Planning panel approves replacement of fence with tree buffer at Village of College Park

The Georgetown Planning Commission on May 20 approved an amendment to a prior landscape-buffer waiver for the Village of College Park development, allowing the developer to replace sections of six-foot white vinyl fencing and shrubs with an alternate planting plan of trees and understory species.

Doug Liberman of Larson Engineering, who spoke for College Park Apartments LLC, told the commission the 2019 approval had reduced a required Buffer Yard 4 by providing a six-foot fence and shrubs. Liberman said adjoining parcels and a shift in nearby zoning mean the fence no longer serves its original purpose and that a planting scheme of 24 taller trees plus understory shrubs would provide a natural, lower-maintenance buffer along the Walmart property line.

Liberman described tree species that will be used, including honey locust, willow oak, red maple and river birch with understory plantings such as sweetbay magnolia, serviceberry and redbud, plus evergreen screening. He told commissioners the rest of the site will retain shrubs at the previously required rate of 10 shrubs per 100 feet in other locations.

A commissioner said the tree plan would be “a much improvement on that white fence,” and another asked for confirmation that the proposal preserved other landscape buffers; Liberman said it did. A motion to approve the application as submitted passed on a roll-call vote.

The amendment applies to case 2024-15-O2 for properties along Union Drive and West Drive and does not change permitted densities or building footprints. The commission’s approval allows the applicant to implement the alternative planting plan as presented; final planting and installation will be subject to any standard permitting or inspection requirements the town enforces.