MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
held Monday, June 1, 1998
for the purpose of discussing traffic calming.

The meeting began at 8:00 p.m. It was held in the Council Room of the Municipal Building.

PRESENT WERE: Council members Edward V.J. Putens, Rodney M. Roberts, Alan Turnbull Thomas X. White and Mayor Judith F. Davis.

STAFF PRESENT WERE: Michael P. McLaughlin, City Manager; David E. Moran, City Clerk and Celia Craze, Director of Planning and Community Development

ALSO PRESENT WERE: Sue Krofchik, Wendy Turnbull, Julia Eichhorst, Sheldon Goldberg, Doug Love, Bonnie Brant, Diane Oberg, News Review and Kerana Todorov, The Gazette.

Ms. Craze summarized the reasons that the city performed the traffic calming study. She noted that traffic calming alters the driver's behavior to drive at a comfortable speed. Ms. Craze stated that their were positives and negatives associated with traffic calming. She stressed that neighborhood input was a crucial part of the process.

Ms. Craze stated that objective criteria were needed because of liability. She reviewed some of the proposed criteria. Ms. Craze summarized the planning and approval process. She noted that her proposed process was a hybrid of what other jurisdictions were using.

Mr. Putens asked about the definition of neighborhood. Ms. Craze responded that probably the best way was on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Putens believed the secondary neighborhood should also be involved. Mr. Roberts believed that people further out should not carry the same weight. Mr. Turnbull expressed concern about decisions being made by majority.

Mr. Roberts believed there was always the ability to override the requirements if Council felt there was a need. Mr. White stated his belief that people violate stop signs because it was in there nature.

Ms. Krofchik stated that notification to the affected area was needed. She also believed that the city needed to be consistent. Ms. Brant wanted to be sure that criteria existed to determine if speeding was a problem and that these criteria would be applied consistently.

Ms. Craze presented a calming plan for Breezewood Drive. She noted these would be funded by CDBG funds. Ms. Craze also presented a plan for improvements on Hanover Parkway in front of Greenbelt Lake Village. She noted that the developer would pay for these improvements. Council expressed support for both of these projects. Several Council members expressed support for consideration of a circle in front of Greenbelt Lake Village.

Mr. Turnbull requested that additional criteria beyond speed be considered. Ms. Brant raised concern about the crosswalk at Southway and Crescent. Mr. White referenced the letter from GHI. Mr. Roberts raised concern about school buses speeding on Lastner Lane. Ms. Craze responded that staff had been working on this issue.

The meeting was adjourned at 10:20 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted,

David E. Moran
City Clerk

City of Greenbelt, Maryland
City Offices, 25 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770
Phone: 301-474-8000 FAX: 301-441-8248