a f r a m e w o r k f o r a c t i o ... - montgomery planning a r k a n d p l a n n i n g c o m m i...

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A F R A M E W O R K F O R A C T I O N

M O N T G O M E R Y C O U N T Y P L A N N I N G D E P A R T M E N T

in cooperation with M O N T G O M E R Y C O U N T Y D E P A R T M E N T O F E N V I R O N M E N T A L P R O T E C T I O N

T H E M A R Y L A N D - N A T I O N A L C A P I T A LP A R K A N D P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N

Healthy and Sustainable Communities

SEPTEMBER 2008

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T H E M A R Y L A N D- N A T I O N A L C A P I T A L P A R K A N D P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N

8787 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

www.MontgomeryPlanning.org



SEPTEMBER 2008

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T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S

E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y 6

Goals and Indicators • CleanAirandClimateProtection 8• CleanWater 10• GreenEconomy 12• GreenInfrastructure 14• SmartCommunities 16

K E Y T E R M S Goal

Aconditionofwell-beingforpeopleandcommunitiesstatedinsimplelanguage.Goalscanbeeasilyunderstoodbypolicymakers,voters,andtaxpayers.

WhyIsThisImportant?

Abriefbackgroundofthesubjectofthegoalandwhywechoseit.

What Do People Think?

Thisisalistofrootcausesthatstakeholdersandstaffthinkhavethegreatestinfluence,positiveandnegative,onthetrendlinesoftheindicators.Thesearenotnecessarilythoroughlyresearched,documentedorprioritized;however,thegeneralperceptionisthatdealingwiththesefactorswillhaveaneffectonthetrendoftheindicator.

What Can We Do?

Thesearetheactionsandpolicyoptionsthatworkbesttochangeoracceleratethecurveofanindicator’strendlineinthedesireddirection.Eachitemshouldbethefocusofpolicymakersandotherstakeholdersseekingtoinfluencetherootcauses.Somewillbemoresuitedtogovernmentactionandotherstovoluntaryorbusinessventures.Workingtogetherascommunitymembers,businessleaders,policymakers,andgovernmentagencies,wewillbebetterabletoreachourgoals.

Indicators

Indicatorsmeasureoureffectivenessinmeetingourgoals.Forexample,thenumberofdayswhentheCountyexperiencespoorairqualityisameasureofcleanairorthepercentofdevelopmentneartransitisameasureofsmartcommunities.Withenoughdataoveralongenoughperiodoftime,trendlinesdevelopthatindicatehoweffectiveouractionsareinreachingthegoal.

Foreachgoal,wechoseindicatorsthatareeffectiveandmeaningful.

• Doesthisindicatorcommunicatetodifferentaudiences?

• Doesthisindicatorsaysomethingimportantaboutthegoal?Doesitreflecttheeffectofouractions?Canit actasarepresentativeofotherdata?

• Isthereconsistentandreliabledataforthisindicatorthroughtime?Datamustalsobeavailableatthe relevantscale—regional,county,orneighborhood.

Other Potential Indicators

Theseareindicatorswithstrongcommunicationandproxypower,butthereisnoavailabledata.Theycanbeincludedovertimeasdataandfundsareavailable.

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E X E C U T I V E S U M M A R Y

ThisreportistheresultofacooperativeeffortbetweentheMontgomeryCountyPlanningBoardandtheMontgomeryCountyExecutivetodevelopanenvironmentalpolicyframeworkofgoals,actions,andindicatorsthatmeasureourprogresstowardhealthyandsustainablecommunities.Thisinitiativewillhelppolicymakersandcommunitymembersjudgehowtheirpolicies,programs,andindividualactionscontributetoachievingenvironmentalgoalsandwillguidethedevelopmentofspecificfutureplansonawidevarietyofenvironmentalandenergyissues.Thereport’smenuofissuesandapproachesareastartingpointforfutureplans.Theindicatorswillhelpdeterminehowsuccessfultheseeffortsareovertime.

