Posts tagged Zoning Update
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Early draft of parking zoning rules reduces some minimums (but not enough)
Over five meetings of the Parking and Loading working group, citizens gave their input on how much DC’s zoning code should require parking lots or garages in new development, where parking can be located on a lot, how many trees parking lots need, what bike parking is mandatory, and more. And last week, the Office of Planning released a draft of the new rules which they’ve… Keep reading…
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Legalize Georgetown
I love DC’s rowhouse neighborhoods. I love the many buildings on a block with interesting colors and shapes. I love the neighborhood feel of the corner store. I love seeing people out walking their dogs, biking to work, or doing shopping. I’d like to preserve the neighborhoods that have this, and build new neighborhoods that have it too. Keep reading…
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Zoning Update may restrict long storefronts and blank walls
Today is the third meeting of the Retail Strategy zoning update group. I can’t make it, but I really like two of the proposals they will be discussing: a frontage limit for stores, and a limit on blank walls facing the street in retail space. Keep reading…
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Zoning Review discusses retail
Wednesday’s Zoning Review meeting on Retail Strategy discussed the good and the bad of retail. The previous meeting’s notes included a line that the Cleveland Park overlay may not be serving the community well. This brought out several overlay defenders including George Idelson, president of the CP Citizens Association, who argued that the overlay works very… 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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How to encourage retail?
This afternoon is the second meeting of the Retail Strategy group of the DC Zoning Update. This group is discussing how zoning codes can encourage retail in DC, including where retail is allowed, and how to encourage smaller retailers as well as large. Keep reading…
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DC & Rockville residents: get involved in local planning!
There are a lot of good meetings happening this week in DC and Rockville around local planning, from encouraging the arts and retail through DC’s zoning to improving Rockville Pike. I highly encourage all of you, readers, to attend these meetings in your city or neighborhood. Many of them, especially the DC Zoning Update and the Pike planning, are significant opportunities… Keep reading…
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Parking review part 3: Forces against fixing parking
Previously in parking-land, I summarized last week’s parking zoning review meeting wherein the group reached a surprising (to me) level of consensus on when to remove minimums and institute maximums in the parking zoning code. Other than residents who don’t believe we can effectively manage spillover parking, what obstacles remain to a better approach to parking? Keep reading…
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Parking review part 2: But for spillover, we all agree
In my earlier parking post, I concluded with this key slide from the Nelson\Nygaard presentation that kicked off the zoning review process (at right). The minimums in the zoning code operate on the premise that since some people will drive and park, we need to provide parking. If we don’t, they’ll park on the street, interfering with residents. Therefore, we must require… Keep reading…
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Parking review part 1: Parking choices matter
Which kind of city do we want DC to be in the future? Left: 27th and O in Georgetown. Right: 7th and O in Shaw. Driving-oriented versus pedestrian-oriented streets. Source: Nelson\Nygaard presentation Our parking policy decisions decide which city we will be. Keep reading…