Port Towns looks to the future

Residents suggest better restaurants, transportation upgrades

About 15 residents gathered at the Bunker Hill Fire Station in Mount Rainier on Monday to discuss the types of guidelines they would like to see included in the Port Towns Sector Plan.

Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission representatives held a week of charrettes and work sessions, asking for resident input on the plan.

On the last night, the overall suggestions, which included improvements to urban design, transportation, historical preservation and the environment were presented.

The sector plan would set the rules that any potential developers would have to follow if they chose to develop in Bladensburg, Colmar Manor, Cottage City or Edmonston. The plan will also include two small unincorporated areas — Rogers Heights and an area along the Cheverly border — and the Bladensburg Town Center for which the sector plan has already been approved.

The mixed-use center would include residential units, retail including healthy food stores and restaurants, green space and a wellness zone that encourages people to walk.

Dineene O’Connor, a senior M-NCPPC planner, said the planners have spent the past few months conducting focus groups with Port Towns stakeholders to determine what was wanted in the sector plan. Much of what is in the center sector plan will be applied to the Port Towns sector plan, she said.

Potential transportation improvements include restructuring the Peace Cross roadway into a tee-intersection, redesigning the intersection at Route 450 and Route 202, decreasing the time between bus stops from 30 to 15 minutes, creating a Port Towns bus shuttle and adding sidewalks on Edmonston Road and Route 201.

The sector plan will include environmental and health improvements, like potentially adding a sports complex with turf fields. The urban design elements emphasis keeping

‘‘It’s so wonderful to see all the work we’ve done to get to this point,” said Denise Hamler of Cottage City, and founding member of Port Towns Community Development Corporation.

Cheverly resident Yerodin Avent said he is thinking of moving to the Port Towns, and after seeing the final presentation, he is more excited with the prospect. He said he especially liked the suggestion of restructuring the Annapolis Road-Landover Road intersection, and adding green open space in front of Cheverly’s Publick Playhouse.

Deana Rhodeside, director of Alexandria-based Rhodeside and Harwell and a sector plan consultant, said residents emphasized the importance of community.

Rhodedside presented two plans designed as a result of the preliminary research. The first alternative allows low- to medium-density buildings in certain areas that would not be taller than five stories and continue the industrial feel of Edmonston, which currently has a strong industry base.

The second alternative allows medium- to high-density development, explores the possibility of bringing a MARC station to Bladensburg Road and creates a focal area in Edmonston by relocating Town Hall.

Planners will hold a post-charrette community workshop on September 18 at the Publick Playhouse. The final plan will go to print in December and will be ready for joint public hearings in March 2009.