Asustainablecommunitymeetstheneedsofthepresentwithoutcompromisingthepotentialoffuturegenerations.ThismeanspreservingandrestoringourlocalenvironmentandreducingourimpactonregionalairqualityandtheChesapeakeBay.EnvironmentaljusticeisanoverarchinggoalsinceallpeopleintheCountyshouldbenefitequallyfromenvironmentalprotectionandhealthycommunitiesregardlessofrace,incomeorsocialclass.Weaimtoreduceourcarbonfootprintwhileweraisethequalityoflifeandplace,measuringoursuccessaswego.

Ultimately,thesuccessofthisinitiativewillbedeterminedbythecommunity’sactions—localgovernment,citizens,businesses,andinterestgroups.Tosupportthecommunityindevelopingeffectivestrategiesforbothcollectiveandindividualactions,thisreportpresents:

• proposedenvironmentalgoals• correspondingindicatorswithwhichtomeasureourprogresstowardthosegoals• suggestedactionsthatwillhelpustoreachthegoals.

B A C K G R O U N D

Whenadoptingthe2007GrowthPolicy,theCountyCouncilaskedthePlanningBoardtoworkwiththeExecutiveandthepublicto“developasetofsustainablequalityoflifeindicatorsthataddressissuesofenvironment,socialequityandeconomy.Theseindicatorsmustbesuitabletoguidelanduseandotherpublicpolicydecision-making,includingcapitalprogramminganddesignofpublicfacilities.”

TheCouncilrequestedthataninitialsetofindicatorsbepreparedtoinformthe2009GrowthPolicy.TheyalsoaskedthatwedevelopaconceptualenvironmentalpolicyframeworkthatcouldguideplanningeffortssuchastheClimateProtectionPlan,theWaterResourcesPlan,andtheGreenInfrastructurePlan.

TheCountyExecutiveistakingtheleadondevelopingindicatorsformostaspectsofsocialequityandeconomy(includingtransportationandaffordablehousing),sothisreportfocusesontheenvironmentandlanduseplanningassociatedwiththeExecutive’sHealthyandSustainableCommunitiesinitiative. A F O C U S O N R E S U L T S

Attheheartofthisinitiativeandreportisafocusonresults,reflectedinthisprinciple:

Decisionmakingshouldstartwithclearlydefined,measurableendsandworkbackwards,transparently,systematically,andwithdata,todeterminehowtoachievethem.

Thisprincipleunderliesthereport,whichineachsectionstartswithagoalandprovidesaframeworkforworkingtowardthatgoalusingdatasystematicallytodeterminethemeans—thestrategyoractions—forachievingthegoal.

TheindicatorsinthisreportareshapedbyconversationsheldattheJune2008workshopandcontributedonline at http://mcparkandplanning.org/environment/sustainable.Independentexpertsandcommunitystakeholdersbroughtthebestcurrentthinkingaboutsustainabilityintolivelydiscussions.

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F O L L O W T H R O U G H

Thiseffortwillonlysucceediflocalgovernment,citizens,businesses,andinterestgroupskeepthegoalsofsustainabilityintheforefront.Workingincoordinationwithregional,state,andfederalefforts,wewillfulfillthepromiseofasustainableenvironmentthatimprovessocialequityandboostsoureconomy.

Theeffectofgrowthonourenvironmentandinourcommunitiesisaconstantthemeofthisdialogue.However,werecommendabsolutereductionsintotalcarbonemissionsandpollutantdischargesonacomprehensive,notjustonapercapitabasis.Discussionsofthebestplaceforregionalgrowtharebeyondthescopeofthiseffort,butgrowthwillremainakeyfactorinsustainability.

Thisreportisthefirststeptowarddevelopingsustainabilitygoalslocalpolicy-makerscanstrivetoward—andmeasuretheirprogressinachieving.WerecommendthatprogressontheseindicatorsberevisitedeverytwoyearsatthebeginningoftheGrowthPolicyreviewprocess.

Throughouttheremainderof2008andinto2009,theBoardandtheCountyExecutivewillexamineourdraftstrategiesandpreparespecificactionsandpolicieswecanadopttoaccomplishourgoals.Healthindicators,suchasobesityrates,willbepreparedby theCountyExecutivewiththeHealthandHumanServicesDepartment.TheSustainabilityWorkingGroup,establishedbyCountylaw,willhelpmakerecommendations,particularlyaspartoftheClimateProtectionPlan.AnotherimportantstepwillbetointegratethesegoalsintotheGeneralPlanforMontgomeryCounty.ThePlanningBoardwillbeginthateffortthisfall.

