Intersect: August 22, 2001


	Washington Regional Network
	for Livable Communities



	INTERSECT Newsletter of the Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities August 22, 2001 - Volume 5 Number 7 Traffic, Design & Density: Tackling the Dilemmas of Infill Development A WRN forum with Ralph Cunningham & Lee Quill, Cunningham + Quill Architects and Gerald Neily, Transportation Planner Tuesday, September 25, 2001, 6:30 Refreshments, 7pm Program, Sumner School, 1201 17th Street NW, D.C. (closest Metro station: Dupont Circle, South Exit) Can new buildings and residents add value to a neighborhood? Learn about how design is critical in dealing with density and congestion concerns. Lee Quill and Ralph Cunningham will discuss infill development projects in the Washington area that gained community support with good communication, design, and uses. Transportation Planner Gerald Neily will provide insight into how to address concerns about potential traffic from new development. After brief presentations, the audience is invited to join in an extended question and answer discussion. Loudoun Plan Manages Growth by Cassie Seiple, WRN Program Coordinator On July 23, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors approved a comprehensive plan that protects a broad area of farmland and countryside, while seeking to transform traffic clogged suburbs into more traditionally designed, walkable communities. As the third fastest growing county in the nation, Loudoun has faced severe problems of rising taxes while trying to meet the growing infrastructure costs of suburban growth. In response to these pressures, the comprehensive plan has divided Loudoun into distinct areas: 300 square miles of rural lands in the western end of the county will use a sliding scale to include significant areas of agricultural zoning with one house for every 10 to 50 acres; a primarily residential transitional area approximately three miles wide; and focused development around at least four established communities in eastern Loudoun, including Leesburg, Ashburn, and, Sterling with an integrated mix of uses and connections to the proposed Dulles Rail Line. According to smart growth advocates, the preserved farmland and open space will allow for rural economic enterprises and natural resource conservation while suburban communities will be designed around town centers that combine business, retail, civic, and residential uses, reduce traffic, and improve walkability, and transit accessibility. With the recent news that D.C. is ‘failing’ on air quality, (see Intersect v5n6), growth management plans focused around town centers with access to transit would help reduce regional air pollution by providing alternatives to automobile use according to the 1996 publication, “A Network of Livable Communities,” by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Environmental Defense Fund. “Increases in driving, traffic congestion, and air pollution in this region are a direct result of suburban sprawl,” said Jim Wamsley, Transportation Chair for the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club. Supporters believe that Loudoun’s land use plan presents opportunities to change growth patterns, simultaneously reducing sprawl, and air pollution. Controlling the pace of development also has economic benefits, and can “save communities money by preventing sprawling developments that are costly to serve,” according to the American Farmland Trust (September 1999 Fact Sheet.) Developers challenging the comprehensive plan argued that the plan will increase housing costs, and reduce the supply of affordable housing. However, county board Chairman Scott K. York (R-At Large) stated that these critics are “…the same ones that are selling homes for $400,000 and up.” Smart growth advocates consider Loudoun’s 50,000 housing units approved, but not yet built, an ample opportunity to supply the county with affordable housing. WRN board member Janet Brown commented, “providing affordable housing in transit accessible locations is a vital part of any smart growth strategy.” Housing advocates would like to see an expansion of policies already existing in the region, such as inclusionary zoning in Loudoun, Fairfax, and Montgomery Counties. They are also hopeful for the implementation of housing trust funds that have been proposed in DC and the region (see more information on D.C.’s policies and Montgomery ’s policies). Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth says, “We have an obligation to set the national standard for smarter growth and to grow in a way that protects the scenic, cultural, historic and environmental treasures of the region while creating better communities with less traffic and cleaner air and water for everyone.” He believes the Loudoun County growth management plan is a “step towards this goal.” Many of the general concepts outlined here can be found in WRN’s “Solutions to Sprawl” slide show, available for community and organizational meetings. To inquire about scheduling a presentation, contact the WRN office: 202/667-5445. For additional background see the following Washington Post articles: Loudoun Adopts Strict Controls on Development Loudoun's Ambitious Search for Perfection Greenbelt Development Proposal Lacks Transit Orientation Regional groups expressed concern at recent public hearings that the proposed development for the Greenbelt Metrorail station has unnecessary environmental impacts and is not designed as true transit–oriented development, but as an automobile–oriented regional mall. Several regional groups testified before the Prince George’s County Planning Board (July 26, 2001) on the proposed