Category: Testimony & Letters
TESTIMONY to DC Council RE: Support for PR21-307 (McMillan Sand Filtration Site)
We wish to express our support for the resolution to extend the Land Development Agreement given the scale and difficulty of this undertaking. It’s not uncommon for complex projects to take more time to walk through the process. Of course we wish that the whole process could be expedited, but we recognize that a significant project like this is large and complex.
TESTIMONY: Support for CB 86-215 (Prince George’s Urban Road Code)
We are pleased to speak today in support of CB-86-2015, a bill that establishes urban street design standards and criteria for designated centers. We strongly support this addition to the Prince George’s roadway standards to appropriately address the needs of transit districts and local centers, as identified in the Plan Prince George’s 2035 Approved General Plan (dated May 6, 2014). This is a well-considered set of standards that will bring the county into the good company of many of its neighbors, and national best practices for urban streets. The bill also helps expedite implementation of the county’s Complete and Green Streets Policy, which was adopted in 2012.
Testimony to Alexandria City Council on demolition of Ramsey Homes
I am a also a strong historic preservationist, which is what attracted me to Alexandria in 1988. The rich African-American history Parker-Gray and our city, and the bravery of the residents who fought for freedom and equality resonates deeply with me and should continue to be documented, promoted and honored — as is done so well by the Alexandria Black History Museum.
Montgomery County Planning Board testimony re: White Flint West Transportation, Phase 2, CIP No. 501116 Mandatory Referral No. MR2015029
Montgomery County and other jurisdictions in the Washington DC region are in the midst of a transformation from wholly auto-dependent development to the creation of networks of walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented centers and neighborhoods. County Executive Leggett, the Montgomery County Council, and the Planning Board have committed to this vision and the market is responding with nearly unlimited demand to live and work in walkable, mixed-use, transit accessible locations. The CEO of Marriott recently created a stir when he unequivocally stated that the company would be moving to a Metro station location within the next five years. Not only do his young employees want to live and work near Metro, but according to a recent article, he too appreciates the convenience of walkable, mixed-use and transit.
Testimony: Seven Corners Community Business Center (CBC)
Chairman Bulova and members of the Board, the Coalition for Smarter Growth strongly supports the Seven Corners Plan but we also have equally strong recommendations. Our reasons for support are as follows: First, if not here then where? Fairfax will continue to grow and the best way to grow without impacting single family home neighborhoods is in the county’s commercial corridors.
Testimony in Support with Recommendations for the Prince George’s County Regional Medical Center
We want to express our strong support for this proposal. We applaud Prince George’s County and its partners for locating a state-of-the-art new Regional Medical Center at the Largo Metro station. We agree that this new healthcare facility at this Metro location is a game-changing investment for the county. To ensure the full potential of this investment, we need to create pedestrian-oriented designs for buildings, streets, and public spaces.