C O N C L U S I O N

Lookingattheindicators,itisobviousthatMontgomeryCountyhasmadesubstantialprogressinmanyareas,butwearestillfarfromachievingourgoals.Wewillallneedtoredoubleoureffortstoprovidehealthyandsustainablecommunitiesforfuturegenerations.

Aswetookourideastothecommunity,severalcommonthemesemerged.Everyoneemphasizedtheimportanceofoutreachandeducation,oflisteningandteaching.Itisclearthatcoordinatingimportantmessagesandlisteningtoallpeoplewholive,work,andplayintheCountyisessentialinfindingthemostefficientandeffectivewaysofachievinghealthyandsustainablecommunities.

Planningandfosteringcommunitieswherepeoplecanlivewithoutcarsorreducetheirautousewasseenasessentialtocreatingsmartcommunitieswithcleanairandwater.Likewise,preservingtreecanopyindevelopedcommunities,plantingmoretrees,andcreatingnetworksofforests,streamsandfieldswerementionedinmanycontexts.

Newdevelopmentofmorecompact,mixed-usecommunitiesandinstitutionswillhelptoaddresssomeoftheseneeds,butoldersuburbanareasposeabiggerchallenge.Wemustfocusgreatereffortsonmakingourexistingcommunitiesmoresustainable,livable,andaffordable,whilebuildingbettercommunitiesforthefuture.

ThisreportwillbefurtherenrichedasdiscussionscontinuewiththePlanningBoard,Executivedepartments,stakeholdersandtheCountyCouncil.Theindicatorsinthisreportserveasastartingpoint.Moreinvestigationanddiscussionisneededtorefinethemanddevelopthedatasourcesnecessaryfortheadditionalindicators.Thisactivitywilltakeplaceoverthenextyearastheseindicatorsaretestedingrowthpolicyandbudgetdiscussions.

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N A T U R A L G A S U S E

E L E C T R I C I T Y U S E

C L E A N A I R A N D C L I M A T E P R O T E C T I O N

Goal:AirQuality: Protectandimproveairqualitytomeetfederalstandards.

Goal: ClimateProtection:Stopincreasinggreenhousegasemissionsby2010andreducethemby80percentof2005levelsby2050. Why Is This Important?

Airqualityhasdirectpublichealthimpactsandairpollutantscontributetoglobalwarming.

TheCleanAirActestablishesstandardsthatidentifypollutantsconsideredharmfultopublichealthandtheenvironment.TheWashington,D.C.region,includingMontgomeryCounty,doesn’tmeetthestandardsforground-levelozoneandparticulatematter.Bothofthesepollutantsaffectbreathing,especiallyinchildrenandothersensitivegroups.TheMetropolitanWashingtonCouncilofGovernmentscoordinatesregionalairqualityefforts,includingdeclaringOzoneActionDays(CodeOrangeandRed)whentheregion’sozonelevelexceedsthestandardsandputpeoplewithdifficultybreathingatrisk.Whilemeasuredozonelevelshavedeclined,thestandardsfordeclaringOzoneActionDayshavebeentightened,resultinginmoreviolations.Astheeffectofgroundlevelozoneonhumanhealthisstudiedandupdated,federalstandardsforCodeRedorOrangedayschange.Ourindicatorskeeppacewithandreflectthosechanges.

Greenhousegassessuchascarbondioxideandmethanecontributetoglobalwarming.Accordingtostudies,thelevelofseveralmajorgreenhousegases(GHG)intheatmospherehaveincreasedbyabout25percentsincelarge-scaleindustrializationbeganinthemid-1800s.InMontgomeryCounty,greenhousesgasescomeprimarilyfromman-madesources,includingtransportation,electricityproduction,industrialactivities,buildingenergyuse(includingelectricity),solidwastemanagement,andagriculture.Naturalsourcesincludelivestockanddecomposingorganicmatter.


