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COALITION FOR SMARTER GROWTH
November, 9 2006

Growth Issue Continues to Play Big for Voters –
Early Analysis by Coalition for Smarter Growth

Across the region, in places as diverse as the District of Columbia, Howard, Montgomery, Arlington, and Prince William Counties, voters focused on growth issues. On Tuesday, voters continued the trend of choosing candidates who are neither beholden to speculative development interests nor purely anti-development. Rather, voters are seeking candidates that will appropriately manage the location, pace, and design of development for their community, who are honest about their approaches to managing growth, and who will truly involve them in the design of their community.

In suburban counties on the edge of the region, the pace and location of growth have become major issues. As traffic worsens with each poorly planned development project, residents’ demand for better linking land use and transportation becomes ever stronger. People recognize, through their daily living, that where we grow in our region matters, a lot. If we have to drive everywhere for everything, our system breaks down.

In our inner suburbs and in the District of Columbia, growth is also an issue. More and more residents are supporting candidates who are focused on delivering quality redevelopment that provides more opportunities and services in their neighborhoods and offers more people the option to live close to Metro and in communities where they can walk.

Recognizing that most voters want development to be managed well in their communities, it seems that nearly every candidate claims a smart or slow growth platform. It has been up to voters to try to determine their sincerity. The question is will all candidates adopt wise transportation and land use planning with an emphasis on good design? In these races, voters must look to patterns in campaign contributions and details of what candidates say and have done.

Looking ahead, it will be important for citizens and officials to work together on smarter growth solutions for their communities.

Some examples of the growth issue in the elections in the Washington region include:

Prince William County, VA
Race: Chairman Board of Supervisors
Results: Republican Corey Stewart defeated Democrat Sharon Pandak
Growth was the major issue in this campaign. In a recent annual county quality of life survey growth, land use, and transportation were the only issues that received poor marks (40-44% satisfied, compared with 70%+ satisfied on almost every other issue).

Stewart focused on the growth issues, in particular increasing developer proffers or fees, keeping growth out of the county’s rural crescent, and overall slowing down the pace of development. Pandak tried to paint Stewart as anti-growth and she supported development near transit, but did not sign a pledge about protecting the county’s rural crescent. Pandak drew on extensive experience as County attorney knowledgeable about land use but was plagued by allegations of being too close to the development community.

Prince William is an outer suburban county with a few stops on the commuter rail line and a private commuter bus system to jobs at the Pentagon and in Washington DC. Its rapid growth on a very auto-dependent pattern has created large traffic problems, rapid loss of open space, and some degree of fiscal strain. It will take creativity and commitment to fix the problems created by an inefficient growth pattern.

Washington Post characterization of their positions:
“In debates and interviews, Stewart has argued that the county must force developers to pay more for the public services that new housing requires. He also has expressed his opposition to allowing new high-density development and signed a pledge to curb growth in the county's Rural Crescent, a preserve that limits housing to one unit per 10 acres… Pandak has characterized Stewart's views on development as simplistic and unworkable, saying his extreme rhetoric will make negotiating with builders more difficult. She has argued for a more measured approach, noting that dense development may make sense in areas served by mass transit.” [From Washington Post, Chairman Campaign A Showcase of Styles]


Howard County, Maryland
Race: County Executive
According to the Washington Post: “The major local issue was how to control the unrelenting growth in Howard…But many residents said the wonkish debates over growth were so intricate that they could not differentiate between the two candidates. Merdon, a 35-year-old businessman, portrayed himself as the slow-growth candidate and said on his campaign signs, "Vote Slow Growth!" Ulman, a lawyer, disputed his opponent's characterization and attacked him for doing little to control growth in his own council district. ‘Everybody says, 'I'm slow growth, I'm slow growth,' but I really don't know who is or who isn't,’ said Jason Shapiro, 45, an attorney from Columbia. ‘Who knows what they'll do once they get into office?’”
[From Washington Post: Ulman Wins as Democrats Strengthen Hold on Council]

Howard County, along with Anne Arundel County, will likely feel the effects if the Department of Defense follows through with the BRAC moves to Fort Meade. The coming year will be a critical time for citizens to weigh-in to shape the vision for the County in a way that minimizes traffic, maximizes open space and offers vibrant walkable centers of community.