Conceptual Site Plan for the “Greenbelt Station Project,” by the Metroland Developers, L.L.C. Local citizens and business owners joined them in expressing concern about the project design. The proposed site plan includes an enclosed regional shopping mall and “pedestrian street” through the mall – impeding public access to the Metrorail station. “[The current site plan] would generate a significant number of automobile trips and lacks a truly pedestrian design…the pedestrian would face a major arterial when leaving the station and the most valuable land close to the station would be lost to large parking structures,” commented Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth (CSG). The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) admitted the difficulty of redeveloping this site, due to the poor initial decision to place a Metrorail station adjacent to wetlands and a good quality stream segment in an urban watershed. Both the Coalition and CBF asked that redevelopment of the Greenbelt Metrorail station address two goals: to provide appropriate transit–oriented development in the context of a growing region and existing community; and to limit adverse environmental impacts on wetlands and floodplains. These groups suggested the following principles of transit–oriented development for the site: integrated bicycle and pedestrian access, low speed automobile travel, on street parking, a sizeable percentage of residential units on the portion closest to the Metrorail station, and minimum amounts of off street parking. Planners and elected officials from the cities of Greenbelt and College Park echoed similar concerns and recommendations for changes raised by these regional groups. On behalf of the City of College Park, architect Roger Lewis presented design comments to the Planning Board that provided a significantly greater share of residential development on the north parcel in a more mixed use, walkable community. Expressing its support for economic, upscale office, and residential development in Prince George’s County – the Coalition suggested more appropriate sites for a regional mall might include New Carrollton and the U.S. Air Arena site, or even the Jack Kent Cooke stadium parking lots. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) emphasized that redevelopment at Metrorail stations “must be done in the context of how these new activities can fit into and enhance the surrounding neighborhood while accommodating more of the region’s growth.” The Coalition for Smarter Growth encouraged Prince George’s County to create a comprehensive process to inventory development opportunities around all Metrorail stations and involve community members to design appropriate station plans throughout the County. Despite these concerns, the planning board granted preliminary project approvals. WRN Pushes to Preserve D.C.’s Historic Pedestrian Environment Opinion by Cheryl Cort, WRN President While many jurisdictions talk about how to retrofit their streets to be more pleasant and safe places for pedestrians, the District of Columbia already enjoys historic streetscapes that provide appealing sidewalks for walkers But these attractive places for walkers and bicyclists are threatened by a bias in D.C. law that favors the conversion of pedestrian-oriented streetscapes into automobile-oriented environments. The automobile bias of D.C. law is allowing rapid redevelopment in some city neighborhoods to degrade pedestrian–oriented historic streetscapes with driveways and garage fronts. A curb cut and driveway (with prescribed footage) interfering with a continuous historic neighborhood sidewalk is generally allowed under current law. Only if the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, safety reviewers in the D.C. Transportation Division or an adjacent property owner objects, is the curb cut not granted. These policies are backwards – a curb cut should be permitted only after the applicant can demonstrate that degrading the pedestrian environment serves an important purpose that compensates the public for all that it will lose. The public stands to lose much from conversion of a pedestrian to an auto–oriented streetscape: (1) neighbors lose on–street parking, (2) residents and passers–by lose an attractive and historic pedestrian environment, (3) walkers and bicyclists lose safety as they must dodge cars turning on and off the street and as the buffer of on–street parking is removed by driveways. To correct this bias, WRN has requested that the D.C. Division of Transportation reconsider curb cut policies in light of the values the public stands to lose. WRN will follow up with further assistance to the agency to see that walkers and historic streetscapes get the protection they deserve. Maryland Governor Poised to Advance Purple Line Advocates of the inner Purple Line are encouraging Maryland Governor Parris N. Glendening (D) to initiate a draft Environmental Impact Study for this new rail transit line in order to qualify for federal funding through the next reauthorization of TEA-21. WRN and other groups have advocated for a mostly inside the Capital Beltway Purple Line (light rail - known as the "P6" alignment) with key stops in Bethesda, Silver Spring, Langley Park, University of Maryland, College Park, and New Carrollton, and links to Virginia, connecting to Alexandria on the south and to Tysons Corner on the north. A diverse set of groups and prominent individuals have endorsed an inner Purple Line, including – Montgomery Council President Blair G. Ewing (D-At large), WRN, the Coalition for Smarter Growth, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, CASA of Maryland, and the Action