- Onlyasmallpercentageofcommercialandresidential buildingsareenergyefficient.- Noteveryoneisawareoftheimportantrelationship betweenenergyuseandairquality.- Peopleprefertheconvenienceandcomfortofautosto publictransit.+ Emissionstandardsformostvehiclescontinuetobe strengthened.- Residentialandcommercialelectricityconsumptionhas increasedby25percentsince1995,whilepopulation hasincreasedonlyby19percent.- Overhalfofourenergycomesfromcoal-firedplantsin neighboringstates.Thepollutionfromtheseplants contributestoourcarbonfootprintandunhealthyair quality.- Lawnequipmentandothercombustionenginescontribute asignificantamountofemissions.- Pollutionfrommanysmallactivitiessuchasgasoline servicestations,smallpaintshops,andconsumeruseof solventsaregrowinganddifficulttocontrol.

I N D I C A T O R S :

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What Can We Do?

• Encouragethelocationofhousing,employment, andshoppingneareachotherandinareasservedby transitfacilities.• Updatethebuildingcodetoreflectthelateststandards forenergyefficiency.• Provideincentivesforconsumersandbusinessestouse andgeneraterenewableenergy.• Plantmoretreesandretainexistingforest.• Developwindpowerandotheralternativeenergies.• Developanincentiveprogramforenergyproducersto reduceemissions.• Participateina“capandtrade”programthat establishesanemissionslimitandissuesallowances toeachcompanythatrequiresanemissionspermit. Allowancesmaybetradedamongcompanies,solong asthelimitisnotexceeded.• Increasetheproportionofrenewableenergyaspartof Countyoperations.• Conductbroadbasedpubliceducation,including throughtheschoolsystemandretailers.• Promoteenergyauditingtohelppeoplelowertheir energyuse.• Improvepublictransitoptionsandreducecoststo riders.• Promotethedevelopmentoffacilitiesthatencourage cycling,walking,andtheuseoftransitandotherhigh- occupancyvehicles.• Encourageresidentstoreducethenumberoftrips takenperdaybycar.• Recommendenergyconservationpracticesduring masterplanningandthereviewofpublicandprivate projects.


• Percentageofelectricityandnaturalgasusebysector, source,andincomelevel• Percentageofrenewableenergyused(e.g.corn,solar power,wind)• Energyefficiencyofbuildings

Montgomery County emitted more than 12 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere in 2004 — an amount greater than the sum of Bolivia and Nicaragua combined.


G R E E N H O U S E G A S E M I S S I O N S

V E H I C L E M I L E S T R A V E L E D

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0.115

0.125

0.095

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0.105

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m)

1988 1993 1998 2003

*Measure used by EPA to judge compliance with the Clean Air Act

0.115

0.125

0.095

0.085

0.075

0.105

Desig

n Valu

e (Pp

m)

1988 1993 1998 2003

*Measure used by EPA to judge compliance with the Clean Air Act

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C L E A N W A T E R

Goal: Clean Water

ProtectandimproveCountywaterresourcesanddrinkingwater.ReducedamagetostreamecologyandreducetheamountofpollutantsthatflowintotheChesapeakeBay.

Why Is This Important?

Morethan15millionpeoplelivewithintheChesapeakeBaywatershed,thenation’slargestinlandestuary.Forcenturies,ithassupportedboththepeopleandthewildlifethatliveinorbyitswaters.However,thehealthoftheChesapeakeBayisincreasinglycompromisedbyrunoffanddevelopment.Crabpopulationsarecrashingandoystershavebeenatlowlevelsforyears.

AllofMontgomeryCounty’srunoffflowstotheChesapeakeBay.Inrecentyears,theCountyhasspentmillionstoreduceitsdischargetotheBay.Whilewe’vereducedtheCounty’sshareofpollutantstotheBay,asindicatedbynitrogen,sediment,andphosphoruslevels,weremainalongwayfromachievingthegoalswehaveset.High-qualitystreamshelpmaintainfishpopulations,reducefloodinganderosion,providerecreation,andprotectourwatersupply.Butevenwithsomeofthemostadvancedstormwatermanagementrequirementsinthecountry,landdevelopmentstressesourstreams.RedevelopingolderareasoftheCountywillupgradestormwatermanagementtoourcurrenthighstandards,willmakeuseofexistinginfrastructure,andwillimprovestreamqualitywhileaccommodatinghomesandbusinessesasMontgomeryCountygrows.


