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Planned Amazon distribution facility located at 5801 Columbia Park Road (former site of Smithfield)

Zoned I-2 heavy industrial (note that Cheverly does not have zoning authority)

Site is not in Cheverly but important to residents of Cheverly and residents of Old Fourth Ward

Town has been striving to take advantage of Metro area for transit-oriented development

Learned about status of project in May/June

Impacts of project include traffic and environmental concerns

Have met with Amazon and developer and attorney, and would like team to re-think the site (particularly the planned collector road)

Would like members of the Planning Board and Green Infrastructure Committee to attend July 9 meeting to give testimony and provide recommendations

Master plan road dates back to 2009, currently paper only (runs from Marblewood north and east, along Boyd Park)

DPIE requiring developer to build 80’ right of way up to stream buffer to be consistent with master plan

The planning board has inquired about mitigation, but there are currently no mitigation efforts required

There seems to be a conflict between the conservation area and paper road

Decisions seem to be built on premise that because there is a paper road as part of County master plan, it should be built

Would like the opportunity to reduce the footprint of the collector road (narrower, shorter in length).

Seems appropriate for developer to consider mitigation, based on green infrastructure plan. There seems to be a real lack of community benefits.  

Would like to request delay in upcoming hearing to give time to look at all aspects of project (flood plain issues along paper road, conservation areas, opportunities for trails, etc.).

Concerned about alignment of trail along collector road. The intent was to build a recreational trail, not urban bike lanes.

It was devastating 15 years ago when 60 acres were clear cut for a clay mine on this site. It’s important to plant responsibly and have proper maintenance.

Would like a better understanding about how (landscape) restoration is being conducted. Would like to make sure that tree conservation plans are being coordinated among developers.

Concerned about congestion/intersections and would like to see operational analysis along Columbia Park

The County should be generous to ensure that there are no unintended consequences of the project

DPIE is allowing developer to build road up to and not including the stream crossing. Project is proposing to fill and elevate building 2 feet above flood plain.

DPIE has been reviewing project for a couple of months, in conformance with the County master plan. The sub-division has a master plan with a collector road. In instances where a master plan recommends a road, developers are asked to implement.  

The town should request a meeting with the director of DPIE to discuss concerns about the collector road.

County could forego dedication of the collector road but it would need to be removed from master plan via an amendment. Future transportation mater plan update is slated to kick-off later this year and will include a 2-year long planning process.

Replanting of area is part of tree conservation plan.

Traffic impact analysis has been submitted. County will be evaluating intersections as part of operational analysis (Intersections at Route 50, Metro entrance, 64^th Avenue, Property access, Cabin Branch). Analysis will include signal timing.

Malcom Augustine asked what would happen if the collector road wasn’t built as proposed. Developer reiterated they are only building it because DPIE required it, but they would still need to build an access road along the paper road right of way.