The Quality of Life for the Neighborhoods Along Church Road is at Risk

On April 30, 2019, Council Member Derrick Leon Davis introduced CB-017-2019 to accommodate development for the property known as Freeway Airport located at the intersection of Church Road and US Route 50. The Zoning Bill will allow high-density townhouse development of 8-9 units/acre on 129 acres zoned R-A (residential-agricultural), which currently allows only 0.5 units/acre. The development is expected to yield 600 dwelling units in an area where no development on the Church Road corridor has a density greater than 1.7 units/acre (Fairwood mixed use community).

The Zoning Bill conflicts with the zoning pattern established for this part of the Bowie and Vicinity planning area and will usurp the Bowie City Council’s role in updating the Bowie and Vicinity Area Master Plan. This is critical because the Master Plan generally coordinates the corresponding infrastructure and educational facilities needed to support development in the area. Without such coordinate, Church Road will necessarily become more congested and dangerous for pedestrian and bike traffic, the local schools risk becoming more crowded and enactment of the Zoning Bill will set a precedent for future development projects.

Conversely, the developers and the Council Members that supported the Zoning Bill have threatened to expand the operational services at the Freeway Airport if the Zoning Bill is not approved. With a heavy hand, the residents along Church Road have been told to either accept the high-density development with all of the associated nuisances or risk being punished with new commercial aviation operations that will be lured to the Freeway Airport. To the contrary, these are not the only options for the location, but rather the best option that will yield the greatest financial return for the land owner and developer.

The Bowie City Council voted against the CB-017-2019; The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commissioner raised numerous concerns with CB-017-2019; and the Sierra Club of Prince George’s County opposed CB-017-2019, among the many other private residents. Residents are urged to read the County Council’s Committee Report, the letter and report from the Bowie City Council, and the letters from the M-NCPPC and the Sierra Club.

If you are opposed to the development as contemplated by CB-017-2019, please sign your name and zip code to the petition below. You can review the meeting by clicking here,

Thank you ,

Milly Hall-Bowie

301-218-0263