To: The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members of University Park

The Honorable Mayor and Town Council Members of Riverdale Park

The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members of College Park
The Honorable County Executive and Members of the Prince George’s County Council

From: Citizens Supporting Rezoning and Responsible Development of the Cafritz Property

As residents of Riverdale Park, University Park, the Calvert Hills neighborhood of College Park, and surrounding
areas, we understand that the owners of the Cafritz property, located on the east side of Route
1 in Riverdale Park, are requesting a zoning change from single family homes to mixed use development.
This zoning change would accommodate development of a retail center, which would include a Whole
Foods market, and new residential units. We recommend that the Town of Riverdale Park, the Town of
University Park, and the City of College Park support this rezoning request and that the Prince George’s
County Council approve the zoning request.

We believe that a Whole Foods market and the associated development of the Cafritz property would be a
valuable asset to our community. A Whole Foods market would provide a shopping opportunity that is unique for
our community, which currently lacks a full-service specialty grocery store. This development would provide
important tax revenue and jobs while also making our area more attractive to families. Whole Foods has been a
catalyst for community redevelopment in many areas, including at its P Street NW location in Washington, D.C.
and in Silver Spring. A Whole Foods at the Cafritz property would complement the existing and proposed
redevelopment projects in our area, such as the Hyattsville EYA Arts District and the East Campus project.

We urge our local elected officials and citizens to work with the Cafritz development team to find creative
solutions to the potential issues involved with development of the property. These issues – which may include
increases in traffic congestion and stormwater runoff – are not unique to the Cafritz property. They will be issues
for any development along Route 1 and they have been dealt with successfully in many other locations throughout
the country. Traffic signal and lane modifications can be used to mitigate traffic congestion. Green infrastructure
solutions, such as vegetated swales and green roofs, can be used to retain stormwater on site. In addition, the
amount and location of parking spaces and green spaces in the development can be negotiated with the
development team.

Since the Cafritz development team has not presented a detailed plan for the residential portion of the site, we ask
that the County only allow this portion of development to proceed after all of the impacts are fully considered.
Dense residential development in the vicinity of transit hubs, such as the College Park Metro station, is more
environmentally sustainable than the current zoning for single family homes. However, the density may also
necessitate an alternate vehicular access point to the Cafritz property. The increase in public school enrollment
will depend on the type and number of housing units, and this impact will also need to be evaluated. These are
issues that can be addressed with proper cooperation between the community and the developers.

We appreciate your consideration of these comments. Again, we urge support and approval of the rezoning of the
Cafritz property to a mixed use designation, along with continued involvement to ensure that the development
proceeds responsibly and realizes its potential as an asset to our community.