Committee for Transit. They agree that an inner circumferential light rail in the Washington D.C. region is integral to manage travel demand, improve transit service and economic development opportunities, and make communities more walkable and bikeable. These groups emphasize the importance of providing inner Beltway communities with transportation choices: giving residents an alternative to automobile ownership for access to jobs, stores, and services throughout the region. However, Montgomery county Executive Douglas M. Duncan (D), and some opponents of the Georgetown Branch Bethesda to Silver Spring rail segment endorse an outer alignment with heavy rail for the Purple Line. The University of Maryland and the cities of College Park and Takoma Park support an inner Purple Line, which would connect Bethesda, Silver Spring, Langley Park, the University of Maryland, and New Carrollton. According to the Transportation Policy Report (TPR) Task Force, the daily projected ridership for the inner Purple Line from Bethesda to New Carrollton is 52,500 (using the Georgetown Branch), and the outer line alternative from Tyson’s Corner to Wheaton is 33,400. Both the inner and outer alignments would connect with Tysons Corner. Advocates of the inner alignment claim that mixed–use development at the new rail stations would result in higher ridership while using land more efficiently. They believe that an outer alignment would induce more automobile trips without maximizing the long term benefits of economic development inside the Beltway or the full ridership potential of pedestrian and bicycle originated trips. Supporters of an inner Purple Line also emphasize the clean air benefits that could be achieved by creating convenient transit connections to suburban community centers, providing automobile alternatives, and reducing vehicle emissions to reach federal human health-based air quality standards. Planning Director for the Maryland Transit Administration Henry Kay believes the inner alignment is important to maintain Maryland’s smart growth agenda. “The kind of community development that you would get from an inner line seems to be more in keeping with the Governor's vision of where development and resources should go in the region,” he said (“In or out for Purple Line” Montgomery County Gazette, by Steven T. Dennis). Smart growth advocates support a light rail inner Purple Line as the affordable and equitable option (saving the region over $2 billion dollars, compared to the heavy rail alternative). “Transit is not just about moving people – it is also about revitalizing older communities, moving those people out of poverty,” says Prince George’s Councilmember Peter Shapiro. “It is about equity. It's about Smart Growth. I can't think of a reason in the world why we should consider an outer Beltway segment.” For more information on the Purple Line and Gov. Glendening’s Smart Growth Agenda, see Intersect v5n4 and v5n5. Download the Adobe Acrobat version of the brochure: “Get On Line–the Purple Line.” (PDF) Arlington Bicyclists Make Advances on City Streets After almost two years of study, the Arlington County board approved their first comprehensive bike plan on July 28. This plan is a part of the County’s new program to give bicycles access along its main streets, and to better connect existing bike paths in Arlington. Over the next five years, the county bicycle network will be expanded from two to 23.3 miles, for the projected cost of $250,000. These lanes will make bicycle commuting safer and encourage more people to leave their cars at home, said Rob Swennes, president of the Virginia Bicycling Federation and a member of the county's Bicycle Advisory Committee. (See “Cyclists to Get A Bigger Piece Of the Road: Arlington Board Approves Adding 21 Miles of Lanes,” August 2 in the Washington Post for more information on the specific bicycle routes to be added.) In another gain for VA bicyclists, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will be putting bike lockers at all new park and ride lots in Northern Virginia to encourage bicycle commuting. OnLine Bicycle Commuter Assistance The Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA), with a grant form the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Mobile Source Outreach Program and Arlington County, has developed an online Bicycle Commuter Assistance Page, reachable via WABA's web site. According to WABA, the Bicycle Commuter Assistance Program is an interactive bicycle commuter guide that provides detailed commuter information and maps online. It displays maps to area bike trails and shops and will eventually show the best bicycle commuter routes. The site also provides access to WABA’s volunteer bicycle mentors identified using origin and destination zip codes to give commuter advice. Smart Growth in the News A US News & World Report cover story reports that three quarters of respondents to a recent survey sponsored by Smart Growth America, “called for either improving mass transit or developing less auto–dependant communities; just 21% called for building new roads,” (May 28, 2001 US News & World Report, “American Gridlock”). The article discusses our nation's traffic congestion crisis – brought on by the expansion of suburban freeways – impacting where and how Americans live and the public's growing realization that smarter growth, transportation choices, and smarter traffic management, not more freeways, are preferred solutions. Find the story here. Donation Request WRN is looking for a small desk/table, lamps, phone, and chair to accommodate a fall intern. Contact the WRN office with any leads on donated office furniture 202/667-5445. Upcoming