Do Something: The Week of August 19, 2024

Each week, Regional Policy Director Dan Reed and District of Columbia Policy Director Alex Baca will present you with an action you can take in the near future that has the potential—sometimes big, sometimes small—to increase housing in our region, reduce driving, make it all safer, and not hurt people in the process. This week: an endorsement of sorts from Michelle Obama; support for more affordable housing in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties; and a look ahead to Arlington.

If you have any questions, please send an email [email protected] about Maryland and Virginia Do Somethings, and [email protected] about Washington, DC, Do Somethings — or whatever you want to talk about.

The Obamas’ appearance at the Democratic National Convention left me in a raised-eyebrow emoji state of disbelief: Barack said “build more units,” and Michelle had the crowd yelling “do something,” expressions so relevant to this old blog that it seems worth mentioning that it, you know, happened.

That said, while I have a lot to do this week (I’m starting to draft our recommendations for candidates running for Advisory Neighborhood Commission seats who have requested ballot access in the November general election), there’s not much to do. You There are things to do, at least at the local level. Seriously, the zoning commission is taking a break in August, the council is on vacation, and you might as well lounge around a bit. I encourage you, however, to make reading the candidates’ responses to our questionnaire part of your end-of-summer scroll. All responses that were submitted by the August 11, 2024 deadline are available here. —A B

Montgomery County

We’re back from the beach, and guess what? I was ready to come back, feeling refreshed, hopeful, and having made some big breakthroughs while on the coast. My dog, not to be left out, came back to Maryland with an ear infection from rolling in the sand every morning, requiring a vet visit and ear drops twice a day. I’m looking forward to settling into the rhythm of fall, and it’s going to be a busy time. We’ll be focusing on affordable housing strategies, Montgomery County’s ongoing effort to reduce its skyrocketing housing costs by legalizing more types of homes in more neighborhoods, like duplexes, townhouses, and small apartment buildings.

People I spoke to, including advocates, county staff and council members, are cautiously optimistic about the AHS, suggesting the county council has the votes to pass it. something in the coming months. It is less clear whether they will follow through on the Planning Commission’s recommendation to allow two, three and in some cases four homes per lot on a swath of the county stretching from Chevy Chase to Germantown, where today only one can be built.

Although opponents protested on message boards and listservs, three-quarters of the speakers at a six-hour planning board meeting this spring were in favor of the project. Planning staff has developed helpful explanations to address concerns community members have already raised about allowing more housing in existing neighborhoods, such as school capacity, on-street parking and tree canopy coverage.

This fall, the County Council and the Department of Planning will hold six “listening sessions,” five in person and one online, for residents to provide input. Only after those meetings will the council present a full zoning bill. This means they need to hear from residents who want a real solution to the housing shortage and rising costs.

If you have a few hours: Sign up to participate in a listening session. We’ll then provide you with some talking points, but in the meantime, here’s the schedule:

Wednesday September 11: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center (1315 Apple Avenue, Silver Spring)
Thursday September 12: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wheaton Community Recreation Center (11701 Georgia Avenue, Wheaton)
Tuesday September 17: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., White Oak Community Recreation Center (1700 April Lane, Silver Spring)
Monday September 23: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Germantown Community Recreation Center (18905 Kingsview Road, Germantown)
Wednesday September 25: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Service Center (4805 Edgemoor Lane, Bethesda) If you are planning to attend the GGWash Fall Mixerwhich takes place on the same day from 5pm to 9pm, both events are within walking distance of the Red Line, meaning you can still do both!
Wednesday October 2: 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Virtual

I always want to be careful when asking you to go somewhere and speak in public, given the hostile nature of these meetings. can That said, I strongly encourage you to participate in a listening session, especially if you live near White Oak or Germantown, two areas where public participation is often lower than in other parts of the county.—DR

Prince George’s County

Meanwhile, Prince George’s officials are taking a different approach to reforming single-family zoning. Instead of doing it countywide, they are considering a single neighborhood called Queens Chapel Manor, a 1940s community of bungalows, duplexes and townhomes located between the West Hyattsville and Prince George’s Plaza subway stations. County planners describe it as “one of the best examples of the Missing Middle integrated housing types in Prince George’s County” and are recommending rezoning just that neighborhood to allow up to three homes per lot instead of one.

This fall, the County Council and Planning Board will consider a comprehensive vision for the area, called the West Hyattsville/Queens Chapel Sector Plan, which also includes strategies to make it easier to walk and bike, invest in parks and support small businesses. They will hold a public hearing Tuesday October 1st at the county administration building in Largo. Registration is not yet open, but if you own a home in the Queens Chapel Manor neighborhood, bounded by Ager Road, Queens Chapel Road and the Green Line tracks, you will need to let the county know you want to speak Friday August 30.

Why? Under a 2014 state law, Prince George’s County property owners who support rezoning their property to allow more must notify the county 30 days before a hearing, whether they asked for it or not. You will need to fill out a form, which the county mailed to property owners, disclosing any money you gave to county council members or prior communications you had with them about the rezoning proposal.

There’s an ongoing fight over how much influence county council members should have over land-use decisions, as it has led to some unsavory behavior in the past. It’s one thing if you’re Amazon seeking a zoning change to build a fulfillment center in a residential neighborhood, but it seems odd to treat a resident who wants to add a basement apartment (which would be allowed under the proposed rezoning) the same way. Still, if the area plan passes, it could be a much-needed win for housing in Prince George’s County, especially after council members unsuccessfully tried to ban new townhouses last year.—DR

Arlington County

Where do you see yourself in 25 years? Would it be in Arlington? The county is midway through a yearlong effort called Arlington 2050, which asks residents what their community should look like in the future. County officials will turn that feedback into two or three “distinct visions of the future,” which in turn will shape the county’s long-range planning.

This may sound vague, but if you ask me, it’s much more effective to ask people what they want up front. very beginning of a decision-making process rather than coming back to them 10 years later, after a bunch of decisions have been made, and inviting them to a community meeting to discuss something really specific – how wide this proposed bike lane should be, for example – which, to the layperson, might seem like it came out of nowhere.

So, if you have a few minutes: Fill out this “Postcard from the Future” with four simple questions, Monday September 30The county also has a list of events (including one with a barbecue truck!!!) where you can do this in person.—DR

Your support for GGWash allows Dan and Alex to do our work. Our job is to learn how development and planning work in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. If it’s appropriate to take action to advance our goals, which we hope you’ll share, we can let you know what will have the most impact and how to do it right. You can make a financial contribution to GGWash hereAnd if you’d like to see Do Something in your inbox, scroll down and sign up for our daily emails.

Top image: Photo from the Democratic National Convention, image by Dan Reed.

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