Thanks to your advocacy, we’re celebrating more wins for smart growth in our region! Embrace August’s opportunities to make a difference — such as becoming a Smart Growth Watchdog! — to drive even more positive change. And don’t miss our Popsicles in the Park meet-up with partners WABA and CCAN!
Author: Elena Sorokina
CSG in the News: Supporters and opponents make their case on county’s off-street parking overhaul
Sonya Breehey, Northern Virginia advocacy manager for the Coalition for Smarter Growth, said the proposal will benefit housing and climate.
“The proposed zoning amendment offers to better balance future parking demand with other communities like equity, affordability, environmental sustainability and effective land use,” she said.
Take action: Tell VDOT to prioritize walkable, transit-friendly communities in its climate strategy
Your feedback is critical to ensure that VDOT prioritizes fostering walkable, transit-friendly communities connected by clean, convenient intercity rail and bus systems rather than continuing to pave over Virginia and making communities more car-dependent and less safe to walk and bike.
TAKE ACTION: We need a fairer property tax system that captures the value of public investment while rewarding private investment.
The District is assessing how to better align its tax policy with the city’s values and shifting economic base. This is a great opportunity to propose to the DC Tax Revision Commission a property tax approach that rewards private investment (in buildings), and returns value created by public investments (like Metro stations, better streets).
CSG in the News: Parking reimagined as a fix for housing, climate woes in Fairfax County
Now, “there are vast acres upon acres of paved-over surfaces that are wholly underutilized,” Breehey said. “This is an opportunity to sort of fix the wrongs of the past as we try to create a different future for the county.”
Thank you for stepping up to help win a better Takoma Metro station
CSG spent over 20 years tracking, reviewing, and weighing in on the various iterations of this important transit-oriented mixed-use housing development, which faced unrelenting opposition. Thank you for joining us in this campaign – your advocacy helped it get over the finish line!
Event Materials: “Where and how should Prince George’s grow?” with Peter Shapiro
Thank you for joining us on Tuesday, July 18 for a conversation with Planning Board Chair Peter Shapiro on where and how Prince George’s County should grow. We had a great turnout and a robust discussion.
CSG in the News: Opinion: Wider roads fail and the public knows this
“CSG’s Induced Demand fact sheet for local, regional, and state officials – released today – makes clear the failures of road expansion,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth.
TAKE ACTION: Speak up for smarter parking policies in the county
Fairfax County is looking to reduce its minimum parking requirements to better address other community needs like housing, better transit, biking and walking, and environmental sustainability. We need you to speak up in support of smarter parking policies in Fairfax!
CODE RED: A Call to Action for the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
With the approach of your annual retreat this week in Cambridge, Maryland, our 41 organizations in Maryland, DC, and Virginia call on you to take urgent action to address the great challenges of our times – climate change, housing, racial and economic inequity, sprawl and unsustainable transportation policies.