[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6512437,"mediaKeyId","5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10","parentId",5113882,"title","Public commenters split: support for transit‑oriented housing and pedestrian safety; concerns on floodplain, displacement and implementation","audioSeconds",863,"startMs",2110000,"endMs",2973000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10&start=2110&end=2973","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10/thumbnail_2110000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6512437/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Public-commenters-split-support-for-transitoriented-housing-and-pedestrian-safety-concerns-on-floodplain-displacement-and-implementation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512437-7f1dc4f74b0974d18a28cf1224a772cd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185485&Signature=FMQKA2m5UfALjFV0SfCYKM66Ub8TLgcX0IyFrEXcdWgrKoYkAe30uBjYL53aIfzQKnLbjdJH-PGdlygTV3bXAtJhfsfCNPCymv75YCQ6PzhMxFdqAiUm~YB~mn9n16G3EJBtpH2Mlxam2ZWO4G0fUE1J6SJuf6p4yT7lbMaz-L06JPumwFHlcmt0dgCQgxkM1XuXWXMlnHeRmZh7KkrUoAj6upOhCq2FhBI1c-m1MSiyMuk98yA7poq6SkwQLFJH6OuA4~5FSzAdrHUKGCdtvm6D-XykQacKQjGuSg4GbxP9FImg-IARdERwBUP3yMe7pEVys9-1SsBJ3q5kyGDfIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Prince George","date","2025-07-01T00:00:00Z","article","At the joint public hearing on the West Hyattsville–Queens Chapel sector plan, public commenters voiced a mix of support for transit‑oriented development and concerns about floodplain protections, displacement and implementation details.

Peter Stokas, a homeowner and transportation commuter, said he “fully support[s] the sector plan and the sectional map amendment” and praised staff engagement and recommendations for multimodal safety along Chilum Road. Several faith and nonprofit speakers, including Yvonne Penn, senior pastor at First United Methodist Church in Hyattsville, expressed support for rezoning to enable multifamily and senior housing and described active projects they hope to advance on county‑owned or church‑affiliated parcels.

Floodplain and environmental concerns

Melissa Schweizguth, a Hyattsville resident, told the board that draft 2’s full prohibition on floodplain development was reduced in draft 3 and asked for more nuanced environmental protections that would allow redevelopment where engineered flood mitigation is present but prohibit risky uses (auto body, fuel operations) in flood‑prone parcels. She said the plan’s anti‑displacement strategies “need more detail to be credible and to be implemented.”

Affordable housing, ADUs and displacement

Several speakers supported policies to increase housing choice and affordability but urged stronger anti‑displacement tools. Staff cited HB 538 and county bill 15 as drivers for revised affordable housing strategies. Councilmember Waneka Fisher told the hearing there is also state legislation (she cited HB 1466) requiring counties to evaluate rules on accessory dwelling units, and that the council will need to consider local regulations in light of state law.

Queenstown Apartments and redevelopment

An attorney for Queenstown Apartments, Casey Cerner of Miles & Stockbridge, said the owner supports the sector plan’s LTOC recommendation for Queenstown and asked staff to include one parcel (tax ID 171839505) in appendix D so it is explicitly listed for rezoning. Cerner also urged flexible public‑benefit language to allow staff discretion to balance improvements and redevelopment costs.

Why it matters: public support and targeted criticisms underscore the tradeoffs the planning board and council must weigh—housing production and transit access versus environmental protection, neighborhood character, and feasible implementation pathways.

