Greenbelt News Review

Intercounty Beltway Route Affects
Zoning, Road Conditions, Development

By L. J. Parker

More and more the proposed construction of the Intercounty Beltway makes its presence felt in Greenbelt. The latest development concerns the redesigning of the Glenn Dale road Baltimore Parkway interchange, which places all ramps on the Greenbelt side of Glenn Dale road. This is necessary for the proper design of a larger cloverleaf of the Parkway-Beltway interchange several hundred feet south of Glenn Dale road.

The new ramps come close to the wire fence adjoining homes on the Parkway side of Southway and meet this street directly opposite the proposed filling station. This creates a traffic pattern which will cause all planning agencies acute concern.

2 Tracts Involved

As the intercounty beltway approaches Greenbelt it cuts across two tracts of land presently being petitioned for re-zoning. The first, between Edmonston road and the B and O tracks, is requested to be re-zoned "industrial" and the second, at the corner of Edmonston and Greenbelt roads, is hoped to be re-zoned "commercial." At this time, the state roads commission has not purchased or taken option on the land needed for the right-of-way. If the land is re-zoned before such arrangements have been made, the price of the property will increase in value. It is usually a substantial increase enough to cause some state officials grave concern.

One recent proposal by a state official has been to "freeze" the value of land pending acquisition. Our own city council has discussed this situation and is hesitant at making any recommendation to the park and planning commission regarding zoning changes because of this. An increase in value would mean expenditures by the state roads commission who derive funds from taxes—taxes from citizens in Greenbelt and throughout the state.

If the re-zoning is approved, and increased value to the property is realized, it appears that the Pollin interest for the industrial tract and Warner-Kanter with the commercial will gain a sizeable "windfall" in their purchase of undeveloped Greenbelt land. However, the planning group can put property anticipated for use as right of way into "reservation" for three years; this land becomes untaxable, but available for acquisition in that period.

Greenbelt Road

Why hasn't the state accepted Greenbelt road into its system now that the road is used primarily by motorists going to and from the parkway? The cost of repair has been borne by the city, and the recent weather has made the thoroughfare increasingly dangerous. Until good weather comes, it will continue to receive the "patching" it now gets, which is hardly adequate.

According to comments by the city council, the state wants to take over the road, but wishes to acquire additional right of way on the north side in order to widen the pavement. (Even more traffic is expected after the University lane by-pass and bridge at U.S. 1 are completed.) It is my impression that the state is now waiting to purchase the required Greenbelt road right-of-way and the beltway right-of-way simultaneously, since just one property owner (Warner-Kanter) is involved.

Negotiations with the Interior department to acquire the needed right-of-way on the south side of the road have been fruitless. The construction of the beltway will take place in the future at an unknown time. It appears, however, that the city must continue to maintain Greenbelt road until then.