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Council hears final draft of Lakeland neighborhood plan; adoption scheduled for next week
Summary
City planning staff presented the final draft of the Lakeland neighborhood plan on May 13, highlighting zoning recommendations, heritage‑district ideas and community partnerships for a Pierce Avenue demonstration garden; the council signaled support and staff will place the plan on the consent agenda for adoption next week.
College Park planning staff on May 13 presented the final draft of the long‑running Lakeland neighborhood plan, describing a community‑led vision for redevelopment, cultural preservation and improved walkability.
Senior planner Carlos Núñez said the plan — developed over roughly 18 months with more than 20 public engagements and university partnerships — was intended to “restore Lakeland’s historic legacy and community identity while addressing the long‑standing impacts of displacement and inequity.” Núñez emphasized zoning changes that the plan would use to transition density across the neighborhood, propose new neighborhood commercial zones on Rhode Island Avenue, and create a cultural heritage overlay to recognize Lakeland’s African American history.
Miriam Bader, the city director who joined the presentation, described an immediate project tied to the plan: activating the city‑owned Pierce Avenue property with a therapeutic, trauma‑informed demonstration garden created by a University of Maryland landscape‑architecture studio and led by Dr. Naomi Sachs. Bader said the project could include a shared vegetable or meditative herb garden, picnic tables and programming coordinated with the nearby community center and restorative justice committee.
The plan recommends a mix of interventions including: - Up‑zoning targeted corridors for mixed‑use development while down‑zoning areas adjacent to single‑family blocks to create gentler transitions; - Establishing a cultural heritage district and preservation supports for churches and historic sites such as Embry AME Church and the former Lakeland High School site; - Re‑zoning some flood‑prone land for parks and open space; and - Incentives for community‑driven placemaking, interpretive signage and walking tours.
Community members who helped lead or review the plan addressed the council. Maxine Gross, a Lakeland resident and plan participant, thanked council and staff and urged the city to seek county adoption where appropriate. Robert Thurston, a Lakeland resident, said the plan gives the neighborhood a “front facing document” to guide developers and preserve community goals. Nick Desperto, the incoming student liaison, encouraged the plan’s elements that would create more affordable rental opportunities for students.
Council members broadly praised staff and community partners for the plan and asked clarifying questions about specifics such as where flood‑prone parcels are located and how accessory dwelling unit (ADU) rules might be applied. Staff said they would follow up with mapping details and noted that state ADU legislation will require local ordinances that the city must adapt.
City staff announced they plan to place the Lakeland neighborhood plan on next week’s consent agenda for formal adoption. If adopted, staff said next steps would include seeking funding for priority projects, formalizing the heritage district concept and continuing community‑led implementation activities.
