Posts tagged Virginia
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Non-conforming goats
An Arlington homeowner bought two goats to serve as pets and as cleaner, quieter lawnmowers. Only problem is, goats are not allowed by zoning. BeyondDC asks why goats are necessarily worse than dogs or motorized lawnmowers. Maybe there are other public health reasons, but we also have many zoning laws without a compelling basis. Keep reading…
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Two sets of obstacles for Tysons
The Washington Post has an overview of Tysons redevelopment plans and the controversies that are coming. Critics from the urbanist side of things are concerned that keeping Routes 7 and 123 as wide highways instead of “urban boulevards” and running Metro aboveground will create barriers between sections and compromise the potential for an urban feel of the area. Anti-development… Keep reading…
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Weekend walking roundup
Walking: so crazy it’s almost illegal: A group of Alabama students is responding to high gas prices by walking to school. Their courage is even more notable because parade rules almost made their actions illegal and their town lacks sidewalks. Keep reading…
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Arlington rental proposal brings out immigrant phobia
Arlington is considering a proposal to allow homeowners to make rental units like basement apartments in their homes. It’s already legal in DC, as well as Montgomery and Fairfax. Today’s Post reports that many citizens are fighting the proposal, concerned that it will bring undesirable immigrants into Arlington. Keep reading…
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Tweaked Rosslyn station on Metro 2030 map
Jim Hamre of WMATA pointed out that Metro’s current thinking on the separate Blue Line is that it would have to run one block west of the current Rosslyn station, to a new set of platforms connected by an underground walkway. I had hoped that the new tracks could pass right next to the old ones enabling a cross-platform transfer (after all, Rosslyn already has the two tracks on separate… Keep reading…
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VA wants more rail, needs money
Virginia communities are vying to get one more daily commuter train to Washington, reports the Post. Amtrak is willing to run another train from Lynchburg to Union Station via Charlottesville, Culpeper and Manassas, or from Newport News via Williamsburg and Richmond. Unfortunately, Virginia only has money for one or the other. Keep reading…
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Fairfax, PG worst for pedestrian safety
The Coalition for Smarter Growth crunched the numbers on car crashes that hit pedestrians, the percentage of crashes that are fatal to the pedestrian, and the rate compared to the total numbers of pedestrians on the road. Keep reading…
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Get involved this week in PG Co., Arlington, DC
It’s the first week of the month and that means lots and lots of great opportunities to speak up in local government! Keep reading…
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Alexandria gets a “trolley”
The first time I went to Old Town Alexandria, I thought, “there needs to be a trolley along King Street from the Metro to the waterfront.” Well, now there is. Sorta. It’s really a bus dressed up as a trolley, which DC Metrocentric sneers at but I think has merit: a dinging trolley probably would be more appealing to visitors who shop at the high-end boutiques and chain… Keep reading…
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Arlington looking to legalize accessory dwellings
Accessory dwellings are rentable units inside another home, like a basement apartment or an upper floor with a separate entrance. These are common in DC, but illegal in Arlington. What’s Up Arlington reports an intiative underway to change this law. Keep reading…