Crosswalks: Smart Growth in Real Places

I want to interrupt the infrastructure podcast series and provide facts in response to recent misleading statements about the County having approval authority for projects within the Town limits. References: Maryland Manual On-Line - Local Government/Municipalities La Plata, Maryland - Code of Ordinances

This is the next podcast in the series about growth in and adjacent to La Plata, and its impact on our infrastructure. It’s important to understand all the planning and work behind the scenes to maintain, operate and expand the Town’s infrastructure. The water is there when you turn the faucet and the toilet flushes.   The first in this series, La Plata Development, was posted on July 6.   This wa...

This is the next podcast in the series about growth in and adjacent to La Plata, and its impact on our infrastructure.   The first in this series, La Plata Development, was posted on July 6.   Subsequent podcasts will talk about La Plata’s infrastructure (water, sewer, stormwater management), and ongoing actions to improve and expand these services.    The source of these podcasts is La Plata’s Di...

This is the first of a series of podcasts about the growth in and adjacent to La Plata. I want to provide information on how La Plata is responding to this growth and my individual perspective as a Town Council member and professional planner.  Podcast Links: Feb 5, 2023– Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance Continued  Jan 17, 2023- Annexations – My perspectives  January 11, 2023 – APFO  December...

There are many concerns and criticisms about the growth and building in and adjacent to La Plata.   In response, I am preparing a series of podcasts beginning with La Plata Development Revisited - an update about development projects in the Town. My June 13 podcast, La Plata Planning Department’s 2022 Annual Report, provides context about recent development trends.   This will then be followed by...

This is a summary of La Plata’s Planning Department’s 2022 Annual Report, required annually by the Maryland Department of Planning. This was reviewed and approved by the Town Planning Commission at their June 6, 2022, meeting.   This report is available from the La Plata Planning Department Website - https://townoflaplata.org/index.asp? SEC=5AA8D8E3-4091-4775-A098-3942F5984801&Type=B_BASIC Ref...

In this episode, I review the second year of my 4-year term, elected on May 10, 2021. My term ends in May 2025.   Please know that I am one of five (5) Council members, and I will differentiate our accomplishments as a Town Council, versus my individual activities.   Shortly after I was sworn in on May 10, 2021. I wrote my goals for my 4- year term, based on the specific goals and actions from the...

As a planning concept, the goal tries to help people to get around without need of a car.    A recent article ( The 15-Minute City, Deconstructed, March 8, 2023 ) talks about what a 15-minute city is and what it includes.  “It's measure is simply this: how far can you walk or bike in 15 minutes? So, the 15-Minute City of one of your neighbors a couple blocks away is slightly different from yo...

Each year the Maryland Department of Transporation (MDOT) prepares its Consolidated Transportation Plan (CTP), Maryland's six-year capital budget for transportation projects and programs across all MDOT agencies, including the State Highway Administration (SHA), Mass Transit Administration (MTA), all affecting La Plata. The current CTP is for FY 23 through FY 28.   La Plata, in coordination w...

Here is an update of recent Town Council actions:   Fiscal Year (FY )24 Budget Prep:     February 20, 2023, Town Council Budget Retreat  Planning Department : Development Capacity Study  Draft Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO Planning Commission January 3, 2023 Planning Commission January 18, 2023  Wills Park improvement plans are underway, including an amphitheater, and trails, with a c...

This is a follow-up to my earlier APFP podcast on January 11, 2023.   The Town Planning Commission started the APFO discussion at their January 3, 2023, meeting, followed by a special work session on January 18, 2023.   I attended online or watched the YouTube video of both meetings. I also provided my comments and observations to the Planning Commission Chair, through email on January 6 and Janua...

This is what the Army calls an After-Action Review of the recent (3) annexations (Villages at Rosewick, The HUB, and Hawthorne Yards) eventually approved by the Town Council . This review is my opinion as one member of the 5-member Town Council. I believe reviewing and seeing how we can improve the process is important. Maryland Municipal League (MML) Annexation Handbook Videos: Hawthorne Yards Th...