Ending

Speakers on both sides said they will submit written comments before the record closes. Staff and commissioners said they will consider the written record ahead of the planning board work session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Prince George - County Council - Joint Public Hearing - The Preliminary West Hyattsville-Queens Chapel Sector Plan and Proposed Sectional Map Amendment (SMA) (Draft III) - Jul 01, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Public speakers expressed both support for transit‑oriented growth and pedestrian safety improvements and concern about floodplain policy rollbacks, displacement risks from redevelopment, clarity on implementation and the effect of state ADU legislation.","taxTitle","Prince George's County, Maryland","taxId",3378,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6512441,"Washington Gas urges industrial designation for Chilum Road site; planning staff recommends LTOE rezoning",420,3284000,3704000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10&start=3284&end=3704","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10/thumbnail_3284000.jpg","/articles/6512441/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Washington-Gas-urges-industrial-designation-for-Chilum-Road-site-planning-staff-recommends-LTOE-rezoning","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512441-34f33bb64dbbd9a1b51249668296b575/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185485&Signature=FuTlOTKFAmEx1LUpxtf7gAoq4tmFI0zvTdkvyh4j6PIWJENw3u~Dxa1H9-Qu~i9jz2RyAJw7hCiwP2eukNb0H6-wW0J7FS8GD22gkHmg3SYot7j5heBBmfSKD47upenNFnpnqksPgjMtB8PNcAXSjquQntgRbWrMjTU0TIjcq7OtaPNFz7CqLhN9JcuXUmd~hS~ob7qSVpADZ~ExJRaVoOgTo1awQdJY~HKOqxWYLHZumWZCXgKDs9LaxvsfmLOe5PgqaXYv3vt4gjxlrRRhxOlmV9oH30ATfxhMLIyWzRWuQaNxg7T7Urtf1REmgXfBG9dzZ5uyutSeoqdk7vGOUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of Washington Gas and legal counsel addressed the joint public hearing to oppose staff’s recommendation to reclassify the Chilum Road gas facility to a transit‑oriented mixed‑use zoning category. They asked the planning board to instead give the property an industrial land‑use classification consistent with its long‑running operational role in the region.

Brandon Todd, vice president of government affairs, policy and advocacy for Washington Gaslight, said his company has provided energy services across the Washington region for 177 years and currently serves more than 1,200,000 customers. He asked the planning board to “review the full record and grant us the Chilum property an industrial land use classification,” saying the property supports operations, maintenance, training and material storage for nearly 100 employees who work on site.

Majette Parker, an attorney representing Washington Gas, noted that the Chilum facility has functioned as an industrial parcel since the 1930s and said staff’s LTOE recommendation is aspirational and not reflective of near‑term operational reality. Parker told the board that zoning law requires uniformity and suggested an industrial employment classification better matches the property’s established use.

Why it matters: The staff recommendation to rezone the property to LTOE is central to the sector plan’s vision for increased transit‑adjacent mixed‑use development; Washington Gas’s request raises questions about realistic redevelopment timelines and compatibility of energy infrastructure with residential neighbors.

Points of contention and staff response

Staff materials in draft 3 propose LTOE for the Washington Gas property to encourage future mixed‑use redevelopment and to align land use around transit. The draft also adds guidance in the community heritage, culture and design chapter recommending landscaped buffers near Chilum Road, compliance with floodplain regulations, and discouraging liquid gas storage near homes if the site is redeveloped.

Washington Gas representatives said they participated in prior county mapping processes and the sector plan process, and they plan to submit written comments before the record closes. The planning board and council will consider the full written record before making a decision.

Ending

Both sides said they will submit written materials to the record. Planning staff and commissioners signaled they will review testimony and appraisal of use, and the planning board’s September work session will provide the next formal opportunity to act on the SMA recommendation.","Washington Gas and its representatives asked the planning board to retain an industrial classification for the Chilum Road facility, saying the site has operated as energy infrastructure since the 1930s; planning staff recommended rezoning the property to Local Transit‑Oriented Edge (LTOE) in the third draft.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6512446,"Avondale residents urge removal from West Hyattsville rezoning; cite notification, infrastructure and displacement concerns",235,2549000,2784000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10&start=2549&end=2784","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10/thumbnail_2549000.jpg","/articles/6512446/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Avondale-residents-urge-removal-from-West-Hyattsville-rezoning-cite-notification-infrastructure-and-displacement-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512446-657e625206805edd91558ee8fd77d032/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185485&Signature=nOa-sm~lCNJgim3EKmM~~bSi187hqqBTpzxNGWWtd~x3T7h~A0AONJ1KMg43Es90Lea~PVlrKUG0g6BIQqnbe5sH0ys0btFW~R7g4JTAqtdXxMGCZqK-CeUP7pKfBF~4alwNa4Ra50MY2xFjCUl3OuI3Dh2cm2BhuwtMTa0UTUFvBN6Ml~VCYBmU5Uel944nM0s0UV~eyo7DmYMBPqZQWgEfT2ATvj1t~dkzYSRvDeL20hvuurglqObKtjq-QYqFa-qHjeb8pSZS31rU-BstUEVFEVP5lgXkx9WhEP6gxn5MBePfRBHOxPWmavHx9lqtF~OKpb2vAapFIoCdClaaug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Residents of the Avondale North Woodridge neighborhood told the Prince George’s County Council and the planning board at the joint public hearing that draft 3’s proposed reclassification of RSF‑65 to RSFA would change the neighborhood’s character and strain infrastructure. Several residents asked the planning board to amend the draft to remove Avondale from the rezoning area.

