Published on: Wednesday, April 27, 2011

By Nancy Royden

Gov. Martin O’Malley and County Executive Rushern L. Baker III announced last week a joint agreement to spur the final phase of the Intercounty Connector and economic development.

The joint agreement between the State of Maryland, Prince George’s County and developers of a future project known as Konterra will bring jobs and road improvements.

The Konterra project will be a large, mixed-use development along I-95.  When the development is complete, it is estimated to annually generate $95 million in tax revenue.

Baker said he looks at the county’s future optimistically.

“This critical public investment will create jobs and economic opportunity for generations of Prince Georgians and Marylanders,” he said. “On behalf of the citizens of Prince George’s County, I want to thank Gov. O’Malley for his unwavering support to bring economic development to the county.”

Likewise, the planners of Konterra keep an upbeat outlook despite a challenging economy.

“Years from now, we’ll celebrate the red carpet opening of a five-star hotel, purchase holiday gifts from class A department stores, walk from home to our executive office suite, or chat with friends at a neighborhood bistro,” touts konterra.com.

Konterra is billed on its website as, “The Premier Business and Residential Community within the Baltimore-Washington Corridor.”

When complete, it is expected to include residential and business facilities, educational institutions, technology campuses, retail businesses and hotels, according to O’Malley’s office.

The development will cross I-95, one exit north of the Capital Beltway, according to the governor’s office.

O’Malley addressed those involved in the agreement recently.

“This innovative agreement benefits the public sector, the private sector and most importantly, the citizens of Prince George’s County and the State of Maryland by creating jobs and fueling economic progress in this area,” he said. “We are standing here today because all three parties involved were willing to think outside the box and look at the long-term potential for job growth and economic activity in Northern Prince George’s County. Together, we can create thousands of jobs and drive hundreds of millions in economic activity to an important region that is growing even in tough economic times.”

Andre Gingles, a Calverton-based attorney representing Konterra, said the development is positive in many ways for Prince George’s County.

“Konterra, as planned and approved, will help implement the county’s General Plan and Master Plan recommendations for this area. It creates a mixed-use community that will attract high quality retail and office uses that will be integrated with pedestrian oriented, urban residential living and amenities,” he wrote in an email.

“For Prince George’s County and Maryland, Konterra creates an economic engine for job creation and tax revenue growth,” he added.

Four years have been spent by the Maryland Department of Transportation, Prince George’s County and owners of Konterra to acquire 240 acres of Konterra property to construct the ICC, interchanges and services roads.

“The three parties have reached an agreement that brings eminent domain proceedings to an amicable resolution,” states a press release from O’Malley’s office. “Under the agreement, the parties agree to construct a set of highway improvements to facilitate access from I-95 and the ICC, and to enable planned development in the area to proceed, in exchange for Konterra’s donation of the land needed for the ICC and related highway improvements.”

The State Highway Administration is scheduled to construct a modified version of two remaining ICC contacts. They will extend the ICC from the I-95 interchange east to Van Dusen Road. The agency will also build service roads along I-95, north of the ICC interchange, according to O’Malley’s office.

The SHA is also expected to construct a planned interchange to connect I-95 with Contee Road Extended near the current Van Dusen Road. A bridge over the highway is in the current county master plan and has been identified as a high transportation priority, according to O’Malley’s office.

Furthermore, the county is expected to build a new road to be called Virginia Manor Road Extended. It will connect the ICC/Virginia Manor Road interchange with the new I-95-Contee Road interchange. It is planned to continue west to connect with Old Gunpowder Road.

This road will become a state highway when it opens to traffic, according to O’Malley’s office.