The University Boulevard Corridor Plan contains recommendations to make streets safer for people walking, biking, and rolling, expand housing options, and improve public transit.
Help us get the word out on University Boulevard! The Council has a critical work session tomorrow and votes in early December. Can you contact the Council today—or share our alert and resource page with a friend who lives in the plan area?
Where does the plan stand now?
The University Boulevard Corridor Plan received a positive recommendation with amendments by the Planning, Housing, and Parks (PHP) committee on November 10 by a vote of 2-1. Councilmembers Andrew Friedson and Natali Fani-Gonzalez voted in favor of the plan, while Council Vice President Will Jawando voted against it.
The full Council will hold a worksession on the plan tomorrow, November 18. Even though they will vote in early December, critical decisions are being made now.
What are the key recommendations of the plan?
While we are disappointed about some of the amendments recommended in committee, there are still many opportunities to support safer streets and expanded housing choices in the plan.
Housing and Zoning
Commercial corridors served by transit, like University Boulevard, are some of the best places we can support equity and opportunity by adding more diverse, affordable housing types.
We strongly support the recommendations in the Planning Board Draft to allow more compact, missing middle housing options on around 520 single-family-zoned lots in the plan area, as well as to upzone several existing institutional properties to allow for a greater height and density.
The PHP committee has voted 2-1 to amend the plan to only apply zoning changes to support missing middle housing on lots directly on University Boulevard—reducing the covered lots from about 520 in the Planning Board draft to about 170 lots. Councilmember Jawando was the sole vote against, and does not support any changes to residential zoning—i.e., from 520 to zero lots.
During public hearings and plan engagement, many residents expressed interest in expanding housing options to support loved ones, to allow people to downsize, and to provide greater affordability and inclusion in their neighborhoods. Weigh in to encourage the Council to allow more housing options in this plan area, and oppose further restrictions and reductions in potential housing. In particular, we would like to ensure heights of at least 60 feet on the corridor to allow for medium height multi-family housing.
Safe Streets for All
We strongly support recommendations to create a well-connected bike network; expand micromobility and bikeshare options; and widen and buffer sidewalks.
Where the plan most strongly needs your support for safer streets is pedestrian improvements in Four Corners, next to Blair High School.
The PHP committee voted 3-0 to support Option C, converting a vehicle travel lane through Four Corners to support a wide, well-buffered sidepath consistent with Complete Streets design guidance. This option would not provide a dedicated bus lane through Four Corners, but could be completed sooner in one implementation phase without property takings for ROW expansion.
However, district Councilmember Kristin Mink opposes converting a travel lane for pedestrian safety improvements—even though analysis commissioned by the County found that converting a lane would add a maximum of eleven secondsto driving times at peak travel times.
Contact the Council to support people over cars at Four Corners and demand meaningful, Complete Streets-compliant safety improvements.
Connected Street Grids
Connected local street grids can help create a great mixed use, walkable environment and reduce driving demand by increasing walking and biking. However, the PHP committee voted to remove recommendations to consider long-term improved street grid connections. They did recommend, at a minimum, to provide ped/bike connectivity through paved pedestrian trails in the neighborhoods to the south and west of University Boulevard without a connected street grid.
We support these ped/bike connections, but we also urge the Council to reinstate the street grid recommendations, which can be achieved gradually through redevelopment of larger parcels.
We believe that better things are possible
Better things—like safer streets, and more affordable and inclusive housing options for people of all ages—are possible in this plan area. But achieving these things will require action—and we need you to speak up now!
If you, like us over at CSG, believe in positive change for this plan area, the time is now to contact the County Council.
What is your vision for your community? How would safer streets change the way that you and your family navigate the area? What would it mean to you to have more affordable and inclusive housing options?
Tell the Council: we can’t miss this chance for positive change. Please weigh in and encourage those you know in the plan area to call on the Council to support the University Boulevard Corridor Plan, and make this community a more walkable, affordable, and inclusive place.
Image credit: Carrie Kisicki