The Prince George’s County Council will hold a public hearing on a zoning plan that envisions the 6,000-acre, mostly rural Westphalia sector of the county becoming a community center with 14,000 or more residential units, 4.5 million square feet of employment space and up to 710,000 square feet of retail space.
A 29-page comprehensive concept plan released last October by the Prince George’s County Planning Department revisits the region just northeast of Andrews Air Force Base. Creating an updated plan began in spring 2005 after developers submitted a request to build on 757 acres in the area.
That retirement community project, the $1.4 billion Smith Home Farms development, seeks to build more than 3,600 residential units and 170,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. That project was most recently discussed Monday by the District Council.
The Westphalia plan also includes winding parks, several new public schools, a handful of retail centers and potential future Metrorail stations for the Westphalia region. Planners have recommended that the region’s present rural character should be preserved on the eastern edge of the sector.
Zoning meeting
Where: County administrative building, 14741 Governor Oden Bowie Drive, Upper Marlboro
When: 7 p.m.
