A lemonade stand on the WO&D Trail in Vienna, Virginia by Joe Flood licensed under Creative Commons.

Vienna will require developers to protect trees, expand canopy

On April 29, the Vienna Town Council passed a new ordinance that will require anyone building on properties of at least 2,500 square feet to cover 10 to 25% of the property with tree shade. Developers who don’t meet this requirement can contribute to a newly established Tree Preservation and Planting Fund. The ordinance will go into effect on July 29.  (Angela Woolsey / FFXNow)  

Unaffordable housing may be leading to out-migration in Washington region

Since 2013, Americans have moved out of the Washington region at a faster rate than they’ve moved in. The region’s population growth is due to births and immigration. According to local business and housing leaders, the lack of housing affordable to workers disincentivizes both people and businesses from locating in the region. (This article is behind a paywall. Disclosure: Elise Panko, a member the GGWash board of directors, works at the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing).  (Dan Brendel / Business Journal)  

Prince George’s County partners with locally based national nonprofit to build more playgrounds

Prince George’s County’s Department of Parks and Recreation is partnering with Kaboom, a Bethesda-based nonprofit, to build playgrounds in the county. So far, the partnership has produced 10 playgrounds, including in Capitol Heights, Riverdale, Chillum, and Fort Washington. The partnership will last a minimum of five years.  (John Domen / WTOP)  

Amtrak pushes to take over Union Station retail leases June 1; current leaseholder pushes back

Amtrak hopes to take over retail leases as soon as June 1 after a federal judge ruled on April 17 that Amtrak had acted properly when it sought to acquire the lease for Union Station through eminent domain. Rexmark, the current leaseholder, claims they need until early September for an orderly transfer. Representatives from Rexmark and Amtrak will meet on May 9 to discuss the station’s operations. (This article is behind a paywall).  (Daniel Sernovitz / Business Journal)  

NOAA publishes map detailing the possible impact of rising sea levels in Alexandria

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration published maps detailing how sea level rise will affect cities in Virginia. If sea levels rise on par with what climate experts predict, most of the Old Town Alexandria Waterfront, three blocks of King Street, Jones Point Park, Four Mile Run Park, and Daingerfield Island may be submerged by 2100.  (Vernon Miles / ALXNow)  

Virginia among states increasingly scrutinizing data center deals in face of major electricity needs

Virginia has the world’s largest concentration of data centers, but state lawmakers are increasingly scrutinizing their extreme impact on the electrical grid. According to Dominion Energy, the largest electricity provider in Virginia, the data centers in the state used energy equal to 1.5 times the total capacity of the North Anna nuclear plant — enough to power close to 600,000 homes.  (Kevin Hardy / InsideNoVa)  

MCDOT invites children to participate in “Bike and Roll to School Day” on May 8

The annual event, organized by the Montgomery County Department of Transportation, has been held since 2016 to bring awareness to pedestrian and bicycle safety.   (Tommy Tucker / Montgomery Community Media)  

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