Jan. 8, The Prince Georges County Planning Board approved the detailed site plan for the development of a 12,750-square-foot day care, as well as site improvements and signage for a future drive thru restaurant.
The daycare and the drive thru will be on the northwest corner of Konterra Drive and Sweitzer Lane in an office park area.
Darryl Barnes, chairman of the planning board, said that this is a golden opportunity for the community.
“Our job is to look at these things objectively and make a decision and how we can be helpful in moving that project along,” Barnes said. “I think when you start looking at what they’re trying to build there, I think it creates a win, win for their community.”
The day care is planned to be for approximately 200 children, and the neighboring 2,000-square-foot eating and drinking establishment will have drive-thru service. Lord Charter Six, the owner of the site and a subsidiary of Baltimore-based St. John Properties Inc., is applying to the planning board for permission to do the work.
According to Robert Antonetti, lawyer with the law firm Shipley & Horn who are representing the owners, they plan on doing the renovation themselves and seek to begin as soon as possible. Currently they are waiting on permitting which may take six to ten months.
“This is an opportunity to help lift up this existing employment area,” Antonetti said. “To provide greater opportunities for new tenants, to support existing tenants, and to support the commercial tax base.”
Barnes, who has been with the board for six months, said that he has yet to have a personal conversation with Antonetti or his law firm. Barnes said during the meeting that he is frustrated that the project, which was first approved in September of last year, has not seen much movement. He said that he wishes to see movement within the next 90 days and to have a personal meeting with the law firm to better understand the situation.
Manuel Geraldo, vice chair of the board, had concerns about public safety. Geraldo said that while the daycare is necessary, he wants the building staff to be sure that children could not wander into the road or into the path of cars from the drive thru.
“I’m sure you know, daycare centers are needed,” Geraldo said. “I wish we could deal with the issue of affordability, but we can’t do that. That’s not our job, but I think it’s an important part that they have [daycare centers]. And for the daycare center to be near where their mothers and their fathers may work.”
Antonetti confirmed that the builders are also working to meet environmental standards. He confirmed that the building will be energy efficient and a sustainable redevelopment of already developed lots.
“We’re preserving as much woodlands on the site as possible,” Antonetti said. “We’re providing enhanced stormwater management devices, which will meet current state and local regulations regarding quality and quantity of stormwater runoff, primarily, and the materials of this building will be quality. They’ll be energy efficient, faucets, lights, HVAC, all those things.”