Council approves sector plan including tree canopy expansion; Prince George's County, MD

Sector plan targets mall and transit:
The Prince George's County District Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve the preliminary Glenn Dale, Lanham and Seabrook sector plan and sectional map amendment that makes recommendations for the area's land use, historic preservation, transportation and parks.
The plan's recommendations are divided into short-term plans of one to five years and into long-term plans of five to 20 years.
Short-term plans include continuing the evaluation of historic sites throughout the planning area, including the buildings at the former Glenn Dale Hospital site, building a public library next to the Glenn Dale Community Center, evaluating stream corridors for blockages that may lead to flooding and considering pedestrians and bicyclists when designing new roads and making road improvements.
Long-term plans include increasing the urban tree canopy through vegetation along roads, in median strips and within neighborhoods; renovating or replacing facilities rated 'poor' by a 2008 physical conditions assessment, including the Howard B. Owens Science Center in Lanham; and widening Lanham-Severn Road to a four-lane road to decrease traffic congestion.