Events roundup: Time to testify

Speak out on DC’s proposed zoning update, learn about streetcars in DC and Bus Rapid Transit in Montgomery County, and envision a new Franklin Park at events around the region.

Testify on DC’s zoning rewrite: It’s finally here. After many years of delays, push back, and changes, DC’s Zoning Commission will begin considering the first update to the city’s zoning code since 1958 in a series of public hearings over the next two weeks. The first hearing is tonight, with additional hearings to follow Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week.

Each hearing will be about one or more topics in the code, including housing, commercial uses, and parking. The hearings will be held at the Office of Zoning, 441 4th Street NW on Judiciary Square. Each hearing will start at 6 pm and continue until all the witnesses are heard or the Zoning Commission decides to recess.

The key hearing dates are Wednesday, November 6 on accessory apartments, Thursday, November 7 on corner stores, and Tuesday, November 19 on parking minimums.

Transit reporters talk politics: How will Smart Growth issues affect the 2014 elections in DC and Maryland? The Action Committee for Transit will host a panel discussion on transit and the election with the Washington Post’s Robert Thomson, also known as “Dr. Gridlock,” Ari Ashe from WTOP, and Josh Kurtz from the blog Center Maryland. Kyjta Weir, former Examiner reporter and current reporter for the Center for Public Integrity, will moderate.

This free meeting will be Tuesday, November 12 from 7:30 to 9pm at the Silver Spring Civic Building, located at the corner of Ellsworth Drive and Fenton Street in downtown Silver Spring. For more information, visit ACT’s website.

Learn about BRT on Route 29: Do you live, work, or travel along Route 29 in Montgomery County, also known as Colesville Road and Columbia Pike? Join the Coalition for Smarter Growth, Communities for Transit, and other local organizations hosting an educational event about Bus Rapid Transit for residents and business owners along 29 between Silver Spring and Burtonsville. Speakers will include Montgomery County Planning Board member Casey Anderson, county planner Larry Cole, and Chuck Lattuca, BRT system manager at the Montgomery County Department of Transportation.

With 17,000 projected riders by 2040, a BRT line along 29 is an important part of Montgomery’s rapid transit network. The event will take place on Wednesday, November 13 from 6 to 9pm at the White Oak Community Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane in Silver Spring. Click here to RSVP or for more information.

And talk about the north-south streetcar line: The District Department of Transportation will kick off its study of a north-south streetcar line with four open houses this week. Planners will decide specific routes for the streetcar and whether it should go to Takoma or Silver Spring.

The first meeting is tonight from 6:30 to 8:30pm at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 600 M Street SW. Tomorrow from 6:30 to 8:30pm and Wednesday from 2 to 4pm, there will be open houses at the Reeves Center, 2000 14th Street NW. And on Thursday, there will be a meeting from 6:30 to 8:30pm at Emery Recreation Center, 5701 Georgia Avenue NW. For more information, visit the streetcar study website.

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Talk about how to spend Virginia’s transportation money: Virginia’s newly-passed transportation funding bill means new money for projects in Fairfax County. How should the county spend it? County officials are holding a series of dialogues to learn what residents want and find the best ways to get them moving.

They’re holding a meeting tonight from 6:30 to 8:30pm at Falls Church High School, located at 7521 Jaguar Trail, with meetings to follow in Fairfax and Reston. For more information, visit the Fairfax County website.

Restart Franklin Park: DC, the National Park Service and the Downtown Business Improvement District will discuss the future of Franklin Park at a meeting Thursday night. The three organizations will study ways to renovate the park to make it more active and safe. The meeting will happen from 6 to 8:30pm at Four Points by Sheraton, 1201 K Street NW. For more information, visit the event’s website.

Envision Tenleytown’s future: On Saturday, Ward3Vision will discuss issues affecting Tenleytown and ways to improve the neighborhood at a workshop at American University. Organizers hope to bring together residents of Tenleytown and surrounding neighborhoods to share their hopes and dreams for the neighborhood. The event will happen from 9am to 12:30pm at Nebraska Hall, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW. Click here for more information and to RSVP.