Posts by Bryan Barnett-Woods — Contributor
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Prince George’s County wants you to know what’s coming to the neighborhood
To some Prince George's residents, it can seem like decisions that affect the neighborhood are made in a black box. A new provision in the county's ongoing zoning update could help address this. Keep reading…
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Zoning laws are frequently abused. Here’s what they’re supposed to do.
Unfortunately, since zoning is ubiquitous throughout the development process, elected officials often try to use zoning legislation to coax developers in a different direction and to address community complaints — regardless of whether it's really the best mechanism to do so. Keep reading…
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Zoning can do a lot, but it can’t do it all
Some communities try to use zoning to force a specific type of business to be built in the neighborhood or to prevent too many people from moving in. Zoning laws can be a powerful way to shape neighborhoods — which means they're often abused. Keep reading…
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Prince George’s County wants greener development
Including green building standards in the ordinance will help ensure that new development in Prince George’s will meet a minimum level of environmental friendliness. This in turn will help protect natural resources, reduce emissions, and generally support better health for everyone in the county. Keep reading…
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Prince George’s County now requires too much parking, but that could soon change
As Prince George's County overhauls its zoning code, they also have the opportunity to enact more forward-thinking parking regulations. You can weigh in on the proposal now! Keep reading…
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Prince George’s County proposes better mixed-use zoning
Prince George's new zoning code is could try a different approach by allowing commercial buildings by-right in multi-family residential areas. This allows for organic mixed use growth, as opposed to the “do everything at once approach” that is not working now. Keep reading…
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Prince George’s County eyes new laws for transit-oriented development
A proposed zoning change in Prince George's county would concentrate growth in regional transit districts, which are vibrant, dense, mixed-use, and transit-oriented neighborhoods. Keep reading…
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Prince George’s zoning code rewrite could make the county greener and less car-dependent
Zoning impacts everyone, down to the most local level–that's why Prince George's County's comprehensive rewrite of their 1,200-page, overly complex code is such a big deal. Keep reading…
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Why don’t all state roads in Maryland have sidewalks?
Many state roads in Maryland don’t have any sidewalks. At best, that means they’re a hostile or unsafe place to walk. At worst, you may not be able to walk there at all. Why aren’t there more sidewalks? The state is legally obligated to build and maintain roads but not sidewalks, so they’re often patchy at best. Keep reading…
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Not all trails are created equal. Here’s how to tell the gold standard from the imitators
Trails are a huge part of ensuring that walking and riding a bike are among a person's transportation options. But when it comes to building them across our region's many jurisdictions, whether or not they’re safe and inviting can really vary. A set of criteria like those in this post could change that. Keep reading…