Prince George’s County Council unanimously waives review on a slate of zoning and site-plan cases including National View and Locust Hill

Prince George’s County’s district council on Monday unanimously waived its election to review a long list of zoning map amendments, detailed site plans and departures, clearing the way for applicants to proceed toward implementation or permitting.

The council’s actions covered projects across multiple council districts, including large mixed‑use proposals along the Capital Beltway known as National View (DDS24004 / DSP24012), The Promise (DSP25006 / DS689) on Southern Avenue, the Locust Hill Phase 2 neighborhood (SDP2504) and multiple departures from design standards that would reduce standard parking‑space dimensions from 9.5 by 19 feet to 9 by 18 feet. Most motions were made on the staff presentation and carried on roll calls that recorded unanimous aye votes after additional members joined the virtual meeting.

Why it matters: Waiving the council’s election to review is a procedural step that allows zoning hearing examiner and planning board approvals to stand unless members formally request to review the record and take a different action. By waiving review on this set of cases, the council signaled no immediate local opposition to the staff and hearing examiner recommendations, accelerating timelines for projects that together include hundreds to more than a thousand residential units and thousands of square feet of commercial space.

What the council voted on and what happened
- SE24003 (Sterling Care/Hill Haven): The council recorded a motion to waive its election to review of a special exception to expand an existing nursing/care home to 162 beds; roll call recorded six ayes and the motion carried 6-0.
- SE24006 (Tranquility Ridge): Council waived review for a congregate living increase after a member noted the applicant was providing more parking than required; motion carried 6-0.
- DS689 / DSP25006 (The Promise, Southern Avenue): The council waived its election to review companion cases concerning a mixed‑use development with departures for reduced parking‑space dimensions; motion carried after members who had joined the meeting recorded their ayes (motion carries recorded 7-0 then 7-0/8-0 depending on joiners).
- DDS24004 / DSP24012 (National View, Forest Heights / Capital Beltway): Multiple companion filings for National View — described by staff as mixed‑use proposals involving hundreds to over one thousand multifamily dwellings and associated commercial/retail space — were presented with departures requested under section 27‑5‑58(a) of the prior Prince George’s County zoning ordinance to reduce nonparallel parking‑space widths. A motion to waive review passed on roll call (recorded as 8-0 after additional members joined).
- SC25003 (Primera Iglesia Adventista Ebenezer): The council waived review for an alternative compliance special exception to expand a church building; motion carried 8-0.
- DDS24005 / DSP24015 and companion Fairview cases: Council waived election to review departures and detailed site plans for Fairview (townhomes/single‑family attached); motion carried (8-0 recorded).
- DET2024‑016 (Freeway Airport): A detailed site plan for a large residential development on 131.5 acres was presented; motion to waive review carried (members recorded ayes during roll call). The transcript lists the dwelling count in unclear form as “200, 297 single family detached dwellings” and that phrasing is preserved here as not specified precisely in the record.
- DET2025006 (Junica Brandywine): Motion to waive review for 142 two‑family attached dwellings on Brandywine Road carried on roll call.
- DSP23026 (Oarsman of Bowie): Motion to waive review for a 22,111 sq ft automotive sales and service site carried on roll call.
- SDP2504 (Locust Hill Phase 2): The council waived review of Phase 2 for 210 single‑family homes and a neighborhood park; motion carried (recorded as 7-0 then 8-0 as members rejoined).

What the record shows about debate and dissent
Most items were presented by staff with brief clarifying remarks from council members. Members raised procedural clarifications and a few policy points (for example, a question about whether reduced parking‑space dimensions would reduce total parking counts; staff and applicants confirmed parking counts met or exceeded required spaces). There were no recorded roll‑call no votes, abstentions, or redline amendments in the transcript for these waivers during Monday’s session.

Next steps
Waiving the council’s election to review generally allows planning board and zoning hearing examiner approvals to proceed toward permitting and implementation unless a later formal appeal or board‑initiated review arises. Some cases listed oral‑argument dates or appeal deadlines; multiple items are scheduled for further procedural events in February and beyond.

Quote: "I move to waive the council's election to review," said several members during the meeting as they moved companion motions that ultimately passed unanimously on recorded roll calls.

The council concluded the day after announcing several oral‑argument hearings scheduled for Feb. 9, 2026; one matter (the Donald v Borgwort funeral‑home crematory) was deferred to that date and will return for further consideration.