A Big Ask
County Council Member Derrick Leon Davis (D-District 6) Makes a Call-to-Action to Business Roundtable
When Prince George’s County Council member Derrick Leon Davis (D-District 6) addressed local leaders during a business roundtable meeting, his big ask was that they continue to support the county’s needs and be firm and committed as they were to supporting the efforts they sought out to do over for the last 10 years. Davis pointed out several successful commercial efforts in the county as it pertains to economic development, but also some major areas of improvements that should involve governmental entities, private businesses, and faith-based institutions as biggest supporters.
“A new economic development strategic plan will drop very soon. We want to make sure that we double down on the reality and make that new economic development strategic plan twice the manner that the first one was,” Davis said.
A new plan will allow the county to have flexible plan in place where communities can take control of their economic development, set clear and attainable economic development objectives, and design policies and programs to achieve them. Without a plan, the economic future is reactive at best. At worst, it’s in the hands of others – especially in this time of uncertainty.
Davis believes that taking another look at the county’s zoning structure will open the doors to a new zoning code to attract jobs, economic development, and protect the quality of life in county neighborhoods. “We are rewriting the zoning code. We are in the final stages and at the point where we are putting together a comprehensive map amendment, and it will be no easy task.”
“If you were to look at our existing zones, you'd have to fill up two libraries the size of Bowie State University's library in order to understand what our zoning code was. We have now made it user-friendly, made it make sense to ensure and include the economic development strategies that we as a council have applied over the last 10 years, and taking a deeper look at how we utilize our transit-oriented centers,” he said.
New development has ushered in. From Branch Avenue to New Carrollton, the county is seeing local and federal level buildings coming. With new residential communities populating, there is a need for more public transportation. The county has seen an increase in transit and transportation opportunities over the years.
“We’re turning Route 50 and Highway 495 into a hub of activity. When we think about these activities, don't forget they generate income. Income comes from commercial tax bases,” Davis said.
Davis later explained the outcome of commercial taxes. “The higher we raise our commercial tax base, the lower our residential tax rate will be, which gets you to a place like Largo.”
Davis is thinking of the bigger picture for the county. “It's important to think about that now because as this council exits, a new council will come in. They will be charged with the responsibility of raising that tax base the same way we were able to do over the last 10 years over the next 10 years,” he said.
While it looks like economic development in the county is getting a new plan, there still seems to be holes in handling the increase in crime. The councilman suggested that there be a collective decision from the community and the police to work together in solving these crimes. “We are our brothers' keepers. We have to take care of one another and keep that crime statistic from growing out of control.”
