Support good parking and zoning policy next week

Parking

Support good parking and zoning policy next week

by David Alpert • November 30, 2012 12:44 pm

The District's zoning update and an effort to fix parking policy could have some of the most far-reaching effects on land use and transportation of any government initiatives in many years. That is, assuming enough residents show up to support small but impactful progress against the entrenched opposition to change.

If you live in DC, please come to one or more meetings in the upcoming weeks. If you live in Maryland, there are some events for you too. Virginians, send in events so we have them on the calendar!

Zoning update community meetings: The Office of Planning is holding one meeting in each ward in December and January to present plans to make DC's 1958 zoning code easier to understand, while also better accommodating accessory dwellings, corner stores, and not overbuilding parking.

The 3 December meetings are Saturday, 12/8 from 10 am-noon at 1100 4th St. SW (Waterfront Metro); Tuesday, 12/11 from 6:30-8:30 pm at 421 7th St. NW (Gallery Place or Archives); and Thursday, 12/13 from 6-8 pm at Savoy Elementary, 2400 Shannon Pl. SE (Anacostia Metro).

If you go to one public event this year, please go to one of these. Sign Pro-DC's petition to show your support and receive updates about the meetings.

Parking summit (Tue. 12/4, 6-8:30 pm at 441 4th St NW): DDOT will present the results of their parking town halls, online chat here on Greater Greater Washington, and electronic survey.

Please come and voice your support for sensible parking reforms, such as performance parking, day passes for visitors for a fee, smaller RPP zones and more. The summit will be on the 1st floor of 4414 4th Street, NW (One Judiciary Square) in the 1st floor Old Council Chamber.

Discover Long Branch and the Flower Theatre (Mon. 12/3, 6-9 pm at El Golfo Restaurant): Dan Reed has been working hard to find ways to bring back the Flower Theatre in Silver Spring's Long Branch neighborhood, including a community charrette and report.

Now, they're trying to reach out to more of the community and make people more aware of Long Branch, its businesses, the theater, and the potential in the area. The first "Discover Long Branch" event is Monday at El Golfo Restaurant, 8739 Flower Avenue. Attendees can sample great Latino food, meet a local business owner, and talk with Dan and other supporters of the Flower Theatre project.

Getting transit-oriented development right (Wed. 12/5, 6:30-8:30 pm in New Carrollton): The Coalition for Smarter Growth, the most influential smart growth organization in the DC region, set up a panel discussion on how to make TOD work.

CSG Executive Director Stewart Schwartz, new WMATA planning head Shyam Kannan, and Maryland planning deputy director Chuck Boyd will speak on the panel, with opening remarks by County Councilmember Mel Franklin. Learn how the county can turn its fortunes around and bring development to its Metro stations.

Two-way New Jersey Avenue public meeting (Wed. 12/5, 6-8 pm at Bible Way Temple, 1100 New Jersey Ave. NW): DDOT has plans to change New Jersey Avenue into a 2-way neighborhood street with bike lanes. Project representatives will talk to the community about the plans and answer questions.

Know of a good event for Greater Greater Washington readers that's not listed here? Post it in the comments!

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Tags: DC, DDOT, events, Long Branch, Maryland, Montgomery, New Jersey Avenue, parking, Prince George's, Silver Spring, zoning, zoning update

In the real world: Montgomery BRT, Flower Theatre, Lion Ride, Northeast rail, McMillan sand, and activism training (Aug 3, 2012)
On the calendar: Kojo in McLean, Bloomingdale parking, Prince George's development, Anacostia streetcars (Mar 22, 2011)
Introducing the Flower Theatre Project (Sep 21, 2012)
In the real world: Zoning update hearing, citizen planners, Dupont/Logan bike safety, parking, and gentrification (Sep 26, 2012)
On the calendar: Livability, bus service, and streetcars (Apr 8, 2011)

David Alpert is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Greater Greater Washington and Greater Greater Education. He worked as a Product Manager for Google for six years and has lived in the Boston, San Francisco, and New York metro areas in addition to Washington, DC. He loves the area which is, in many ways, greater than those others, and wants to see it become even greater.