The Greenbelt City Council held a stakeholder worksession with the Greenbelt Station Homeowners Association (HOA) on Monday, August 28. Greenbelt Station was represented by Roseana Gilmore of the Greenbelt Station Master Association and Cornell Lynch of the Greenbelt Station HOA. Greenbelt Station is a nine-year-old community composed of 505 units, including townhouses and condominiums. During the meeting several topics were covered, ranging from public safety to recreation and the arts.
Public Safety
Concerns expressed by community representatives included crimes related to vehicles and the stealing of packages. However, Gilmore said there was good communication with the Police Department, which was very responsive to calls. Because of the limited access to the community, a single ramp from Greenbelt Road, Councilmember Judith Davis and Mayor Emmett Jordan suggested that cameras may be useful to record autos entering and leaving the area.
Speeding is another concern even though the roundabouts help to slow traffic. Greenbelt’s Department of Planning and Community Development is currently collecting traffic data to develop further remedies. Also discussed was the lack of parking, although the creation of one-way streets has helped with this and elicited positive feedback from the community.
Recreation
Greenbelt Station representatives were concerned about the lack of recreational areas for young adults and children. Councilmember Kristen Weaver noted that the Recreation and Public Works departments assisted in the community’s summer party on June 10 and will likely help in future events including an outdoor movie and a Halloween party.
Davis mentioned that Greenbelt Recreation’s mobile van is a way to provide activities for youth. In addition, plans are moving forward with installing shaded seating areas in the Central Park.
Rentals
There was some discussion around students renting in the community and the issues that raises. Currently, about 17 percent of the homes have been licensed by the city for rental. However, some councilmembers cautioned that too many rental units may affect the ability to receive home loans. Representatives commented that there are no rules in the Greenbelt Station HOA bylaws limiting the number of rental units, and changing the bylaws is an onerous task.
WMATA Trail
There was also a conversation regarding the status of a trail that will connect the Greenbelt Station community to the Greenbelt Metro Station. This project is affected by the possible future FBI headquarters because if it is built, its placement plays a role in where the trail would be located. Unfortunately, a decision regarding the location of the FBI facility has not yet been made, preventing the trail project from moving ahead.
