Landmark Properties seeks rezoning for MARC student-housing redevelopment; council raises affordable-housing, traffic and tree-conservation questions

Landmark Properties on March 4 presented a rezoning request to the College Park City Council to replace two existing condominium buildings at the College Park Towers site with purpose-built student housing. The applicant seeks to change zoning from RTOLE to RTO PD and to increase density to 150 dwelling units per acre; staff recommended conditional approval of the rezoning and outlined public benefits the applicant would provide.

Lede: City planning staff and the applicant described a redevelopment concept that would replace aging student-oriented condominiums near campus with a higher-density, mixed-use student housing project and a central pedestrian “promenade” with public art, landscaping and bicycle amenities.

Nut graf: Staff recommended approval of the rezoning to RT0 PD after reviewing project alignment with the Prince George’s County 2035 General Plan and applicable sector-plan guidance, and asked the applicant to commit to specific public amenities and preconditions — including sidewalk upgrades, tree/woodland conservation meeting a 15% threshold, bicycle and pedestrian improvements requested by the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), and FAA height review because of airport proximity.

Project details and council concerns: The applicant described a site plan with a north–south green promenade, a pocket park, and architectural massing intended to match nearby student housing projects. Landmark said the planned development would provide green building features, stormwater improvements and street furniture. The applicant sought relief consistent with other nearby projects on density and setbacks and requested parking standards aligned with the planned development zone. Landmark cited experience developing the Standard at College Park and other campus-area projects.

Council and community questions: Council members and the student liaison pressed the developer on rent and unit mix, affordability commitments and the potential loss of the existing, lower-cost units currently used by students. Members also asked about vehicle stacking, Uber/Lyft pickup/drop-off zones, move-in/move-out day logistics, stormwater protections for Guilford Run, and accommodations for religious practices (for example, manual door overrides for observant Orthodox Jewish residents). City staff noted the rezoning is only the first of several review stages; traffic studies, a tree conservation plan and detailed site plans will come later in the process.

Staff recommendations and next steps: Staff asked the applicant to add at least three green building features, implement multi-modal sidewalk improvements on Knox and Hartwick roads, provide a tree conservation plan showing at least 15% on-site conservation, and incorporate BPAC comments in the bicycle and pedestrian impact statement. The planning board hearing is tentatively scheduled for March 27, and the item will return to council on March 18 for further review. The council asked the developer to continue outreach and said it expected more detail on affordability and parking at the preliminary plan stage.

Why it matters: The project would add substantial student-oriented housing capacity near the university, reshape a visible corridor and trigger long-term changes in housing stock and neighborhood character; council members emphasized the city’s interest in affordable housing options and environmental protections as development proceeds.