Jewel Smith, vice president of the Avondale North Woodridge Community Association, said, \"This change would irreparably alter the character of our neighborhood,\" and asked the board to reconsider rezoning Avondale North Woodridge. Smith identified concerns about rush‑hour congestion on Queens Chapel Road, limited police coverage, lack of sidewalks on some streets and rising property taxes that, she said, could be driven higher by rezoning.

Community association president Pat Padua said the association gathered “more than a 100 signatures from Avondale residents opposed to the rezoning proposal,” and asserted that notice to the neighborhood was inadequate: residents were not aware of earlier outreach and only learned of the third draft in May 2025.

Why it matters: residents said their largely Black and Hispanic community relies on modest single‑family lots, on-street parking, existing public services and small parks; they fear rezoning will encourage multifamily redevelopment that changes the neighborhood without compensating infrastructure or protections for long‑term owners.

Principal concerns raised

Notification and process: Nancy Gaskins and other speakers said they were not alerted when earlier outreach occurred and only became aware of the draft in spring 2025. Gaskins said inadequate notice undermines public trust and asked for greater transparency.

Infrastructure and safety: Speakers described existing traffic backups on Queens Chapel Road and Chilum Road at peak hours, limited police resources, and gaps in pedestrian infrastructure such as sidewalks on residential streets. Jewel Smith and Neonbi Carter said neighborhoods lack basic safety features before any density increase is considered.

Displacement and economic impacts: Residents argued rezoning could raise property taxes for long‑term homeowners and reduce neighborhood green space. Several speakers expressed support for limited measures such as accessory dwelling units (ADUs) at the homeowner’s option, but opposed wholesale rezoning that allows commercial or multifamily owners to buy strips of homes and replace them with higher‑density developments.

Requested outcome

Avondale speakers asked the planning board to remove Avondale North Woodridge from the RSFA rezoning (item noted as change 36 in the staff presentation) or to delay any action until the neighborhood receives more complete notification and a more detailed infrastructure analysis.

Ending

Speakers closed by requesting that their concerns be considered in amendments to the draft. The planning and council dais acknowledged the testimony and the public record will remain open for written comments through the close date staff announced.","Multiple speakers from the Avondale North Woodridge neighborhood urged the planning board to remove their area from proposed rezoning, saying they first learned of draft changes in May 2025, that local streets and services cannot absorb higher density, and that rezoning would harm long‑term homeowners.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6512451,"Prince George’s County presents third draft of West Hyattsville–Queens Chapel sector plan and 38 proposed zoning changes",1229,71000,1300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10&start=71&end=1300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5113882-986c97d6f7f15df65b0419e39a3c6f10/thumbnail_71000.jpg","/articles/6512451/Prince-Georges-County/Maryland/Prince-Georges-County-presents-third-draft-of-West-HyattsvilleQueens-Chapel-sector-plan-and-38-proposed-zoning-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512451-9b174a830e836993db75824701a611e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771185485&Signature=LvGmxnsOFoZHozCFY8cscGwyhlRzCGjFRdXdLAqDO4ZCERNZyyW6PW9Eft0p1sRf1fekUP-m7IXNjvuhm4IXc41iH4PZKG6dJ6aDA6fhSwTKh6IIknoOUFnVfBl6wanaA4Q67Rq-RRS5FG7hdU2dgrPtDcIT7cwY2nZ7G9DDAJoE7jgh3q067HhSB74ktonkPuia3bjjDCy~zp68X8ko649WVc394~vpnaZgs2rg3QwFv1cR08NF8XVwZ~kMIyZOf2xL2azQBKr3-YFjo7N6zldacmISiHLK4Xfaqi2a48AEMRObXPAAX5nEi1Hx5xAsNhqtqeIDHGhxWMcrfKYzbA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Prince George's County planning staff and the county council held a joint public hearing to present the third draft of the preliminary West Hyattsville–Queens Chapel Sector Plan and a related sectional map amendment (SMA), which proposes 38 zoning changes intended to support transit‑oriented development around the West Hyattsville and Hyattsville Crossing metro stations.

