The purpose of this planning document is to have a ready reference of the needs of Forest Heights for improvements to its infrastructure and services, and to establish priorities for the accomplishment of these improvements. This is a long range plan covering a ten-year period from the time of its adoption. It is also a living plan in that it is updated annually such that it always represents the current long term needs of the Town.

Inclusion of a project or program in this document does not guarantee the item will be included in the Town’s annual budget, which is required before funds are appropriated to complete any improvement. Priorities noted in this plan should be considered in the budget process. However, before items are included in the budget, they should have been already approved by the Town Council for inclusion in the strategic plan.

This strategic plan shall be a public document available to the Town’s citizens. At the October Town meeting each year, the Town Council will hold a public discussion of the plan and request suggestions from Town citizens’ as to the inclusion or deletion of any improvement items contained in the plan, and the priorities attached to the items.

Adopt aggressive economic growth plan through annexation. Note, the areas listed in this section do not represent a commitment by the Town of Forest Heights or the current owners to an annexation of the parcels, but are included for study and negotiation between Town officials and parcel owners as well as public discussion within the Town of Forest Heights.

Adopt community revitalization program for residential and commercial areas. Solicit federal, state and county government agencies to locate government services in the Forest Heights area, i.e., county health facility, motor vehicle tag renewal, offices for collection of tickets, taxes, etc.

Encourage location of major businesses in the Forest Heights area. Assist businesses in creating more attractive shopping areas.

$ Street Reconstruction - Forest Heights’ streets (including curbs & gutters) should be maintained and reconstructed as necessary so that they are structurally sound to ensure safe and comfortable access by automobile, bicycle and pedestrian access, and be presentable so as to augment property values in the Town.

$ Sidewalks - Existing Town sidewalks should be maintained to ensure safe pedestrian traffic, be free from obstructions and vegetation growth, and be presentable so as to augment property values in the Town. A comprehensive study will be done to identify areas where sidewalks should be installed because of the desire of property owners or for public safety purposes. Implementation of this program will be coordinated with the street reconstruction program. Pending such a study, new sidewalks are required in the following locations for pedestrian safety:

-On Arapahoe Drive from Livingston Road to Modoc Lane, placed in the easement area between Arapahoe Drive and Indian Head Highway.

$ Speed Bumps Conduct a study to determine the comparative effectiveness and cost of the speed bump design now in place in Forest Heights compared to other traffic calming devices. Install additional speed bumps in those areas where citizen complaints indicate unsafe or excessive speeding has been occurring. Installation of new speed bumps should be coordinated with the Forest Heights street reconstruction program. New traffic calming devices have been requested for:

-Complete Handicap Access to the Forest Heights municipal building, including access to restroom facilities on the second floor.

-Repair of the building roof to eliminate leaks and assure drainage of rainwater from the roof.

-Addition of public internet access in the municipal building to serve senior citizens and others who want to communicate over the internet, and for training of youth and others in the use of the internet.

-Modification of existing structures or construction of a new structure that would provide indoor recreation for Town citizens such as basketball courts for youth or exercise facilities for older and senior citizens.

$ Parks - In cooperation with the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), maintain the two parks for the Town of Forest Heights, with the addition of a ballfield at the park located at the north end of Terrell Avenue.

$ Street lights - Upgrade the existing street lights in the Town of Forest Heights to high efficiency sodium vapor lights. Also, the Town will undertake a methodical study at night of the need for additional street lights for the purpose of providing additional security at specific locations where inadequacy of street lighting has been identified by the Police and Maintenance Departments, and by residents. Two locations that have already been identified:

$ Pedestrian Connections Between the East and West Sides of Town Many of the Town citizens do not drive or otherwise need to traverse Indian Head Highway (IHH) on foot. These include shoppers toward the north end of IHH within the Town limits, and bus commuters near the South end of the Highway. To accommodate the needs of these citizens, the Town will work with the State Highway Administration and others to install a pedestrian bridge across IHH near Quade Street and Tecumseh Drive, and for the improvement of crosswalks, including pedestrian controlled traffic lights, at the south side of the IHH/Livingston Road intersection.

$ Bus Stop Access on Arapahoe Terrace The Metrobus stop on the northbound lane of Indian Head Highway near Arapahoe Terrace presents unsafe conditions for bus users accessing the stop from Arapahoe Terrace. Currently, riders must walk down a rocky dirt path with inadequate lighting to reach the bus stop. A paved path with handrail is needed that will traverse the Forest heights easement on the Arapahoe Terrace side to the State Highway Administration easement on the Indian Head Highway side of the pathway. A successful solution to this problem should include coordination with the State Highway Administration and the Washington Area Metropolitan Transit Authority.

