The dumbing down of Smart Growth will fail to preserve MD landscape
If you’re not yet worried about Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan’s abandonment of Smart Growth, you might want to read a new study on how Dumb Growth could cost Frederick County […] The post The dumbing down...
View ArticleCatoctin Group of the Sierra Club sponsors The John Muir Scholarship for...
The John Muir Scholarship was created to support Frederick County students who wish to pursue a conservation or environmental field of study. We believe there is nothing more important than […] The...
View ArticleTo fight global climate change, fight global sprawl
The drive-through lifestyle, exported by America and adopted worldwide, is the “operating system for growth” that is a root cause of rising carbon emissions. A few years back I conducted […] The post...
View ArticlePotomac Conservancy asks you to take action to support Frederick’s forests!
Dear Friend, County Executive Gardner is working to protect Frederick’s forests. Will you help get Frederick’s Forest Resource Ordinance (FRO) back on track? Your local waterways, including the...
View Article25 great ideas of the New Urbanism
The New Urbanism is a design movement toward complete, compact, connected communities—but it is also a generator of ideas that transform the landscape. Communities are shaped by the movement and […]...
View ArticleFrederick County Sustainability Commission accepting nominations for 2018...
The Frederick County Sustainability Commission is announcing its fiscal year 2018 Sustainability Awards program to recognize individuals and organizations in Frederick County that have made an...
View ArticleThank you for making our Envision Autumn 2017 event a great success!
On Wednesday evening, November 15th, Envision Frederick County held its third annual Envision fundraising dinner event at ThorpeWood — Envision Autumn 2017 — with special guest speaker Tamara Toles...
View ArticlePlaces that Pay: Benefits of Placemaking v2
“Reconciliation is making peace with reality, our ideals, and the gap in between,” via Her Honour, Janice C. Filmon, Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba. Much of our work here at PlaceMakers […] The post...
View ArticleCounty Council: Please demand a better Bikeways and Trails Plan!
Back in 1999 I was part of a citizens group that worked with Frederick County government to create a Bikeways and Trails Plan. The plan, nearly a year in the […] The post County Council: Please demand...
View ArticleMissing Middle Housing Close Up: Bungalow Courts
As experts in Missing Middle Housing types, we’ve closely documented lots of examples of the Missing Middle and explored the world of carriage houses. This time, we’re looking at a […] The post Missing...
View ArticleTell the Frederick County Council: Fix the Forest Resource Ordinance!
Trees are critical for clean water. And currently, under Frederick County law, developers can clear dozens of acres of forest on a site without re-planting a single tree. As a […] The post Tell the...
View ArticleSmarter Growth Alliance of Frederick County: Letter of support for County...
Please read this letter from the Smarter Growth Alliance of Frederick County, expressing strong support for County Executive Jan Gardner’s proposed amendments (Bill 17-17) to the county’s Forest...
View ArticleThe 5 Immutable Laws of Affordable Housing
Affordable housing has become something of a buzzword (or two words) in urban circles over the last few decades. In fact, a veritable movement has arisen in cities with high […] The post The 5...
View ArticleThree meetings next week regarding the Livable Frederick Master Plan
For those who are interested in the planning of the future of Frederick County, next week there will be three meetings of note regarding the Livable Frederick comprehensive planning process, […] The...
View ArticleWilderness connected: The case for an Eastern “wildway”
Healthy waters are dependent on healthy land. Healthy land is dependent on big, healthy forests. And healthy forests, in turn, depend not only on sun and rain and fertile soil, […] The post Wilderness...
View ArticleOnce they start composting, people find other ways to be “green”
With new city program, residents increased energy, water conservation COLUMBUS, Ohio – Composting food scraps can prompt people to make other earth-friendly choices, new research has found. When one...
View ArticleSmarter Growth Alliance of Frederick County: Letter of opposition to MXD bill
Please read this letter from the Smarter Growth Alliance of Frederick County, expressing strong opposition to Council President Bud Otis’ bill (Bill No. 17-21) to “amend the Zoning Ordinance to […] The...
View ArticleCounty Executive Jan Gardner on proposed MXD bill (public hearing Tuesday)
On Tuesday evening (January 16th), there will be a public hearing about an ill-advised and controversial bill that would add large Warehouse Distribution Centers to what is allowed in the […] The post...
View ArticleFive Livable Frederick Master Plan outreach meetings scheduled
For everyone interested in the future of Frederick County, county residents will have a number of opportunity to learn about, ask about and discuss the draft Livable Frederick Master Plan […] The post...
View ArticleWe consistently ask the wrong questions about transit investment
“Public transit wastes my money.” “If public transit is so great, shouldn’t ticket sales cover the cost?” “Why should I pay for a bus I’ll never take?” Read the comments […] The post We consistently...
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