The plan, staff said, proposes reclassifying single‑family detached neighborhoods from Residential Single‑Family (RSF‑65) to Residential Single‑Family Attached (RSFA) in parts of the sector plan area, recommends rezoning the Washington Gas property at Chilum Road to Local Transit‑Oriented Edge (LTOE), and adds new policy calls including a comprehensive floodplain study and a study of transfer of development rights. Thomas Lester, project manager for the sector plan, told the hearing the third draft “summarizes the third draft of the sector plan and sectional map amendment, and highlight[s] the major changes between the second and the third.”

Why it matters: the draft would change the county zoning map for portions of Planning Areas 65 and 68, alter future land‑use expectations for dozens of parcels, and add policies intended to expand housing types, protect natural resources and prioritize walking and biking near transit.

Staff presentation and key proposals

Thomas Lester, project manager, and Justin Thornton, deputy project manager, outlined major edits from draft 2. Staff said the third draft aligns the sector plan with recent state and county legislation, including HB 538 (effective Jan. 1, 2025) and County Council bill 15 (2024), and increases emphasis on anti‑displacement strategies and affordable housing incentives. The presentation noted that the plan recommends a 30% density bonus for qualifying projects that include at least 15% affordable units within three‑quarters of a mile of the West Hyattsville Metro Station.

On land use and zoning, staff proposed converting RSF‑65 areas to RSFA to allow more diverse housing types on predominant 5,000‑square‑foot lots (staff said 60% of lots are this size). The SMA recommends 38 zoning changes to implement the plan’s land‑use goals. The Washington Gas property is recommended for rezoning to LTOE to support future mixed‑use redevelopment, while staff documented the site’s long industrial history and added design guidance (native buffers, floodplain compliance, discouraging liquid gas storage near residences) if industrial uses change.

Transportation and public facilities changes include upgrading Chilum Road to a mixed‑use boulevard associated with the Washington Gas rezoning, substituting a shared‑use path for planned bike lanes on Jamestown Road to protect mature trees (identified as Res. 233), and removing a proposed T208 trail through WMATA property because of terrain and an alternate alignment. Public‑facilities adjustments removed proposed expansions of Chilum Road Park and portions of Northwest Branch Stream Valley Park when those expansions would encroach on private land; the plan still supports new parks, plazas and a West Hyattsville greenway.

Housing, floodplain and anti‑displacement measures

The housing element emphasizes increased housing supply, diverse housing types, and anti‑displacement measures. New strategies include referrals to free legal aid for residents at risk of displacement, support for renters advocacy, countywide “right to return” policies, and partnering to create a community land trust. The third draft also adds a policy calling for a comprehensive floodplain study and proposes exploring a floodplain overlay zone to inform redevelopment decisions.

Public process and schedule

Staff said the third draft integrates comments from the 2022 and 2024 hearings, and that notice was mailed in May 2025 to owners of parcels proposed for rezoning and to affected municipalities. The planning board expected a work session and action on Sept. 11, 2025, followed by district council work sessions in October and possible final council action as soon as November 2025.

The public hearing will remain open for written comments through the close of record date extended by the council to July 21, 2025; staff said written material must be submitted to be part of the official record.

Proponents and questions from the dais

Councilmember Waneka Fisher (District 2) noted recent state legislation on accessory dwelling units (ADUs), referencing HB 1466, and said the county will need to review local ADU rules as state law evolves. Supporters of the draft at the hearing praised multimodal, pedestrian and cycling safety improvements and the plan’s emphasis on transit‑oriented growth.

Ending

The hearing brought a wide range of public comment on zoning intensification, floodplain protections, displacement risk, and the future of industrial parcels. Staff will review testimony, the planning board will take action in September, and the council will consider the plan later in the year. Written testimony remains part of the official record until the stated close date.","County planning staff summarized the third draft of the West Hyattsville–Queens Chapel sector plan and a concurrent sectional map amendment that proposes 38 zoning changes, new housing and floodplain policies, transportation updates and a rezoning recommendation for the Washington Gas property.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Public commenters split: support for transit‑oriented housing and pedestrian safety; concerns on floodplain, displacement and implementation

Washington Gas urges industrial designation for Chilum Road site; planning staff recommends LTOE rezoning

Avondale residents urge removal from West Hyattsville rezoning; cite notification, infrastructure and displacement concerns

Prince George’s County presents third draft of West Hyattsville–Queens Chapel sector plan and 38 proposed zoning changes