Now open for public comment, a proposed rewrite to the county's zoning code embraces green buildings, lower parking minimums, and increased public engagement by developers.
Taking a favorable view toward the Maryland county's proposed zoning ordinance, "The current zoning ordinance is more than 50 years old [...] In the past several decades, piecemeal updates and amendments to the code have been made to address specific issues or specific areas. The result is a 1,200-page, overly complex code with varying processes, inconsistent standards, regulations within regulations, and a non-intuitive structure."
The new code would require increased attention to green building standards. It would also reduce parking minimums, and even eliminate them for projects next to Metrorail stations.
Another stipulation "would require developers of large projects to meet with members of the public and inform them of their development plans even before an application is submitted to the Planning Department."
"The proposed ordinance is still a draft and has not yet been adopted by the County Council, nor endorsed by the Prince George's County Planning Board. Both the Council and the Prince George's County Planning Department are soliciting comments and suggestions from the public until mid-December."
FULL STORY: Prince George’s zoning code rewrite could make the county greener and less car-dependent
No More Parking Minimums in Hartford
Earlier this month, the Hartford Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously on a revised zoning code that lets builders forgo parking citywide.
Spokane Could Eliminate Parking Minimums Near Transit
A Washington state proposal to reduce parking minimums failed in the state legislature earlier this year.
How Zoning Affects Greenhouse Gas Emissions
As the urgency of the climate crisis increases, a paper in the Notre Dame Law Review argues that increased density is not a universally effective strategy to reduce emissions and that different strategies are needed for low-carbon places versus high-carbon ones.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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