so I would refer folks to that. 1109 01:39:20,310 --> 01:39:24,710 In addition to the Worship Center at their Belsfield Drive Facility, Kingdom Fellowship 1110 01:39:24,710 --> 01:39:26,990 also operates Kingdom Care Center. 1111 01:39:27,490 --> 01:39:32,750 It provides wraparound services for the community within existing office buildings. 1112 01:39:32,950 --> 01:39:35,910 So these are office buildings that were very underutilized for a number of years. 1113 01:39:36,210 --> 01:39:40,150 They came and developed their Worship Center as well as the Kingdom Care Center. 1114 01:39:40,150 --> 01:39:46,070 The wraparound services include food and housing assistance, health care, workforce development, 1115 01:39:46,370 --> 01:39:51,750 legal services, and if this bill passes, Kingdom Fellowship stands ready to add a daycare 1116 01:39:51,750 --> 01:39:55,230 center for children as part of this comprehensive service to the community. 1117 01:39:55,790 --> 01:39:59,950 We are also currently seeking a parking departure to accommodate the daycare center. 1118 01:40:00,000 --> 01:40:29,920 And some additional wraparound services at Kingdom Care Center. This would be in recognition of the fact that these are weekday uses that fit well within the higher parking requirement for the place of worship, which obviously has a tires to use on Sundays. The planning board hearing on that is in the end of October, and it's our strong hope that this bill will be approved around the same time that final action is being taken on that. And if so, Kingdom Fellowship is ready to move forward with implementing a daycare center for children at their facility. 1119 01:40:29,920 --> 01:40:33,960 and we do anticipate at this time that it would be up to 120 children. 1120 01:40:34,340 --> 01:40:36,120 So thank you so much for the opportunity to speak to. 1121 01:40:36,120 --> 01:40:36,700 I appreciate it. 1122 01:40:36,960 --> 01:40:37,800 Thank you so much. 1123 01:40:37,920 --> 01:40:38,940 John Robertson. 1124 01:40:45,730 --> 01:40:51,170 Yes, I think it's clear that not just the county, but the whole country is in serious need 1125 01:40:51,170 --> 01:40:56,710 of good, reliable child care for residents. 1126 01:40:57,750 --> 01:41:02,790 However, I do question whether or not the general scope of this legislation is what's required. 1127 01:41:03,670 --> 01:41:22,070 There are situations in various communities where facilities that are meant to provide this type of care do not meet standards and without the appropriate review by the planning department and other experts. 1128 01:41:22,770 --> 01:41:48,550 There's no guarantee that a safe, effective child care situation will be created, and so I would just caution you that just doing away with regulations and requiring permits is not necessarily going to give you the result that you want, which is providing high quality child care for the residents of our county. Thank you. 1129 01:41:53,290 --> 01:41:59,090 I just want to address that because that's is very important that we have high quality 1130 01:41:59,090 --> 01:42:07,830 daycare facilities and daycare is heavily regulated and this in no way changes those 1131 01:42:07,830 --> 01:42:08,450 regulations. 1132 01:42:08,890 --> 01:42:14,570 It's actually one of the things I'm working on on the state level right now because there's 1133 01:42:14,570 --> 01:42:38,010 not even a difference between daycare and afterschool, and because the standards are so high for daycare, so many of our afterschool providers can't even open because of the licensing requirement, even our school, so about you build a school that houses children all day, they have to get licensed separately to do afterschool care, because it's under the daycare requirements. 1134 01:42:38,010 --> 01:42:45,290 So I don't want people to think that this, in any way, changes the regulations or the standards for daycares. 1135 01:42:45,410 --> 01:42:55,830 They still have higher regulations and standards that are regulated by the state to make sure that they are quality child care facilities in Prince George County. 1136 01:42:56,450 --> 01:43:01,290 And then we do have technical amendments, Josh, am I correct? 1137 01:43:02,590 --> 01:43:05,250 Turn it over, Josh, do you have technical amendments? 1138 01:43:05,250 --> 01:43:13,050 Yeah, these are just a handful of amendments that were suggested by planning staff back when they were discussed. 1139 01:43:13,350 --> 01:43:16,990 I think Mr. Warner discussed them at length, and I think there was general agreement. 1140 01:43:17,210 --> 01:43:20,170 So these are just incorporated into the draft, too. 1141 01:43:20,270 --> 01:43:22,210 And those are the only changes to it from draft one. 1142 01:43:23,230 --> 01:43:24,170 Thank you. 1143 01:43:24,830 --> 01:43:24,990 All right. 1144 01:43:25,350 --> 01:43:25,910 Do we have a motion? 1145 01:43:26,290 --> 01:43:28,390 Motion to move favourable on draft two. 1146 01:43:28,830 --> 01:43:29,290 Second. 1147 01:43:30,330 --> 01:43:31,470 Could please call the roll. 1148 01:43:31,470 --> 01:43:33,770 Chair Bougay, aye. 1149 01:43:34,130 --> 01:43:35,710 Council Member Adam Stafford, aye. 1150 01:43:36,130 --> 01:43:36,990 Council Member Janoga, 1151 01:43:37,750 --> 01:43:39,130 Council Member Olson, aye. 1152 01:43:39,710 --> 01:43:41,050 Vice Chair Ruyaga, aye. 1153 01:43:41,370 --> 01:43:42,530 Motion carries 5-0. 1154 01:43:44,150 --> 01:43:47,070 Right, so we are concluded. 1155 01:43:47,410 --> 01:43:48,650 Do we have a motion to adjourn? 1156 01:43:49,970 --> 01:43:54,030 All right, all the eyes have it. 1157 01:43:54,170 --> 01:43:54,910 We are adjourned.