Prince George’s County planners racing to create an identity for the 6,000-acre Westphalia sector in eastern Prince George’s County faced a mixture of congratulations, confusion and some consternation as residents of the region scrutinized a recently released plan.
“What are you doing to mitigate the impact on your constituents?” asked Yvette Jardine, of neighboring Camp Springs. “Westphalia is not just a District 6 issue, it’s a county issue with devastating impact if it’s not done correctly.”
Last year, developers began to lay claim to hundreds of mostly farm and forested acres in the parcel that lies just east of the Beltway and north of Pennsylvania Avenue. The developments, mostly residential, slated for the region pushed municipal planners to create the proposal.
More than 30 residents questioned county officials Tuesday night about the fate of their properties under the sector plan released last month by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission and the Prince George’s County Planning Department.
They applauded the proposed town center, but expressed concerns about overtaxed services such as fire and police protection as well as increased demands on health care and already rough roads. Some said they worried about plan zoning recommendations they found confusing and the danger of losing a sense of the existing communities.
“There’s no mention of a horse in this plan,” said Dorothy Troutman, of Upper Marlboro, referring to the region’s rich equine history. “Not even a picture. This was horse country and it is still horse country.”
Next steps for the Westphalia region
>> The Prince George’s County Council will consider adoption of the Westphalia preliminary sector plan at a date to be set later.
>> The Prince George’s County Planning Boardwill meet at 8:30 a.m. on June 1 at the Prince George’s County administrative building at 14741 Gov. Oden Bowie Drive in Upper Marlboro to reconsider a preliminary plan for Smith Home Farms, a 757-acre retirement community planned for the Westphalia region.
