|
| Having trouble viewing this e-mail? Click Here |
  Community Clips Smart Growth News for the Washington, DC Region September 16, 2005 In this issue:
From the Executive Director I hope that you
have been enjoying the Coalition's "Community Clips" electronic
newsletter and find it helpful for keeping up to date on important issues
of growth, community design, and transportation. Starting with this
first short column, I hope to discuss and connect important issues related
to smarter growth in the Washington, DC region. Above all, I hope that
you will stay involved and committed to helping to plan and design our
region, home of our nation's capital, great neighborhoods, a world-class
transit network, wonderful natural resources, and beautiful and historic
landscapes. Reality Check Report Released Consensus about growth and development is possible according to a report detailing the results of Reality Check, a regional effort cosponsored by Coalition for Smarter Growth and members of the Washington Smart Growth Alliance (SGA). The report provides details on how 300 regional leaders decided the region could best accommodate the 2 million new people and 1.6 million new jobs projected for the region by 2030. By almost every measurable indicator, Reality Check participants said they want the Washington region to offer more households and jobs close to transit, more development with a mix of jobs, housing and retail opportunities, a better balance of jobs and housing, more jobs in Prince George's County, and more compact development within or adjacent to existing cities and towns. Read the full report. More information on the Reality Check event. DC Launches On-Street Car-Sharing Program The DC Department
of Transportation (DDOT) has joined the likes of Portland, Seattle,
Boston and Arlington, Virginia in designating reserved on-street parking
for car-sharing vehicles. With studies showing that a single car-sharing
vehicle may serve six to ten households, the initiative promises to
be an effective plan for reducing parking demand and decreasing traffic
congestion in the city. Merrimac Farm: Linking Conservation, Community & Military Needs Prince William Conservation Alliance is leading an important effort to conserve Merrimac Farm, which borders Cedar Run at the headwaters of the Occoquan Reservoir and the Quantico Marine Corps Base. This 300 acre property is critical for ensuring clean drinking water, meeting Chesapeake Bay goals, as well as land use planning in Prince William County and the region. Kim Hosen, Executive Director of PWCA, also notes in a recent op-ed the importance of making sure community and military base needs are considered in land use decisions, an issue Virginia Beach is learning the hard way. Learn more about Merrimac Farm and how you can help and see some great photos of the area. Read a recent Op-Ed. Liquid Natural Gas Plant Proposed for Metro Station On Thursday, September 21, the Prince George’s Planning Board will hold a public hearing on the Washington Gas Company’s proposal to convert its Hyattsville property into a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility capable of holding one billion cubic feet of natural gas. Located only 1500 feet from the West Hyattsville Metro Station, the plant is not the best use of land next to transit and would pose safety risks to the neighborhood. It would also undermine the excellent, innovative transit station plan being considered by the County. Look for more on the transit plan in future issues. Learn more and attend the hearing. Help Shape DC's Future Join fellow advocates for smart growth and environmental protection by participating in one of four Community Planning Fairs, September 21, 22, 27, and 28. These public workshops, designed to give direction for the DC's 20-year Comprehensive Plan, provide a key opportunity for you to voice your priorities. The Coalition encourages you to attend and let officials know you support transit-oriented development, walkable communities, reinvestment in older neighborhoods, and safe, usable open space. Learn more. Don't Supersize Loudoun The Campaign for Loudoun’s Future unveiled a new “Don’t Supersize Loudoun” effort at the Loudoun Board of Supervisors’ first meeting since its August recess. Over the past few years Loudoun has absorbed an astounding amount of the region's growth, yet most of this is far from jobs and permanently constricted by a fixed set of east-west commuter routes. Now, the County is now joining a set of developers in proposing to increase that share even more. This move would change the entire citizen-supported County growth plan for the communities bordering Route 50. Instead of 4,500 total homes in the area allowed under the current growth plan, the County is proposing a more than six fold jump to a total of 28,000 total houses with 77,451 residents. The area currently has 1,234 residents. An open house will be held on September 26th and a public hearing October 3rd. Learn more. Upcoming Events
Subscriptions To unsubscribe, please email us with "unsubscribe newsletter" in the subject line. If you would still like to receive our email alerts, please indicate that in your message; otherwise your address will be removed from our alerts list as well. If you want to be added to the mailing list, please visit our website and complete the form.
|
|
|
|
|
