The PLC tract, located southeast of the official Maryland Farms' boundary, as approved by the Brentwood City Commission in December 2007. Drawings by Ragan Smith Associates.

Planning commission expected to accept 24 acres for city
By SUSAN LEATHERS
Brentwood Home Page
Meeting a night later than usual, September brings a full agenda to the Brentwood Planning Commission after a relatively quiet summer.

The most notable item on the regular agenda is the dedication of approximately 24 acres of the overall 55 acre “Cooper Property” site to the City for use as permanent passive open space. In December 2007, the city rezoned the property, owned by PLC Development, from residential to commercial. As part of that process, PLC dedicated 24 acres to the city. It will be accessed from Virginia Way and abuts the Meadowlake subdivision and residential properties along Granny White Pike.

"The Planning Commission ... will review the proposed final plat. If approval is granted, and we are recommending approval, no additional board readings are required," city planning director Jeff Dobson explained.

As part of the special restrictions attached to the ordinance, the zoning of the property as SI-3 – Service Institution (cultural, recreational and government) becomes effective upon tonight’s dedication of the parkland property to the city and the planning commission's approval of it.

The special restrictions also require that PLC provide the city with sufficient funds to improve the area as a passive park for community use. Improvements would include pedestrian trails, bikeways, benches, tree preservation areas, additional landscaping and tree plantings, an open meadow areas and water features. There will be no organized playing fields.

Another special restriction requires that PLC remove all structures and improvements on the land to be dedicated to the city. On Aug. 9, the Brentwood Fire & Rescue Department conducted a fire training/burn exercise at the Peach tract which removed the house and outbuildings on the property that fronts Granny White Park.

PLC has not yet submitted plans for any site development for the commercial portion of the property for city staff review.

Also on the agenda
The consent agenda contains six items. Most involve minor revisions to site plans for final flats for both commercial and residential projects. An addition of a storage unit at Ravenwood High School for tennis equipment is among the items listed.

Other items on the regular agenda include a revised site plan for the renovation and update of the Brentwood Y skate park; a revised concept plan for a multi-phase expansion of the Maryland Farms Y; and a revised preliminary plan for the ORSD development Whetstone.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the second floor board room in the Municipal Center, 5211 Maryland Way.

Details on all of the agenda items can be found on the by clicking here.