Government & Public Utilities Committee Report: May 9, 2018

Property Maintenance Code Compliance

13210 L’Enfant Drive, Fort Washington, MD 20744

At an April 6, 2018 meeting with Jay Krueger and Joe Federline, the County was prepared to restore the property to its original condition, but without the low retaining wall which the owner removed to complete his garage. A lien would be placed on the title for the cost of the work. The County wanted the Fort Washington Estates Civic Association’s (FWECA’s) input before it proceeded.

Jay Krueger and Joe Federline suggested giving the owner another opportunity to complete the garage within a reasonable and realistic time, such as six to twelve months, according to the design that was approved by the Planning Board. They also requested that the County negotiate with the property owner to pledge the deed to the property as collateral for a 6-month extension to complete the garage. Doing so would be a condition of the extension and for not enforcing the restore order on the consent decree. As a result, should the owner fail to complete the work in the required time (i.e. either a 6-month or a 12-month timeframe to do so is reasonable), he would forfeit the property. Forfeiture of the deed would allow greater options in restoring or selling the property. Completion of the garage will result in a better outcome for the community.

If completion of the garage by the owner is unsuccessful, then FWECA would support moving ahead with the County’s plan to restore the property to a safe condition.

The FWECA Board members, who were present at the April 11, 2018 Board meeting voted unanimously for FWECA to request that the County give the owner another opportunity to complete the garage within either a 6-month or a 12-month timeframe and negotiate with the owner to pledge the deed to the property as collateral for the extension of time.

On April 19, 2018, the President of FWECA sent a letter to the Associate Director, Department of Permitting, Inspections & Enforcement requesting that the County give the owner another time extension to complete the garage with the deed as collateral for completion of the garage.

Vehicles Code Compliance

Three wrecked, inoperable vehicles and a boat on a lawn on Queens Lane have been removed.

Notice to Cove Residents of the Changes to Prince George's County Property Maintenance and Vehicle Code Enforcement

On May 2, 2018, Joe Federline posted a document on http://www.captainscove.nextdoor.com.

The document includes:

1. The new County Department of Permitting Inspection and Enforcement (DPIE) streamlined, Administrative Hearing Process for addressing property maintenance violations and those involving vehicles parked in a homeowner’s driveway or in their yard. This new Administrative Hearing Process that begins on July 1, 2018, will cut the time required to resolve complaints from 9 months to 90 days. Upon inspection, if the County inspector notices a violation, he/she will issue a violation notice and/or a $100 citation to the property owner to seek compliance. The inspector has sole discretion to issue the $100 citation.

2. The phone number of the Abandoned Vehicle Section to report wrecked, dismantled, inoperable or unlicensed vehicles on public streets and the process, and,

3. The phone number of Public Works to report trash or debris on public streets that is obstructing traffic.

Notice to Cove Residents of County Code for an Address Number on your House

On May 8, 2018, a message will be sent on http://www.captainscove.nextdoor.com

to the residents of Captains Cove to provide advance notice of the Prince George’s County requirement to have an address number on your house. An address number is needed on the owner’s house so that First Responders can find the exact location in case of an emergency.

The requirement is:

(F)303.3 Premises Identification. Buildings shall have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road fronting the property. These numbers shall contrast with their background. Address numbers shall be in Arabic numerals or alphabet letters. Numbers shall be a minimum of 4 inches (102 mm) high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inches (12.7 mm).

Status of the WSSC Queens Water Main Replacement Project

On April 16, 2018, a summary of the major WSSC water main replacement project in parts of Captains Cove and a map of the affected streets was posted on http://www.captainscove.nextdoor.com. The project is expected to be completed by the Spring, 2019.