Frederick County, Maryland
Races: County Council
According to the Washington Post: “Growth rather than party labels dominated the Frederick County Commissioners race yesterday, as voters ousted two incumbents who supported development in favor of candidates who had campaigned heavily to moderate the pace of growth.”
[From Washington Post: Slow-Growth Advocates Reign, 2 Incumbents Out In Board Race]

Frederick County may be the Loudoun County of Maryland. It could lose some of its last quality farming and recreational areas and face unsolvable traffic problems. The slowing real estate market may offer the breathing room the County needs to plan sustainably for the future.

Montgomery County, Maryland
Races: County Council/County Executive
Montgomery County’s Council and Executive Race was largely, but not entirely determined during the primary. Concern about developer influence and the pace of growth played a significant role in the voting. Anti-ICC candidates won in both local and state races and might help prompt a reconsideration of the cost and lack of effectiveness of the ICC. At the same time, it will be critical for the County to maximize citizen involvement in planning for the future. Creating great walkable communities with a mix of housing types and costs, and with maximum access to transit, will be the key to protecting open space and reducing traffic. Using good urban and street design to fix traffic choked corridors like Rockville Pike and continuing revitalization of down county areas will be critical.

State of Maryland
Race: Governor
Results: Martin O’Malley (D) defeated the incumbent Bob Ehrlich (R)
Smart growth policies at the state level came to a virtual halt during the Ehrlich administration. Meanwhile, the Governor’s transportation agenda focused almost exclusively around the Intercounty Connector (ICC), a piece of a proposed outer beltway. O'Malley has repeatedly noted that one transportation project does not make a statewide transportation plan. While Ehrlich championed the ICC to an extreme extent including a study that refused to consider alternatives, his administration also used stalling tactics on the proposed and very popular purple Metro line. The first segment will run from Bethesda to New Carrollton with plans also for it to cross the Wilson Bridge. Due to the $3 billion (and growing) cost of the ICC, the state will have little to no ability to fund other transportation projects if they go forward with the ICC. Governor-elect O’Malley will now have to look at the state’s overall transportation plan, which will need to begin with reestablishment of smart growth policies.

Ballot Measure: Parks Initiative
On Tuesday, Marylanders sent a strong message to the new Governor and legislature that protecting our parks, working farms, critical natural areas, and open spaces from sprawling development is important. A ballot measure to require legislative approval for the sale of State-owned park lands passed with 85% support. The amendment arose two years ago after Governor Ehrlich attempted to sell public park land in St. Mary’s County to a private developer. The measure will prevent the State of Maryland from selling off conservation land for development. A strong grassroots campaign was launched throughout the state and Governor-Elect O’Malley has pledged to fully fund land conservation for the next four years.

Arlington County, VA
Race: County Board
In this liberal, Democratic county that leads the nation in transit-oriented development and transportation alternatives, the incumbent Chris Zimmerman faced two challengers including a Green party candidate who pushed for a growth moratorium. However, the County has a solid record of community involvement and in designing development to maximize the reduction in traffic. Voters clearly rejected the moratorium idea in re-electing Zimmerman, who has been a regional leader on transit-oriented development, providing more transportation choices and affordable housing. It is important to note that creating great, walkable neighborhoods with excellent transit accessibility is the key to addressing some of the most important environmental issues of our time, including energy consumption and global warming.

Washington, DC
Race: City Council
In electing Mary Cheh, voters in the District’s Ward 3 sent a very clear message about their support for redevelopment around Metro and along Wisconsin Avenue. Development issues loomed large in the race as a small set of vocal opponents to redevelopment in the key commercial corridors debated a growing community of residents seeking improvements in design and services within walking distance of neighborhoods. Cheh won the primary with 44% of the vote in a field of 9 candidates. Anti-development residents in the mainly Democratic ward courted and supported the republican Theresa Conroy. But Cheh won overwhelmingly with 71% of the vote. In her victory speech she noted this was a win for all of Ward 3 and clean campaigning. Cheh is committed to a revitalized Wisconsin Avenue and more housing choices for all city residents, especially those with the lowest incomes. The neighborhoods spoke clearly in support of Ward 3 and DC in general, as an appropriate place to grow, recognizing that quality redevelopment can add value to their community.