Crosswalks: Smart Growth in Real Places

This is the first in a series of episodes about the housing shortage in Maryland, and La Plata/Charles County.  This first episode provides Maryland housing information, from Municipal League’s (MML) August 1, 2024, Housing Symposium. The second episode will provide Charles County housing data and needs.  YouTube Video Turning the Key: Unlocking Maryland’s Potential Maryland Municipal Leagues Hous...

Hi and welcome again to this latest episode of La Plata Ward 4 Update Podcast.    This is David Jenkins, La Plata Town Council member from Ward 4 and your host for this podcast and videos, now available on YouTube, and YouTube Music. This episode is about speed and traffic, and the continuing deaths on our highways. First, facts from a US perspective, then Maryland, and finally Charles County show...

This episode is a further discussion/follow-up from my June 27th podcast – Event Attendance – Lesson Learned about how Westminster Maryland was proactive in obtaining a sustainable water supply. References: YouTube Video link County-Town of La Plata Water Supply Agreement February 2022 Securing Sustainable Water for the Future, Westminster, Maryland, June 2024   House Bill 1378 Task Force on Washi...

 I  recently attended two conferences that have important lessons learned for La Plata – Maryland Municipal League annual summer conference in June, and the 2024 Maryland Smart Growth (SG) Conference (May)  References: Maryland Municipal League  - Securing Sustainable Water for the Future, presented by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the City of Westminster, Maryland (2020 pop...

The recently adopted fiscal year (FY) 2025 budget, (starts July 1, 2024, ends June 30, 2025) was a tumultuous process.   I want to provide my views on this process - specifically the Town’s outreach and community engagement/reactions.   My Asks: This is YOUR town, your neighborhood - get engaged, ask questions, attend meetings – in person, online, or watch later on the La Plata YouTube channel. I...

In this episode, I review the third year of my 4-year term, elected May 10, 2021. My term ends in May 2025.   Please know that I am one of five (5) Council members, and differentiate our accomplishments as a Town Council, versus my activities.   References: La Plata Bikeway  Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) Development Capacity Analysis What is Complete Streets and Why?!  Fiscal Year (F...

This is an update to my February 6, 2024, podcast – FY 25 Budget Process My Ask:   Review the draft FY 2024   Attend our Council meetings – in person, virtually (Microsoft Teams), or watch on YouTube. Links are in the Notes.   Email me at djenkins@townoflaplata.org with your questions and comments.   Thanks again for listening and for your interest and engagement with your Town!   Town Council Mee...

Hi and welcome again to this latest episode of La Plata Ward 4 Update Podcast.   This is David Jenkins, La Plata Town Council member from Ward 4 and your host for this podcast, and my companion La Plata Ward 4 Video Update on YouTube.  A pause to update you about recent Council meetings/ activities, and related issues. References:  Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 Budget Process  Polls says Marylanders want...

There are many concerns and comments about growth in La Plata and Charles County, including if recent construction on MD 488 in the town or the county. This is outside the Town boundary, beyond and further east of Kings Grant. This construction is the last St. Charles neighborhoods – Piney Reach and Wooded Glen. The St. Charles Master Plan link is provided.  This episode is a comparison of develop...

 This episode is a follow-up to my podcast, La Plata’s Infrastructure – Water, posted in July 2023. That provided background and detailed information about the Town’s water supply system and current status.   The intent here is to provide facts and context in response to myths and rumors about La Plata’s ability to provide water to existing and new developments.  La Plata Ward 4 Video Update - Dev...

Consistent with the Town’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan GOAL #16: Continue to make La Plata a very walkable community (Page 16), The Town of La Plata was awarded two grants for the construction of the La Plata Bikeway running from Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School on Willow Lane, along MD 6 Charles Street, adjacent to the Agricopia subdivision, adjacent to MD 488, to Radio Station Road to Laurel Spr...

This is the first of a series of podcast episodes following the development of the Town’s FY 2025 budget. FY 25 year starts July 1, 2024, and ends June 30, 2025.   The process started with a Town Council Budget Work Session, on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.   The January 30, 2024, session outcomes were  Understanding of the Town’s current financial standing  The long-term budget outlook for the Town ...

