District 4 County Councilmember and Council Chair Todd Turner attended a Greenbelt City Council worksession on Wednesday, October 16 to give updates on topics such as recent legislation and the developing P3 school construction plan. Clarence Moseley, permits supervisor for the county Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE), was present to inform on the status of that department.
Turner began by saying that the county council is now at 11 members with six of them new to the council. With County Executive Angela Alsobrooks also being elected in 2018, Turner described 2019 as a year of transition and learning. Despite this, he asserted that this has been a very successful session.
The evening’s major topic of discussion was the state-authorized plan to build and maintain new middle schools with a private/public partnership (P3). This will be the first time a jurisdiction in the U.S. has ever attempted this. The school system has narrowed down the list of companies to four, who will bid on a request for a proposal in the next couple months. The company selected will be responsible for all financing, construction and important maintenance such as electrical and HVAC systems for a period of roughly 30 years, after which the school system will assume control of the schools. The school system will retain control of all other issues.
Middle schools were determined to be in the most need at the moment. The goal is to build six to eight middle schools over a three-year period, something that the county wasn’t able to do under the traditional method, said Turner. He emphasized that “people are watching to see if this works,” adding that “success breeds success.”
City Councilmember Rodney Roberts voiced concerns that the underlying reason for P3 is that the county is not requiring developers to build the schools required for their developments, citing the 2500 housing units at the proposed Beltway Plaza redevelopment with “not a school in sight.” Turner responded that under state law the county is unable to require developers to build schools and suggested that this was a great argument to bring to the state legislature.
City councilmembers stressed the need for serious renovation at Springhill Lake Elementary School (SHLES) and were frustrated at its lack of priority. Turner reassured them that SHLES remains on the list for renovation using the traditional process and said that if the current P3 plan proves successful, the new system can be applied elsewhere. He agreed that SHLES needs to be resolved.
Regarding the updated zoning ordinance, Turner expects it to be completed by early 2021 and he welcomes future input on the Countywide Map Amendment.
Other recent legislation discussed by Turner included: the short-term rental law, the CB58 and CB59 small cell bills, the updates to the animal control provisions concerning dangerous animals and the lifting of the pit bull ban and the new developments concerning food trucks, with registration fees now reduced and the power for municipalities to create food truck hubs in their jurisdictions with county consent.
Moseley explained the two-option system for acquiring county permits: the traditional method where applicants download the registration form and present needed information at the Permit Office; and the new e-plan, where all can be done online. Mayor Emmett Jordan stressed the desire to see DPIE become a one-stop shop, where the process is more centralized and streamlined.
Moseley responded to questions regarding the difficulties experienced by Greenbelt residents in acquiring the proper permits at events like the Labor Day Festival. He asserted his commitment to providing needed instruction and improving the flow of information, informing council on the free monthly classes on permits offered by DPIE, among other avenues.
Jordan welcomed Turner’s and Moseley’s updates as an opportunity to hear about developments in the county as a whole, in addition to those things that impact Greenbelt specifically.