The Greenbelt Planning and Community Development Department is aiming to increase staff to 2009 levels in order to better fulfill its mission to maintain and grow the city’s infrastructure and transit, as well as protect the public health and wellbeing through code inspection. Director of Planning and Community Development Terri Hruby and staff, with Acting City Manager Timothy George, met with the Greenbelt City Council on April 20 at a budget worksession to discuss their financial needs in the upcoming fiscal year. Proposed staff additions include a city planner, a code inspector and an assistant director of Community Development.
Code Enforcement
Regarding code enforcement, the city has two certified inspectors, Gilberto Cabrera and Anthony Crump, who have single-handedly performed these challenging duties throughout the pandemic. A third inspector is needed to best address the city’s many commercial and residential areas.
Hruby reported that the goal is to return to in-person inspections entirely; currently, due to Covid, a hybrid of in-person and windshield inspections is still the norm. The department is striving for a 20-percent inspection rate at multifamily units and large complexes like Franklin Park, with a much higher percentage at complexes with few units. Cabrera was praised by Hruby for his efforts to improve the inspection system and tracking software.
Several trash hotspots were discussed, namely Franklin Park, Parkway Apartments and Greenway Shopping Center. Cabrera related that he has issued multiple citations, up to the $500 range, to these areas and that they are monitored on a daily basis. Parkway Apartments was singled out especially for its ongoing issues, with code enforcement staff now in talks with the ownership and corporate office on how best to alleviate the problems.
These chronic areas introduced a debate on the efficacy of citations in general, as the problems persist in spite of them. Staff agreed that this is a serious concern and that it draws city resources away from other city needs. Cabrera suggested creating an abatement fund that could be used to deal with issues like a trash pickup when citations are not providing a timely solution.
Councilmember Ric Gordon said that Franklin Park has introduced a 12 Point Action Plan, which he felt will go a long way toward dealing with trash proliferation and abandoned grocery carts (among other things) which were also cited by council as problems, as they are both theft and an eyesore.
Cabrera said that the removal of smoke detectors by tenants, often due to alarms sounding while cooking, is a primary violation and suggested education to the public on notifying maintenance when there are malfunctions.
Greenbelt Station
The WMATA trail at Greenbelt Station is the biggest project at the moment and is progressing. The cost has now risen to $3 million, abetted by a rise in the cost of materials.
Staff has serious worries about how the possible relocation of the FBI to Greenbelt could lead to relocating or removal of the trail. If this situation comes to pass, as per the city’s agreement with WMATA, the city could “arrange for the temporary and/or permanent relocation” if: the removal and/or relocation “can be accomplished at no cost to WMATA”; the city agrees in writing to bear the cost of relocating; the agreement is still in effect; and the city is not in default. If the latter happens, “WMATA shall have no obligation to retain or relocate” the trail.
The issue of the scrapyard adjacent to Greenbelt Station was considered, as it’s unsightly and has been a source of noise and a gathering place for loitering and littering. Hruby said that it is not for sale, but that the owners have made efforts to be better neighbors by addressing some of these problems. Councilmember Rodney Roberts stated that everything has its price and not to give up on the city possibly gaining ownership, as it is detrimental to the aesthetics of the development.
Other Issues
The Buddy Attick Park parking lot renovation has begun with some tree removal and will be underway for the next 60 days.
Staff is at work with the IT Department and the Public Information and Communications Coordinator Chondria Andrews to develop a manual that will address review, approval and installation of small cell towers within the city. Councilmember Judith Davis hoped for a worksession on this to bring the two new councilmembers up to speed, with Hruby suggesting that the city’s consultant can be present to address all of the technical aspects and help suggest ways to make their appearance as unobtrusive as possible.
