The Coalition for Smarter Growth supports Bill 22-22E, which would limit rent increases to 4.4 percent for six months, and strongly urges you to develop and implement a long-term policy that protects tenants without hindering the construction of new housing. We also associate ourselves with the testimony of the Montgomery Housing Alliance, of which we are a member.
Author: Elena Sorokina
CSG News: It’s up to us
Rally with us for safe streets in Fairfax, help shape Ward 3, join the smart growth debate in Montgomery County, and more!
RELEASE: Groups challenge bloated $75.7B NOVA transportation plan
Officials release bloated $75.7B transportation plan for NoVA is unlikely to “solve congestion”. Needed – a new approach: A plan that improves access to opportunity, reduces driving, saves families money, and fights climate change.
COMMENTS re: Draft 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP)
Thank you for the opportunity to provide input on the Draft 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for the Baltimore region. The TIP can be simply described as the list of regional transportation projects using federal funds over the next four years. However, we believe it is important to look at this document not simply as a collection of individual projects, but as a program that reflects our region’s transportation priorities.
Important public meeting and rally for safer streets in Baileys Crossroads
CSG and CASA’s joint efforts have prompted an important public meeting next week! VDOT, in collaboration with Fairfax DOT and Supervisor Penny Gross, will hold a meeting to hear community requests for potential safety improvements for Route 7 in the Culmore neighborhood of Bailey’s Crossroads.
Exciting news for Chevy Chase DC!
Thanks to all those who took action and voiced support for creating a more inclusive, diverse, sustainable, and vibrant Chevy Chase DC. On July 12th, the DC Council voted unanimously to adopt the Chevy Chase Small Area Plan.
Do you want to build an accessory apartment? We’ll help you talk to an architect!
Have you been thinking about building an accessory apartment in your home or backyard? If so, take the next step and talk to a professional who knows a lot about how these projects are designed and built. Fill out this form to connect you with an experienced architect, Ileana Schinder, to discuss an accessory dwelling project for your property in a 15-30 minute phone call at no-cost.
Yes! Sign me up to talk to an architect about my ADU idea for my property!
You don’t need to have all the details worked out, Ileana can help you refine the how and why. If you are a DC homeowner, just fill out the form to schedule a meeting, and talk through your idea and see if you might be ready to start.
In other DC ADU news:
We’re making a few updates to the DC ADU manual because some details about the zoning rules have changed. Specifically, those rules are:
- Accessory building (like a backyard cottage) height is now permitted to be 22 feet rather than 20 feet.
- Accessory buildings must be set back 7.5 feet from the alley centerline, rather than 12 feet.
- Clarifies an accessory building, which is allowed in the backyard, cannot be located in the required rear yard without a special exception.
You can view these changes on the ADU manual webpage here. Keep watch for additional possible changes — we are pushing to make it easier to build an ADU!
In addition, be on the lookout for an announcement from the District government, which is launching an ADU assistance program, details TBA. We are excited to keep the momentum going to help homeowners build accessory apartments!
This education effort is co-sponsored by United Planning Organization and Coalition for Smarter Growth.
Register for our Diverse Neighborhoods webinar, on July 27!
Join us to learn about how the right policies and investments can allow neighborhoods to grow in a way that support racial and economic diversity. The DC region is one of the most diverse places in the country, but remains largely segregated. We’ll talk about the latest research, the policy implications, and why it matters to yo
All About Thrive #4: A county with more housing options
Today we’re covering what Thrive 2050 says about “missing middle” housing. This is the fourth installment in our “All About Thrive” email series.
RELEASE re SGA’s Dangerous by Design report
“The Coalition for Smarter Growth urges every official in the DC region, Maryland, and Virginia, to read this report and to make safety for pedestrians and bicyclists on our streets a top priority,” said Stewart Schwartz, Executive Director.