Comments on: Greenbelt Sector Plan: Conceptual Alternatives Workshop

By: Bob Catlin

Bob Catlin — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 11:36:26 +0000

The original Greenbelt Sector Plan from about 2000 included a pedestrian/bicycle bridge because the consensus opinion of the large group of people working on the plan was that the bridge was a important element of that plan. That group was comprised of various north College Park residents. Then City councilmember Sherrill Murray reported on that element of the plan in one of her periodic newsletters which were hand delivered to all of the homes in North College Park.

Certainly over the past 15 years the City residents have sought many east-west connections, Succcesses have included retaining the tunnel at Calvert Road when Metro opened over CSX opposition; the tunnel in Lakeland to access Lake Artemesia, the overpass in Berwyn to connect to Berwyn Heights(one of only two pedestrian bridges Metro ever built); the sidewalk on Paint Branch Parkway (it was originally not in the County plan for the road); and sidewalks on Greenbelt Road over the railroad tracks.

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By: cpresident

cpresident — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:25:59 +0000

Regarding the South Core and the reference to the pedistrian bridge into Hollywood — many residents in North College are opposed to this bridge. We fought hard back in 2009 to have this bridge removed from the plans. Thankfully, all of our hard work resulted in it being removed. For the City Council to now try and put it back into the plans is just local elected officials once again going against the people’s wishes who voted them into office. This bridge would result in the destrucion of several acres of trees being removed from a very quiet street. It also has the potential to cause flooding once the environment is destroyed. It is my opinion that a small neighborhood with a quiet street to live on is a much better quality of life than one with a large bridge constructed of metal with lights on all the time just so a handful of residents can walk over to vist a few stores (which have not yet been decided on) that will take up the first floors of residental buildings similar to the student housing buildings recently built along Route 1.

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By: DAK4Blizzard

DAK4Blizzard — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 17:15:22 +0000

Fortunately, the project team generally shared your view. I think the near-future replacement of Laurel Mall with Laurel Town Center could provide a useful model for what should occur at Beltway Plaza.

I don’t recall them specifically discussing connecting north-south streets in Springhill Lake with Beltway Plaza, but that would be very valuable. It would provide a more direct connection between the Greenbelt station and Beltway Plaza. As you say, that would probably have to occur over the long-term once Springhill Lake is redeveloped.

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By: Clay Gump

Clay Gump — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:33:01 +0000

Another great write up. Thank you Daniel.
Like you said there are some significant challenges for area 1 and 2.
However when it comes to area 4 (The plaza) I would love to see them rip it down and do a complete reboot similar to White Flint. Connect the streets to the north such as Cherrywood TERR, Springhill LN and Edmonston TER with the grid pattern at Berwyn Heights. The mall in between should be converted to a Mixed Use Town center type of retail.
Of course this would be next to impossible given the existing tenants and development at the plaza however if one can think long-term I think it makes sense.

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