Traffic Brief Update Supports Expansion of Nursing Home Beds in Prince George's County

A proposed expansion of a nursing home facility in Prince George's County is set to add 36 new beds, raising the total to 100 nursing home beds, alongside 62 assisted living beds and one single-family home. During a recent zoning hearing, traffic expert Mr. Lenhart presented findings from a revised traffic brief, marked as Exhibit 39, which indicated that the expansion would result in only a minimal increase in traffic—three additional trips during morning peak hours and four during evening peak hours.

The existing approved use of the property already generates 24 morning and 27 evening peak hour trips. With the proposed expansion, the total would rise to 27 morning and 31 evening trips, classified as a "de minimis impact" under Prince George's County's transportation review guidelines. This classification means the increase is negligible and does not significantly affect local traffic conditions.

Mr. Lenhart confirmed that the updated traffic brief included new traffic counts and reflected the existing single-family dwelling unit on the site, which was not accounted for in the original study. He assured the zoning examiner that all study intersections, particularly Maryland 212 at Cherry Hill Road, would operate at acceptable levels of service.

The proposal aligns with prior approvals from the planning board, which found that the expanded nursing home meets the county's transportation facility requirements. Mr. Lenhart expressed agreement with the conditions of approval recommended by staff, emphasizing that the project adheres to the established trip cap and poses no adverse impacts on the health, safety, or welfare of local residents.

As the hearing progresses, the community awaits the final decision on this significant development, which promises to enhance local healthcare services while maintaining manageable traffic levels.