Prince George's County Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee Meeting - July 2, 2026
Prince George's County Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee Meeting - July 2, 2026
The Planning, Housing and Economic Development (PHED) Committee of the Prince George's County Council met on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at 10:00 AM in Committee Room 2027. Vice Chair Krystal Oriadha called the meeting to order at 10:17 AM, with Chair Wala Blegay arriving at 10:18 AM and Council Member Shayla Adams-Stafford at 10:22 AM. All five committee members (Blegay, Oriadha, Adams-Stafford, Thomas Dernoga, Eric Olson) were present for the first agenda item. Council Member Wanika Fisher also attended as sponsor of one bill. The meeting considered one proposed correspondence and four pieces of legislation.
Proposed Correspondence
- LTR 06022026: A joint letter to Rebecca L. Flora, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning, requesting amendments to the county's Priority Funding Area (PFA) to designate the Parkland and Rock Creek properties. The letter would enable eligibility for state infrastructure funding. Matthew Tedesco (on behalf of Stanley Martin Homes) testified in support, noting the PFA designation was needed for wetland mitigation credits associated with the Patuxent Mitigation Bank. The committee voted 5-0 to favorably recommend the letter.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Matthew Tedesco (Stanley Martin Homes) supported LTR 06022026 and CB-047-2026, and spoke in support of CB-063-2026, arguing the bill implements county policy and provides a predictable pathway for infill development inside the Beltway.
- Peter Goldsmith (on behalf of Lincoln Avenue Communities) supported CB-047-2026 and its proposed amendments, noting their project would be preserved.
- Delegate Deni Taveras (Maryland State Delegate) opposed CB-063-2026, stating the sites do not meet the definition of transit-oriented development (TOD), the bill amounts to spot zoning, and it was introduced without adequate community engagement. She requested the bill be held indefinitely.
- Casey Anderson (Rodgers Consulting) supported CB-063-2026, arguing that existing zoning tools have failed to deliver infill development and that the bill targets properties whose zoning is outdated.
- John Robinson (Adelphi resident) opposed CB-063-2026, citing concerns about fiscal impacts, affordable housing subsidies, and the need for thorough analysis.
Discussion Items
CB-047-2026: Off-Street Parking for Elderly/Disabled Housing
Sponsors Olson and Oriadha introduced amendments to the bill, which originally increased parking from 1 space per 4 beds to 1 space per 2 beds. Amendments changed the ratio to a per-dwelling-unit basis: 0.6 spaces per unit inside the Capital Beltway and 0.66 per unit outside, with a grandfathering provision for projects that received preliminary plan approval on or before September 30, 2025. The Redevelopment Authority proposed a tiered framework, but the sponsors argued for simplicity. David Warner (M-NCPPC) supported the unit-based approach. The committee voted 5-0 to adopt the amendments and 5-0 to favorably recommend the bill as amended.
CR-059-2026: FY2026 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development
This resolution reprogrammed $1,170,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds from prior fiscal years to the Housing Rehabilitation Fund for the Housing Rehabilitation Assistance Program (HRAP), plus $130,000 for program administration. Jonathan Butler (DHCD) and Pamela Wilson presented the program, noting it provides deferred loans up to $60,000 to income-qualified homeowners. The funds were returned by sub-recipients unable to spend them. The committee voted 4-0 to favorably recommend (Chair Blegay absent).
CB-063-2026: Residential Infill in RR Zone Inside Beltway
Sponsor Council Member Fisher introduced the bill to permit two-family and townhouse dwellings in the Rural Residential (RR) zone inside the Capital Beltway, on properties of 20 acres or more near transit or higher-density zones. The Planning Board supported with amendments. Discussion centered on whether a text amendment is appropriate versus zoning map amendments, and concerns about spot zoning and community notification. After testimony from supporters and opponents, the committee voted 4-0 to hold the bill in committee (Blegay absent).