Events Fridays, 8:45am. Join Rock Creek Park advocates for the “Friday Morning Beach Club,” a weekly demonstration calling for improved recreational access in Rock Creek Park. Bicyclists will enter the southbound lane of Beach Drive and travel through the scenic Rock Creek Gorge, supporting the call for part-time weekday closure of portions of the road to cars. Participants will gather in a picnic grove across from the U.S. Park Police station on Beach Drive, just south of Military Road. Wednesday, August 22, 6:30pm. "A Day of Action" To Save Affordable Housing for Lower Income People sponsored by Washington Innercity Self Help. Reeves Center 2nd Floor Meeting Room, 2000 14th Street, NW. For information call WISH 202–332-8800, Linda Leaks. The D.C. Water and Sewer Authority is holding a series of public information meetings in each Ward to present its Long Term Control Plan (LTCP) to combat Combined Sewer Overflows (CSOs): Tues, August 28, 6 pm, Ward 3 - Tenley-Friendship Library, 4450 Wisconsin Ave, NW Wed, August 29, 6 pm, Ward 7 - Capitol View Library, 5001 Central Ave, SE Public Hearing: Tuesday, September 11th, 6 pm - Martin Luther King Library, 901 G St, NW For more information, please visit these sites: DC Water and Sewer Authority, Anacostia Watershed Society, Earthjustice (search for Anacostia). Contact Parisa Norouzi, the Grassroots Coordinator for the DC Environmental Network with questions: 202-783-7400 x107, pnorouzi@foe.org. Saturday, September 15, 9-4pm. The Virginia Environmental Assembly annual convention of Virginia environmental activists. The convention will feature the following breakout sessions: Land Conservation: Solutions for Conserving Virginia’s Natural Heritage, Thinking Outside the Car: Transportation and Design for Livable Communities, and Communities A Powerful Connection: Energy Pollution and Sprawl. Register by the end of August for a discounted rate, contact ellenshepard@yahoo.com. Location: Science Museum of Virginia, 2500 West Broad St., Richmond. September 23rd. A Landmark Ride Through the Nation's Capital, sponsored by the Washington Area Bicycle Association. Register by September 4th and receive a free t-shirt online. More information here. Job Listings WRN seeks an unpaid part-time Fall Intern to manage our growing contact database, update our web page, and provide outreach to regional organizations and residents. Microsoft Office, (including Access) web, and outreach experience are recommended. To apply, send cover letter, resume, and writing sample to the WRN office: staff@washingtonregion.net, 1777 Church St. NW, Washington D.C. 20036. The Washington Association of Bicycle Advocates seeks Petition Brigade volunteers to help prepare for BikeDC, Sunday, September 23. As a Petition Brigade volunteer you will be asked to knock on doors to inform people of the closures of streets in their neighborhoods on Sunday, September 23rd and invite them to ride along with us. WABA will provide you with a script for your outing as well as complimentary registrations for those that sign the petition. We also need help gathering signatures at Eastern Market on Saturday morning, August 11th from 9am until 12pm. Please contact WABA at 202.628.2500 or email waba@waba.org if you can help. Sierra Club Washington, DC office seeks Washington, D.C. Sprawl Representative. Send questions to Senior WDC Director and Environmental Quality Team Leader- Ed.Hopkins@sierraclub.org, More information. STPP seeks a Director of Federal Policy to direct its federal policy program. This also includes participating in the management of a new program, the New Directions Initiative (NDI), designed to substantially expand its coalition to include new partners within the public, private and non-profit sectors, and to mobilize this broad coalition in support of transportation policy reform at the federal level. The position will remain open until filled. However, interested applicants are encouraged to submit resumes immediately. No phone inquiries please. Learn more about the position. Community Harvest, seeks a Program Development Director to expand urban farm, farmers market and education programs. Qualified candidates will have an understanding of sustainable agriculture and food access/nutrition issues, and experience in: staff development, program planning, community organizing, coalition building, fundraising and have strong writing and computer skills. $32 - $36 k/year. Good Benefits. Please fax or email resume to (202) 667-9202 or communityharvest@mindspring.com. Rails to Trails Conservancy seeks Editorial Assistant for their magazine and communication department. Inquiries should be sent to rtckaren@transact.org. *Support Intersect, Join WRN* This newsletter is a free service to those interested in creating more livable communities. Please help WRN continue to report on these issues; join WRN and support Intersect. WRN welcomes all donations but a basic membership is $35 for individuals and $200 for organizations. WRN would like to thank the following for their recent contributions: Cheryl Cort, John D. Harcketts, and Ronald Eichner, Allan Borut, Richard Rybeck, Doug Siglin, Michael Replogle, Alfred Steele, Michael Replogle, Bill Mosley, Joseph Passonneau, and Michael Gewirz. WRN thanks outgoing Board of Directors member Michael Gewirz for his many contributions; his involvement on the board for his two year term of service is greatly appreciated.

	Washington Regional Network for Livable Communities 1777 Church Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20036 Phone: (202) 667-5445 ¨ Fax: (202) 667-4491 Email: staff@washingtonregion.net



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