OXON HILL, Md. (7News) — The proposed Sphere at National Harbor faces another important step in the approval process Thursday, as the Prince George’s County Planning Board reviews a detailed site plan for the $1.4 billion entertainment venue.
The hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, November 5, at the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Parks and Recreation Administration Building in Riverdale.
The review is being conducted by the Prince George’s County Planning Board, part of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, or M-NCPPC. The board is chaired by Kevin A. Anderson. Its other members are Vice Chair Dr. Billy Okoye and commissioners Brittany Jenkins, Lori Matthews and Gloria Gary Lawlah.
The board’s agenda lists the project as an evidentiary hearing for DSP-2026-0030, National Harbor – Beltway Parcel. The applicant is Sphere Maryland, LLC. The application seeks approval for an entertainment development on two parcels near Oxon Hill Road and the Capital Beltway.
RELATED | $215M Sphere financing package approved by Prince George’s County Council
The board reviews development applications, including site plans, and considers issues involving land use and how a project fits into its surrounding area. This hearing is separate from the Prince George’s County Council’s recent financing vote.
Last week, the County Council voted 8-0 to authorize up to $215 million in special-obligation bonds connected to the project. The financing includes up to $130 million for construction-related costs, with the remaining bond authorization also covering refinancing of existing National Harbor debt and other financing expenses. The bonds are expected to be repaid through designated revenues generated in the National Harbor development district, rather than through the county’s general fund.
The proposed Sphere would seat approximately 6,000 people and feature a massive exterior LED display. Supporters say the project could attract visitors, create jobs and generate additional tax revenue for the county.
But the proposal has also drawn questions from residents and critics about traffic, parking, light pollution and the amount of electricity the venue could require.
Prince George’s County resident Christopher Goins says the current site plan does not provide enough detail about parking, calling the lack of specific parking garage information a “glaring” omission.
“People initially wanted this sphere in London. And then the residents learned about it, they learned about the light pollution and then they learned about the energy rates and how that would go up, and they rejected it,” Goins said.
SEE ALSO | New renderings show proposed mini Sphere at National Harbor
A similar Sphere proposed for Stratford, east London, was ultimately withdrawn by its developer in January 2024. Before that, London Mayor Sadiq Khan had directed local planners to refuse the application, citing concerns that the illuminated exterior would cause significant light intrusion for nearby residents, along with concerns about the project’s scale and sustainability. The developer withdrew the application while the mayor’s decision was facing further review.
Parking has been a point of discussion in the National Harbor proposal. Earlier financing plans included a proposed $40 million county-owned parking garage, in addition to other transportation and site improvements. The question now is how those plans are reflected in the detailed site plan under review.
The Planning Board’s agenda lists November 10 as the action deadline for the application. Thursday’s hearing is an opportunity for the board to examine the development proposal and hear evidence before taking action. It is not another vote on the county’s bond financing.
This post was originally published on Fox 45 by Sinclair Media Group.
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