$ Traffic Lights - The turn from Comanche Drive onto Livingston Road is unsafe because of the speed of vehicles on Livingston Road and the limit of sight distance at the intersection because of the curve in Livingston Road near the intersection. Furthermore, the intersection is a school crossing for students walking from Birchwood City to Flintstone Elementary School. While the intersection is entirely within the Town of Forest Heights, Livingston Road is a county facility and the responsibility of Prince George’s County. The Town will work with the County to install a traffic light at that intersection which is coordinated with the traffic light at the intersection of Birchwood Drive and Livingston Road (also within the Town’s jurisdiction).

$ Street Signs – Conduct a comprehensive inventory of street signs in Forest Heights, identifying those signs that are missing, damaged or need to be changed. Consider new design for street signs.

-Abandoned and/or disabled vehicles present a health hazard to the Town when they become infested with vermin, and present an eyesore that detracts from property values. The Code Enforcement will work with property owners to remove these vehicles and issue fines as necessary to enforce their removal.

-Pets are valued companions to many residents of the Town, but can become a health concern and nuisance to neighbors if not properly cared for. The Town will pass necessary ordinances, not in legal conflict with County ordinances, that will limit or restrict the number and types of animals that can be harbored in the Town.

-Effective enforcement of laws, particularly controlled substance and abuse laws, requires a full-time force of seven officers, including the Chief of Police. Given the presence of firearms on many of the suspects being investigated for possible violations, a Town backup officer needs to be available during periods when such investigations are likely to occur.

-In anticipation of bringing the police department up to seven officer, nine (9) cruisers equipped with appropriate communications equipment are needed to complete the readiness of the department. Seven cruisers in use, one unmarked cruiser, and the cruisers should be kept no longer than eight years with no more than 120,000 miles. This is in reference to officer safety and liability issues. This is also important because of the need for the Forest Heights police to work with law enforcement of other jurisdictions during a homeland security alert or incident.

- Expand Town Police resources consistent with the expansion of Town boundaries under the Town’s plans for economic development and annexation.

$ Recreation - In cooperation with the M-NCPPC, maintain a recreation program for Forest Heights youth at the two M-NCPPC parks, including the hiring of counselors during the summer months to organize team sports and activities for teenagers.

$ Transportation (Elderly) - In cooperation with Prince George’s County agencies, organize local transportation services for senior citizens that would accommodate the citizens’ needs for access to shopping, medical and recreational services.

$ Street Maintenance -- Maintain the Town’s streets in a clean condition, free of debris and litter, using both Public Works and Code Enforcement personnel. In the Fall, contract with street cleaning services to sweep accumulations of leaves from the streets. In the winter, maintain snow plow readiness to assure streets are passable by 6:00 a.m., unless an area wide snow emergency is called and Federal offices are closed.

$ Education - Provide assistance to Forest Heights’ two elementary schools as requested. Encourage and promote the use of the Municipal Building for adult education programs. Provide computer education and internet access services at the Municipal Building to senior citizens and other adults in partnership with local High Schools and/or business enterprises.

$ Town Beautification Conduct a program to replace street trees where appropriate.

$ Jobs Program – Engage the assistance of local businesses, employment agencies, and town residents in senior level positions at their agencies/organizations for development of a jobs program for Town unemployed youth.

• Town Ordinances Conduct a comprehensive review of the fines and penalties in the Town’s ordinances and make recommendations to the Council for updating and setting appropriate fines.

• Town Charter Conduct a comprehensive review of the Town Charter in terms of obsolete provisions and provisions that are in conflict with State mandates. Recommendations are to be submitted to the mayor and Town Council through the Charter and Ordinance Committee.

If special funding or a grant is found for a project or program, it should immediately be assigned high priority. Otherwise the priorities will be assigned according to current year,

Statistics covering the following areas will be added to the plan for reference purposes:

Census 2000 Demographic Profile Highlights:
General Characteristics	Number	Percent	U.S.

Total population	2,585	100	100%
Male	1,216	47	49.1%
Female	1,369	53	50.9%
Median age (years)	38.2	(X)	35.3
Under 5 years	163	6.3	6.8%
18 years and over	1,880	72.7	74.3%
65 years and over	280	10.8	12.4%
One race	2,535	98.1	97.6%
White	346	13.4	75.1%
Black or African American	2,045	79.1	12.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native	3	0.1	0.9%
Asian	87	3.4	3.6%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander	9	0.3	0.1%
Some other race	45	1.7	5.5%
Two or more races	50	1.9	2.4%

Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	76	2.9	12.5%

Average household size	2.88	(X)	2.59
Average family size	3.34	(X)	3.14

Total housing units	945	100	100.0%
Occupied housing units	897	94.9	91.0%
Owner-occupied housing units	820	91.4	66.2%
Renter-occupied housing units	77	8.6	33.8%
Vacant housing units	48	5.1	9.0%

