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College Park Council asks state to evaluate 9829 Rhode Island Ave. for housing, introduces fence‑height change; approves regional agenda
Summary
The council authorized Mayor Kabir to sign a letter asking the state to evaluate 9829 Rhode Island Ave. as a potential senior, workforce or affordable housing site; a proposed amendment to require 'mixed use' failed. Council also introduced an ordinance to raise front‑yard fence height from 3 to 4 feet and approved the city's agenda for a four‑cities meeting.
The College Park City Council on Oct. 28 voted to ask the state to evaluate 9829 Rhode Island Ave. as a potential site for senior, workforce or affordable housing under the governor’s housing initiative and authorized the mayor to sign a letter to that effect.
Councilmember Hernandez moved the authorization to have Mayor Kabir sign the letter; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote with no recorded opposed or abstentions. Earlier in the debate, Councilmember Hugh moved an amendment to request explicitly that any redevelopment be mixed use; that motion failed on a roll call vote (1‑7). City staff and the mayor repeatedly described the letter as a preliminary request to open discussions with the state and said detailed uses and community preferences would be worked out in later stages if the state chose to pursue the site.
The council also introduced ordinance 25‑O‑15, a code amendment to increase the maximum allowable front‑yard fence height from 3 feet to 4 feet where it does not interfere with the site‑visibility triangle. Planner and staff materials noted the Advisory Planning Commission recommended the change unanimously; the ordinance was introduced and will be scheduled for a public hearing.
Separately, the council approved College Park’s agenda for a November 6 four‑cities meeting in Berwyn Heights, narrowing proposed topics to rising energy costs and resources for federal workers (including SNAP/WIC impacts) to keep the regional meeting concise.
All motions described above were taken in open session; staff said further engagement with residents and state officials will follow where appropriate.
