The Bowie City Council just voted to keep the current zoning for Freeway Airport and Frank’s Nursery after hearing residents’ concerns about traffic and crowded schools, aiming to protect green spaces while improving local businesses. Now, the proposed map changes head to the county for public hearings.
Here are the highlights:
- Bowie City Council voted unanimously to recommend changes to the Bowie, Mitchellville and Vicinity Map.
- Previous zoning for Freeway Airport and Frank’s Nursery will be maintained.
- Resident feedback highlighted concerns about inadequate infrastructure, road congestion, and crowded schools.
- Council’s goal is to protect green space while promoting flexible use of developed centers.
- Focus on attracting higher quality retail and restaurants in the area.
- The proposed map will proceed to the county for public hearings and approval.
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City Recommends Changes to Map Amendment
The Bowie City Council voted unanimously at its September 19 meeting to recommend changes to the Bowie, Mitchellville and Vicinity Map keeping the previous zoning for Freeway Airport and Frank's Nursery.
The vote followed hours of resident testimony and council questions covering many of the parcels where zoning changes had been recommended. Residents lamented a lack of adequate infrastructure, road congestion, and crowded schools in their largely negative feedback regarding proposed up-zoning.
Councilmembers stated the city's goal was to support a zoning plan for the greater Bowie area that protected green space while encouraging flexible use of existing developed centers. Councilmembers expressed a desire to focus on attracting higher quality retail and restaurants.
The proposed map now goes to the county for public hearings and approval. Learn more about the map amendment here. The city public hearing on the topic can be viewed at the link beginning at 17:20.
The image is from WTOP Coverage of a small plane crash at Freeway Airport in 2019. The airport's owners have long argued operating a small airport close to residential communities is unsafe over time.