College Park Council approves property acquisition, permit parking and other actions in 8–0 votes
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Summary
At its Oct. 21 meeting the College Park City Council approved acquisition of two Rhode Island Avenue properties for $300,000, enacted block-level permit parking on Delaware Street, authorized a letter to MNCPPC on a proposed pedestrian crossing, and approved other consent and action items; several ordinances were introduced for later public hearings.
The College Park City Council on Oct. 21 approved several formal actions, including a $300,000 purchase of two properties on Rhode Island Avenue, the creation of a permit-parking zone on a block of Delaware Street, and a letter urging the Prince George’s County planning commission to pursue a new pedestrian crossing over the Northeast Branch.
Why it mattered: The acquisitions and parking change respond to neighborhood safety and open-space priorities raised in public comment; the MNCPPC letter directs county-level planning toward a preferred crossing site identified in a city-sponsored feasibility study.
What the council voted on and decided - Ordinance 25-O-11 — Acquisition of 8807 and 8811 Rhode Island Avenue for a public purpose, total purchase price $300,000 plus settlement costs. Action: Adopted after public hearing; vote recorded as 8–0 in favor (motion moved and seconded). Supporters said the purchase protects open space and could enable a community garden.
- Permit parking (25GS105) — Implement residential permit parking on Delaware Street between 48th Place and 49th Avenue after a resident petition that met the code signature threshold (66.6%). Action: Approved; vote 8–0. Residents described double-parked vehicles and school-bus pickup hazards.
- MNCPPC pedestrian crossing (25GS106) — Council authorized a mayor-and-council letter requesting MNCPPC advance engineering and design for a new trail crossing near Location 1 (Calvert Road) and to refrain from spending on Campus Drive bridge changes for that purpose. Action: Approved; council also clarified the letter would be on mayor-and-council letterhead.
- Consent agenda approvals — Contracts awarded to Compost Crew, LLC (up to $115,000 for two years with options) and Avia Inc. (five-year term), among other routine items. Action: Adopted unanimously.
- Property use agreement and liquor license recommendation — Council authorized recommending to the Prince George’s County Board of License Commissioners a transfer of a Class C fraternal beer/wine/liquor license for College Park Lodge No. 453 from 3700 Metzerod Road to 8907 Baltimore Avenue, subject to a negotiated property use agreement. Action: Approved unanimously; city manager authorized to sign the PUA after attorney negotiations.
- Ordinance introductions — Council introduced two ordinances for later public hearing: 25-O-13 (early-lease timing for landlords and tenants) and 25-O-14 (amendments to municipal fines and tiered penalties across code chapters). Both were set for public hearings on 11/12/2025.
Council process and next steps: Several items required follow-up: staff will finalize the mayor-and-council letter to MNCPPC, negotiate the PUA language for the Moose Lodge liquor-license transfer before the county hearing, and prepare draft ordinance language and public-hearing materials for the lease and penalties ordinances.