Here’s news of a great event tonight and tomorrow. And the next weeks are full of exciting opportunities to support an equitable, climate-resilient future—which is certainly feeling urgent as our region experiences another round of Code Red air quality.
Category: Maryland
TAKE ACTION: A townhouse ban is not the way to guide us to smart, equitable development
Prince George’s County Council is considering a bill to freeze new townhouse construction for 2 years. We agree that too much growth is occurring outside priority centers, leading to increased traffic and high infrastructure costs, while diverting resources from existing communities. But a townhouse ban is an overly broad, indiscriminate approach that overlooks the underlying problems of Prince George’s zoning: too much single family zoning across the vast acres outside the beltway, and not enough flexible residential and mixed use zoning inside the beltway.
CSG comments opposing the townhouse moratorium in Prince George’s County
While we oppose CB 52 as not the right approach, we wish to express our support for the concern expressed in the bill in terms of ensuring residential growth is directed to the right locations. We find the singling out of townhouses for blame unjustified when permissive single family zoning across vast acres outside the beltway “established communities” are the underlying problem. Most of the land outside the beltway is zoned for low density housing, causing growth and additional demand on urban infrastructure, and robbing reinvestment resources from existing communities.
Event Materials: MoCo Better Bus Feedback-Palooza
Check out our handout from the event!
TAKE ACTION: Speak up for homes, and a vibrant Takoma Metro station
The proposed mixed-use development at the Takoma Metro station is a bold proposal, but it has vocal opponents. The project will provide 440 new homes with at least 70 affordable homes and transform a surface parking lot into a vibrant, safer, walkable place with cafes, a plaza, and usable greenspace. It will also provide better bus, walk and bicycle facilities, and control stormwater runoff for the first time.
Event Materials: Friendship Heights walking tour
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our walking tour of Friendship Heights on a beautiful day! Check out the event materials!
TAKE ACTION: Ensure a budget for affordable housing, safer streets, and better bus service
The Prince George’s County Council is about to decide how to spend more than $5 billion. We need you to help ensure the budget sustains the proposed affordable housing funding, and does a better job to build safer streets and deliver better bus service.
Event Materials: Addison Rd-Seat Pleasant walking tour
Thanks to everyone who joined us for our walk around the Addison Road-Seat Pleasant Metro station area. We were fortunate to have a great turnout with an array of public officials and local developers to discuss how the area is on the cusp of more change than we’ve seen since the Metro station opened in 1980.
Comments re: 2050 Maryland Transportation Plan
Please consider these recommendations for refining the 2050 Maryland Transportation Plan proposed list of guiding principles, goals, and priorities, and addressing in the plan’s strategies:
Testimony re: transit-oriented Olde Towne Gaithersburg project
We wish to express our support for the Concept Site Plan for construction of two multifamily buildings at 9, 11, 13, and 15 Park Avenue and 201 Brookes Avenue.