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  Community Clips Smart Growth News for the Washington, DC Region December 15, 2005 In this issue:
From the Executive Director To our members,
friends, and supporters I extend a heartfelt Happy Holidays! You can
all take pride in the shifts in thinking about development and transportation
in our three-state region. Nothing says this more than the election
of a new governor who promised to link land use with transportation
because "we can’t let runaway development clog our roads
and ruin our beautiful landscapes." Montgomery County Council Votes to Protect Ag Reserve On November 29 Montgomery County's Agricultural Reserve received a boost when the County Council voted not to extend water and sewer for large institutions into the Reserve. This action sends a clear message that protecting the 93,000 acre Reserve is a priority for Montgomery County. Visit SolutionsNotSprawl.org to learn more. Parks At Risk Along ICC Corridor -- Post Maps the Route You probably hear about the proposed Intercounty Connecter (ICC) all the time, but do you really know where it would go? The Washington Post Style section has done one of its signature Road Trip maps even before this particular highway has received final approval. The map shows the communities, parks and forests that would be harmed by the six-lane highway. It shows the route cutting through Upper Rock Creek Stream Valley Park, Lake Needwood, and Upper Paint Branch Park. "The secluded woods at Upper Paint Branch Park make a peaceful retreat," says the note on Style's map. Take a look at the route, then learn about how this $3 billion toll-highway doesn't reduce traffic and how you can take action. Regional Planning Body Predicts Housing Shortfall Two million new neighbors are on their way over the next 25 years, according to a report issued by the Washington Council of Governments (COG).The big question is, where are those folks going to live? Unless we plan well for them, the report says they'll be pushed further out into the suburbs, bringing heavier traffic and more pollution with them. Fortunately, the Coalition for Smarter Growth has been hard at work, advocating for good, transit-oriented design, and educating legislators and the public about the need to link transportation and land use planning. Read the Washington Post's coverage of the Council's report. Take Action to Protect the W&OD Trail Dominion Virginia Power, which proposed putting overhead transmission lines along the W&OD Trail, has agreed to consider alternative routes. Nonetheless, it's within the purview of the State Corporation Commission, the administrative body empowered to make the ultimate decision, to order Dominion Virginia Power to erect the towers on the Trail anyway. Learn more, including how you can take action. TouchDC Recognizes Coalition for Smarter Growth TouchDC, a local coalition of funders, nonprofit umbrella organizations, and media partners, selected the Coalition for Smarter Growth as one of its featured "exceptional nonprofits" for 2006. Learn more about TouchDC -- and check us out under "Environment" -- at TouchDC.org. Upcoming Events
Past Issues Click here to access our past issues. 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.
We appreciate your contribution! Donations are processed by our fiscal agent, Piedmont Environmental Council. Please type "CSG" in the Designation field when making your donation today! "Every
year, TouchDC showcases a select group of smaller, exceptional nonprofits."
The Coalition was selected for 2006! |
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