CB-064-2026: Weeds and Conservation Landscaping
Sponsor Dernoga proposed defining conservation landscaping (e.g., native plants, pollinator gardens) and exempting it from weed classifications, aligning with state law. The Department of Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPI) expressed concerns about enforcement capacity and training, suggesting consultation with the Department of the Environment. The sponsor agreed to work with agencies. The committee voted 4-0 to hold the bill until the next PHED meeting on July 16, 2026.
Key Outcomes
- LTR 06022026: Favorably recommended (5-0).
- CB-047-2026: Amended and favorably recommended (5-0).
- CR-059-2026: Favorably recommended (4-0, Blegay absent).
- CB-063-2026: Held in committee (4-0, Blegay absent).
- CB-064-2026: Held in committee until July 16, 2026 (4-0).
- Meeting adjourned at approximately 11:30 AM.
Meeting Transcript
We do. Good morning and welcome to planning housing and economic development. Um today is July 2nd. Uh and I'm Councilman Chris Torrey. I still have as vice chair of this committee. Uh Councilmember Bougay. The chair of this committee is on her way, but we're just gonna go ahead and get started. Uh can I start with a roll call? Vice Chair Oriada. Chair. Councilmember Denoga. Councilmember Olson. Here. Three members present at roll call. Thank you. Uh so on our agenda today. Um we have legislation and proposed correspondence. Um we'll start with the letter, the proposed joint letter for the Maryland Department of Planning regarding amendments to the priority funding area. I'll start with staff or orientation. Good morning, uh Chair Blagay and uh Vice Chair Oriada and members of the PHED committee. Uh the proposed correspondence to Secretary of Flora, uh, Maryland Department of Planning regarding amendments to the priority funding area to designate the park land and Rock Creek properties as part of the uh PFA. The planning board transmitted a package which includes a draft letter uh from uh county executive Bray Boy and Chair Orienda uh to Secretary of Flora requesting designation of the sites. Um the planning board letters to there's also a planning board letter to the county executive in the chair of the council asking for uh favorable recommendation on this. Uh Mr. Dedesco submitted written testimonies supporting expansion of the priority funding area to include the two properties. Mr. Jim Campbell is here to provide a fiscal and policy impact statement. I'd like to ask Mr. Uh Campbell to discuss his statement. Thank you. Good morning. Uh Chair Briglay and members of the PhD committee. My name is James Campbell, and the following is an overview of LTR 0602 2026 regarding a proposed joint letter from the county council chair and county executive to Rebecca Flora, who is secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning regarding amendments to the county's priority funding area, or also known as PFA. You will find a copy of the draft letter on page six of your virtual binder and a copy of this report on page 17. On May 7th, 2026, the Prince George's County Planning Board voted unanimously to request that the county council chair and the county executive transmit a letter to the Maryland Department of Planning to amend the county's designated priority funding area. Smart Growth Priority Funding Area Act of 1997 was originally passed as Senate Bill 389. It's now part of the annotated code of Maryland. It was enacted to influence state expenditure on economic growth and development related to infrastructure by directing uh state funding to designated PFAs. Legislation permits counties to designate areas beyond the predefined areas uh as county designated smart growth areas. If those areas meet the criteria in specific PFA categories. Any request to change the PFA boundaries under these requirements is submitted by in a joint letter from the county council chair and the county executive to the Maryland Department of Planning. Uh important to note that a PFA designation does not automatically approve development or change zoning. Instead, it just makes an area eligible for priority consideration for many of the state funding uh that becomes available. Uh the area we're talking about today specifically for parkland and rock creek. Properties are located within the established communities growth area as shown on the growth policy map in plan 2025 2035 and legacy comprehensive design zone. Uh approved entitlements from the prior zoning ordinance also accompanying it. The comprehensive design plan was approved by the Prince George's County Planning Board on March 3rd, 2022 with conditions. Additionally, the annotated code of Maryland states that PFA designation uh of this property may be approved if one the property is within a locally designated growth area of the local government and planned to be served under the approved 10-year water and sewer plan. Two, the designation represents a long-term development policy for promoting an orderly expansion of growth and an efficient use of land and public services, and three uh in that part of the area designated by the local government for residential use or development. There is permitted an average density of not less than 3.5 units per acre.
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