Social Characteristics	Number	Percent	U.S.
Population 25 years and over	1,709	100
High school graduate or higher	1,449	84.8	80.4%
Bachelor's degree or higher	228	13.3	24.4%
Civilian veterans (civilian population 18 years and over)	348	18.6	12.7%

Project	Priority
Talbert Drive to the DC Line	Current Year
Parcels South of Oxon Hill Road	Current Year
Parcels Between MD 210 and Livingston Road on the North side of Oxon Hill Road	2 to 3 years
Parcels between Comanche Drive and I-95	2 to 3 years
Forest Heights Park at Terrell Avenue (MNPPC)	2 to 3 years
Parcels East of Livingston Road from Crisfield Drive to I-95	2 to 3 years
Parcel North of Livingston Road at Indian Head Highway	Current Year
Parcels West of Livingston Road including Church Property	2 to 3 years

Project	Priority
Adopt community revitalization program for residential and commercial areas.	Current Year
Solicit federal, state and county government agencies to locate government services in the Forest Heights area, i.e., county health facility, motor vehicle tag renewal, offices for collection of tickets, taxes, etc.	Current Year

Project	Priority
Encourage location of major businesses in the Forest Heights area.	2 to 3 years
Assist businesses in creating more attractive shopping areas.	Current Year

Project	Priority
Street Reconstruction Phase I Alden Way 260 ft. $12,600 Pitt Lane 605 ft $28,042 Fox Way 700 ft $28,857 Choctaw Dr 720 ft $38,290 Shoshone Dr 850 ft $52,145 Cree Dr Sec2 1,340 ft $55,029 Quade St 1,720 ft $77,664 Sachem Dr 3,100 ft $78,831	Fiscal Year 2006
Street Reconstruction Phase II Mohican Dr. 1,600 ft $100,064 Shawnee Dr 1,400 ft $104,437 Onondaga Dr 1,580 ft $105,470 Sumner Ln 515 ft $31,801 Arapahoe Ter 1,113 ft $31,903 Terrell Ave 1,755 ft $78,367 MB Parking Lot $17,504	2 to 3 years
Street Reconstruction Phase III Spokane Dr 440 $30,370 Tecumseh Dr 1,000 $30,757 Arapahoe Dr 2,390 $37,968 Black Hawk Dr 1,805 $111,057 Black Hawk Ln 990 $20,637 Sachem Ln 1,000 $21,229 Commanche Dr1,000 $45,951 Delaware Dr 840 $50,024 Iroquois Way 1,150 $74,366	4 to 6 years
Street Reconstruction Phase IV Rolph Dr 1,370 $86,447 South Huron Dr 1,570 $108,640 Cree Dr Sec1 2,350 $122,515 Woodland Dr 2,950 $131,712 North Huron Dr 2,650 $170,662 Ottawa Street 2,730 $201,916 Miles Dr 285 $19,168 Modoc Ln 1,070 $66,186 Seneca Dr 2,850 $161,697	7 years and later
Sidewalks - Comprehensive plan for Town Sidewalks	Current Year
Sidewalks - Arapahoe Drive from Livingston Road to Modoc Lane	Current Year
Sidewalks - Sachem Drive from Delaware Drive to Tecumseh Drive	2 to 3 years
Sidewalks - Curb cuts in existing sidewalks	2 to 3 years
Speed Bump Study	Current Year
Handicap Access to Municipal Building Phase I	Current Year
Handicap Access to Municipal Building Phase II	2 to 3 years
Engineering study of needed repairs to MB building roof	Current Year
Complete MB roof repairs	2 to 3 years
Internet access for citizens in the Municipal Building	2 to 3 years
Indoor recreational facilities for youth & senior citizens	4 to 6 years
Repair Municipal Building parking lot	2 to 3 years
Improve public park facilities & equipment in Forest Heights	4 to 6 years
Upgrade Forest Heights street lights to sodium vapor system	4 to 6 years
Complete study & install additional lights at critical locations	2 to 3 years
Pedestrian bridge across MD 210 at Quade & Tecumseh	4 to 6 years
Improve path to Metro bus stop from Arapahoe Terrace	Current Year
Have traffic light installed at Comanche & Livingston	4 to 6 years
Replace all below standard street signs in Forest Heights.	Current Year

Enforce code on abandoned vehicles	Current Year
Restrict the number of animals permitted per household.	2 to 3 years
Provide police backup for law enforcement actions.	2 to 3 years
Maintain an adequate number of police vehicles	Current Year
Establish a youth recreation program	2 to 3 years
Maintain a senior citizen transportation service.	Current Year
Maintain clean streets	Current Year
Contract for fall leaf cleanup from streets	2 to 3 years
Maintain passable streets in winter by 6 a.m.	Current Year
Assist Forest Heights and Flintstone Elementary schools	Current Year
Promote use of Municipal Building for adult education.	2 to 3 years
Plant street trees	Current Year
Initiate a cooperative jobs program for Forest Heights youth.	Current Year