  I have talked about fiscal impacts from development in a previous Oct 22, 2023, podcast The Need for Fiscal Analysis, and La Plata Ward 4 Video Update, Fiscal Impact Analysis Examples, February 2023.   I want to talk about this again, given the ongoing development of Pinegrove, which includes two commercial/office development areas, both located on the north side of Roswick Road. One site is 22...

  In this episode, I want to talk about my hopes for what Pinegrove can be. See my previous two videos on La Plata Ward 4 Video Update on YouTube, the first dated March 14, 2022, an overview of the project, followed by Pinegrove Update, December 3, 2023, a summary of construction to date.     The following discussion is based on the developer’s approved Master Site Development Plan (MSDP) and atta...

T his is David Jenkins, La Plata Town Council member from Ward 4 and your host for this podcast and the companion La Plata Ward 4 Video Update on YouTube.  This episode is about recent Town staff and Council actions.   I hope all enjoyed the Christmas season and look forward to 2024!   Welcome to David Winkler, new Ward 1 Council member, who took office on November 28, 2023, to complete the term o...

The source of this episode is a podcast called Go Cultivate! , produced by Verdunity, consultants in community planning, civil engineering, and engagement. This August 2023 podcast focuses on their work in Texas and around the country with observations about suburban growth and its consequences. La Plata and Charles County are experiencing this growth now, so I believe it's a relevant and imp...

Hi and welcome again to this latest episode of La Plata Ward 4 Update Podcast.   This is David Jenkins, La Plata Town Council member from Ward 4 and your host for this podcast and the companion La Plata Ward 4 Video Update on YouTube.   I want to talk about the Navy Facility in Indian  Head and its implications for La Plata. At the November 14, 2023, County Commissioner meeting, representatives fr...

Over the years, La Plata has developed many plans and studies/analysis to improve the downtown and adjacent areas. Selected policies and action items are highlighted from  the  studies. With all these plans, what progress has been made? What else can or should the Town do?   My view: Some progress has been made, due to re-building from the tornado – La Grange Avenue, Centennial Street extension to...

La Plata’s development pattern does not generate enough revenue/taxes to pay for services and infrastructure. There’s a gap between tax revenues needed to provide Town services and amenities, and the actual maintenance and other costs to pay for these services now and in the future, as town growth continues.   There is a need to be fiscally sustainable so that service costs align with what citizen...

This is podcast number 50!  WOW – hard to believe!   So, I will do a modified AAR - what went right, what went wrong, and how to improve my podcast review of my podcast.  I used this process during my Army career (38 years, USA, MD/VA NG). I will modify this and discuss What Went Right and How to improve.   Email your know your comments and ideas to djenkins@townoflaplata.org. Thanks! La Plata War...

As you know I have been a member of Strong Towns for several years. I’ve talked about Strong Towns on this podcast, the most recent posted August 24, 2023 – Strong Towns – Local Conversations, The Next Step, and the first Strong Towns – New Thinking about La Plata’s Growth posted May 22, 2022.   Please again note that the views expressed here are mine and do not represent the view of the Town.   T...

This is another podcast about the Town’s infrastructure, what they do, and their future planning.  This episode is about public safety - the La Plata Police Department, a critical component of any community.   The source of this podcast is from the Police Chief and their 2022 accreditation report by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).   A reminder that at the Town...

This episode is about the Town Planning Commission and Ex parte communications. The Town Council representative to the Planning Commission is Councilwoman Bryant-Ward, Ward 3.   Source:  Planning Ethics & Ex Parte Communications, Maryland Planning Commission Association (MPCA) Conference, November 7, 2019, Presentation by: Robert McCord, Esq. Secretary, Maryland Department of Planning; Town Pl...

This is a follow-up to my August 13, 2022, podcast – Strong Towns – A New Thinking About La Plata’s Growth. This update is timely, given the continued development in and adjacent to La Plata during the past year.   Full disclosure: I’ve been a Strong Town member for two years, following their blog and podcasts. Strong Town provides what I believe is a needed nuanced perspective about growth!    Al...

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.   The Town’s water system followed this, posted on July 17, followed by the sewer system on July 26,    The source of these podcasts is La Plata’s Director of Operations, and the staff, who operate these servi...