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Bowie officials expect the city to benefit from the relocation of military bases in and around the county but do not plan to apply to receive state money to help them accommodate increasing populations and traffic from the upcoming Base Realignment and Closure process.

In 2005, the U.S. Department of Defense announced 33 major military bases will be closed and staff and offices moved among 29 others by September 2011. Fort Meade in Anne Arundel County, Andrews Air Force Base in Clinton, Fort Detrick in Frederick and Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County are expected to get some of the 26,000 new military and civilian jobs moving into the state. Bowie is about 20 miles from both Andrews Air Force Base and Fort Meade.

Prince George's County and the city of Laurel have already applied for BRAC zone designation and the state only awards two zones per county, shutting Bowie out of the process if both areas are approved. The areas selected in the first round of applications will be announced Dec. 15. City officials originally discussed applying for BRAC designation with an interest in attaining state money for infrastructure improvements.

State funds or not, Bowie Economic Development Director John Henry King said at a recent City Council meeting that the city's reputation as an "excellent place to live and excellent place to work" will attract families to the area who want to cut down on their commutes. An influx of new residents may help to soften the blow of the foreclosure crises in Bowie neighborhoods.

The city has also received inquires about business relocation opportunities from business owners who feel they may be squeezed out of areas slated for redevelopment near Fort Meade due to increased rental rates, King said.

Councilman Todd Turner (Dist. 3) suggested city staff watch for other opportunities the city may have to benefit from BRAC and said if either the county or Laurel are not approved for BRAC zoning that the city consider submitting an application in the next round, which would be due April 15. At the council meeting, city officials came to the consensus not to apply for BRAC designation at this point in time but to watch for future opportunities.

Presently, no area within the city limits meets the full criteria for designation as a BRAC zone, said City Manager David Deutsch in a report. Areas must be slated for mixed-use development, including a residential component, and have capital investments planned in the commercial or mixed-use areas. Sites must also be within one-half mile of a planned or present MARC, light rail, subway or Metro station.

"I don't see any development opportunities in the pipelines that would allow us to apply for BRAC designation," said King, adding he saw no clear cut area in the city that would be best for selection.

But that doesn't mean the city couldn't pursue a conjoined designation with an area awarded a BRAC designation.

Councilman Isaac Trouth (Dist. 4) suggested that with its proximity to the MARC station and plans for future expansion, the Bowie State University campus could be a potential site for BRAC designation; however, it is not located within the city.

E-mail Andrea Noble at anoble@gazette.net.