The La Plata Planning Commission, at their January 3, 2023, meeting, discussed an initial draft of an  Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO). Town Planning Commission January 3, 2023 Meeting Agenda   Town Planning Commission January 3, 2023, recorded video Rationale for Smart Growth Fiscal Impact Analysis and Model Impact Assessment Ordinance 

This is a follow-up to my last podcast, posted December 7, Annexations – My Vote and Why - my NO vote in opposition to The HUB and Hawthorne Yards annexations, approved at the November 22, 2022, Town Council meeting, by a 3-1 vote.  The HUB,  TDX, Master Site Development Plan:  Town Zoning Ordinance Section 191-11 – Site plans and master site development plan.  https://library.municode.com/md/la_p...

At the November 22, 2022, Town Council meeting, I voted in opposition (NO) for both The HUB (+- 1,500 units) and the Hawthorne Yards Annexations (148 SF and 48 TH units).   I believe both annexations ARE NOT CONSISTENT with the Town Comp Plan Goals.  Previous videos: The HUB Annexation Hawthorne Yards   

This episode highlights information and issues from recent Town Council meetings, since August 2022.   Agricopia - Our community mourns the tragic loss of life from Friday's event. Our thoughts, prayers, and condolences to the family. Our thanks to the first responders. We attended a candlelight vigil on Sunday, November 6 at the community.  Steeplechase -What Happened La Plata's Strateg...

There is a lot of discussion, questions, and concerns about growth in La Plata. At the same time, comments and criticisms have been made that La Plata’s growth has and is contributing to the lack of water and school overcrowding.   The purpose of this episode is to provide some facts and context about this growth and criticism. La Plata Develoment Video

Reference: Blue Zone 

This episode is about the PC/TC Joint October 4, 2022, Joint Meeting - An update on transportation Projects, Initiatives to implement the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, Goal 16 – Continue to make La Plata a very walkable community.  Ocotober 4, 2022 Meeting Agenda - https://laplata.civicweb.net/Portal/MeetingInformation.aspx? Org=Cal&Id=2554 YouTube Town of La Plata  Video October 4, 2022 Radio St...

This episode is a summary of the Town Council’s September 27, 2020, Meeting and the results of the Steeplechase Amended Master Site Development Plan public hearing.   The video of this meeting is available on the Town of La Plata YouTube channel (https://youtu.be/3rQjkfBlz3E.) The Steeplechase public hearing starts at minute 38:25.   Closing Public Hearing - Time 1:53-35 Town of La Plata YouTube m...

Sources: What is Traffic Calming? What is Complete Street and why?! Radio Station Road Pathway Project

This episode is a summary of the Town Council Strategic Plan, adopted at our August 23, 2022, Business Meeting. 

In this episode, in response to recent resident comments about the Town Council’s lack of community outreach and engagement, I provide comments and perspective as one of five Council members. I don’t speak for the Mayor and Council, and they don’t speak for me. La Plata Planning Department links: Development Updates Development Review  Maryland Open Meetings Act  Town of La Plata YouTube

This episode is a follow-up to recent Town Council/Planning Commission public hearing comments,  to provide additional information including:   More about Smart Growth   La Plata Planning Commission education requirements   La Plata Planning Commission/Town Council responsibilities   What is Smart Growth?   - Smart Growth Online: https://smartgrowth.org/what-is-smart-growth/?fbclid=IwAR0leief_dL1-...

This episode is about two Town Council annexation public hearings – May 24th, The HUB, and July 18th for the Hawthorne Yards annexation request, and the August 3 Planning Commission public hearing about an amendment to the Steeplechase Master Site Development Plan. Previous podcasts about growth and development: Annexations – May 15 Strong Towns – A New Thinking About La Plata’s Growth – May 22  L...