SIXTH MEETING OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2022, 6: 00 P. M. ZOOM

Attendees: Craig A. Moe, Mayor; Brencis Smith, Council President; Martin Mitchell, Councilmember; Keith R. Sydnor, Councilmember; Carl DeWatt, Councilmember; James Kole, Councilmember; Christian Pulley, Chief Administrative Officer; Joanne Barr, Deputy City Administrator; Sara Green, Chief of Staff to the Mayor; Chief Russell Hamill, Laurel Police Department; Audrey Barnes, Director of Communications; Steve Allen, Fire Marshal; Robert Love, Director of Economic and Community Development; Brian Lee, Director of Public Works; S. Michele Saylor, Chief Financial Officer; Kevin Frost, Chief Information Officer; Bill Bailey, Director of Parks and Recreation; Chrissy Cornwell, Emergency Services Manager; Joyce Jackson, Deputy Director of Communications; Lisa Woods, Deputy Director of Budget and Personnel Services; Deputy Chief Mark Plazinski, Laurel Police; Larry Taub, City Solicitor and Kenya Barno, Administrative Assistant.

Report of the Mayor and City Council

Councilmember Carl DeWalt congratulated City Administrator Christian Pulley, CPM, for being chosen to participate in the professional development program for Leadership Maryland Class of 2022. There are so many charities in the City of Laurel and ways for people to help such as veterans at the American Legion and animals with Laurel CATS, and those in need at LARS.

Councilmember Sydnor attended a Black History Program today at Dr. Woodson Park named in honor of Dr. Carter G. Woodson whose efforts led to establishment of Black History Month. The CIW Tournament, previously hosted in North Carolina will be hosted in Baltimore for the next three years.

Councilmember Kole chaired the Environmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, February 22, 2022, saying they are looking for new members. Anyone interested in serving should send their resume to the Office of the Mayor. He recently met with Mayor Moe about some upcoming legislation he will be sponsoring.

Councilmember Mitchell congratulated the Laurel High School Wrestling Team on their regional Championship, saying three wrestlers are moving on to the State Championship and he wished them well.

Mayor Moe announced the sad news about the passing of former Director of Parks and Recreation Janet Chavrid. He extended condolences to Marcia Raymond on the passing of her sister. On February 15, he attended the funeral services for former police 16 officer Joanie Kramer and thanked the Laurel Police Honor Guard for their participation. He attended the Prince George' s County Mayor' s Association Meeting on February 17. South Laurel resident, Deana Perino recently passed away, he extended his condolences to her family. He attended the funeral services for former Mayor Jack Sims of District Heights.

Appointments/ Reappointments

Joyce Awuro, Juneteenth Executive Committee Sandra Choute, Juneteenth Executive Committee Charles Clyburn, Juneteenth Executive Committee Michael R. Leszcz, Juneteenth Executive Committee Angela O' Neal, Juneteenth Executive Committee Robert Windley, Youth Services Commission Kayleigh De La Puente, Arts Council On motion by Councilmember Kole, seconded by Councilmember Sydnor, the mayoral appointments/ reappointments were confirmed.

President Smith opened the General Public Hearing at 6: 12 p. m. and closed it with no one present who wished to speak.

President Smith read the title of Ordinance No. 1993, Neo Traditional Overlay Concept Plan No 924, an ordinance of the Mayor and City Council of Laurel, Maryland to approve Neo Traditional Overlay Concept Plan No. 924 to develop a 63- unit townhouse community at the properties known as 7222 and 7302 Contee Road, Laurel, MD 20707 submitted by Ribera Development LLC; and providing and effective date, into the record for the second reading. Rob Love, Director of Economic and Community Development, presented the reading of the file for the Neo Traditional Overlay Concept Plan No. 924. The Applicant is seeking a Neo Traditional Overlay Concept Plan approval to develop a 63-unit townhouse community which will include open space, recreation area with tot lot, central gathering sitting area, and stormwater management. On January 7, 2022, the application and a cover letter asking for comments was mailed to all agencies according to state law. The responses are included in the file. On January 14, 2022, a letter explaining the nature of the application and advising the dates for the public hearings was mailed to all contiguous property owners. A memorandum from the City of Laurel Planning Commission to the Mayor and Laurel City Council, dated February 17, 2022, reads as follows: At the regular meeting of the City of Laurel Planning Commission, held on February 15, 2022, the following action was taken on the subject zoning application: The Commission, on motion by Mr. Wilson seconded by Mr. Wellford, and carried on a roll call vote of all members present, voted to recommend approval of Neo Traditional Overlay Concept Plan Application No. 924 ( Ordinance No. 1993) for 7222 & 7302 Contee Road Laurel, MD 20707, as presented in the Technical Staff Report and proposed ordinance to the Mayor and City Council.  The Applicant would be responsible conditions: 1. The Applicant shall obtain Plat of Consolidation Approval from the City of Laurel Planning Commission. 2. The Applicant shall obtain Forest Conservation Plan Approval from the City of Laurel Planning Commission. 3. The Applicant shall obtain Preliminary Subdivision Plan Approval from the City of Laurel Planning Commission. 4. The Applicant shall conduct a traffic analysis for the proposed development, which shall demonstrate traffic adequacy under appropriate and accepted standards, and which shall be submitted to and approved by the appropriate City Staff prior to Final Neo- Traditional Overlay Plan Approval. 5. The Applicant shall obtain Final Neo-Traditional Overlay Plan Approval from the City of Laurel Planning Commission. The file contains a Certificate of Publication verifying that this application and public hearing was advertised in the February 17, 2022, and February 24, 2022, issues of the Prince George' s Post The file contains an affidavit signed by the applicant attesting that a zoning sign has been placed on the subject property, has remained, and shall remain until a decision is reached by the City Council. President Smith opened the public hearing at 6:37 p. m. Eric Devito, Ribera Development, Ribera Development representing property owner Gary Janoske. He introduced the other members of the Development Team: Robert DiPietro, Consultant; Tim Longfellow, Civil Engineer, Kevin Foster, Land Planner and Mark Keeley, Traffic Consultant. The applicant' s plan proposes 63 single- family attached townhouses, stormwater management, open space, recreation area with tot lot and a central gathering space. The applicant' s proposed density is 13 units less than the maximum allowed density of 76 residential units. The presentation has been attached to the minutes of this meeting. Mark Keeley, Traffic Concepts, Inc. discussed the traffic impact study for this project and explained that traffic impact analysis assesses the adequacy of the existing infrastructure to accommodate the proposed development or redevelopment. President Smith closed the public hearing at 6:40 p. m. On motion by Councilmember Sydnor, seconded by Councilmember Kole, ORDINANCE NO. 1993, NEO TRADITIONAL OVERLAY CONCEPT PLAN NO 924, AN ORDINANCE OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF LAUREL, MARYLAND TO APPROVE NEO TRADITIONAL OVERLAY CONCEPT PLAN NO. 924 TO DEVELOP A 63-UNIT TOWNHOUSE COMMUNITY AT THE PROPERTIES KNOWN AS 7222 AND 7302 CONTEE ROAD, LAUREL, MD 20707 SUBMITTED BY RIBERA DEVELOPMENT LLC; AND PROVIDING AND EFFECTIVE DATE, was approved on a voice vote with Councilmembers Mitchell and DeWalt voting NO. Mayor Moe concurred with this action.

There being no further business to come before the Mayor and City Council the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m.

Kimberley A. Rau, MMC Clerk to the Council

Approved: March 14, 2022