- Stormwatermanagementpracticesareimproving,butstilldon’t entirelyeliminatepollution.+ Areasdevelopedwithoutstormwatermanagementarebeing redevelopedornewstormwatercontrolprojectsarebeingbuilt.- Impervioussurfaceslimitnaturalstormwaterfiltering,increasing pollutantsflowingintosteams.- Pastpatternsofsprawldevelopmenthaveusedlargeareasof land.- Somenaturalresourcesareprotected,however,resourceloss anddamagecontinues.+ National/state/localstandardsforstormwatermanagementand pollutantloadsinstreamsarebeingtightened.+ Increasingpublicawarenessandeducationaremodifying behavior(suchasexcessivelawnfertilization,dumpingofoil, etc.)thatharmsourstreamsandtheBay.- Agriculturalactivitiesandresidentiallandscapingpractices contributenutrientstostreamsandtheBay.

What Can We Do?

• Providesupport,resources,andeducationforcitizens,farmers, developersandthemedia.• Limitsprawlbyencouragingredevelopmentandcompact development.• Increaseforestandwetlandareas,forestedstreamandwetland buffers,andurbantreecanopycover.• Reducewetlandlossduetolandusechangesthatcutoffwater supplies.• Facilitatesustainableagriculturalandresidentiallandscaping practices.

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* EPA Bay Program estimates from land use model

Montgomery County has one of the strongest water quality protection programs in the country and yet 500 of our 1,200 miles of streams are rated in fair or poor condition.


• Actualcountsoffishandotherspecieslivinginour streams(IndexofBiologicalIndicatorscores)• DegradedwatersasdesignatedbytheState• Stormwaterrunoffvolumes• Percentofstreamsratedgoodtoexcellentanalyzedby communityincomelevels


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S E D I M E N T C O N T R I B U T I O N T O T H E B A Y *

P H O S P H O R O U S C O N T R I B U T I O N T O T H E B A Y *

1000110012001300140015001600

1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012

Thou

sand

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nds/Y

ear

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60

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1985 1988 1991 1994 1997 2000 2003 2006 2009 2012

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G R E E N E C O N O M Y

Goal: Green Economy

Fosteraneconomyinwhichbusinessescompetetocreate,produce,distribute,andrecyclegoodsmadefromrecycledorrapidlyrenewablenaturalresources.Encouragebusinessesthatprovideservicesforrenewableenergyorenergyefficiency,andadoptenvironmentallyhealthybusinesspractices.


Thereisagrowingconsensusthattraditionalbusinesspracticesandmodelsofeconomicgrowthareunderminingthehealthandecologicalbalanceoftheplanet’sresources.Technologiesandpracticesthatencouragethesustainableuseofresourceshaverisentothetopofthepublicagenda–locally,nationally,andinternationally.Agreeneconomypromotesbusinessesthatuselessenergy,generatelesswaste,orthatofferproductsthatallowotherstobemoresustainable.Greenbusinesspracticescanalsocontributetohealthierworkplacesandbusinessesthatfocusoncommunityconcerns.

Greenbuildingconstructionisoneareainwhichagreeneconomycanflourish.Thistypeofdevelopmentincorporatesenergyefficiency,usesrecycledandrecyclablematerials,enablesalternativeenergygeneration,takesadvantageofthesitetoaccesstransit,andreducesharmfulrunoff.Industriesthatuseorsupplyproductsforgreenbuildingscouldgrowsignificantlyasdevelopersusenewproductsthatreducecarbonemissionsthroughenergyefficiency,recycledmaterials,andrenewableenergysources.

Agreeneconomyisalsoonethatpromoteslocalproductionofmostgoodsandservicestoreducetheneedfortransportationanddependenceondistantsourceswhilecreatinglocaljobs.


+ LEEDcertificationonallnewcommercialdevelopmentis aCountyrequirement.- Businessesdon’thaveacommonunderstandingofwhat sustainablepracticestheycanuse.- Developmentpressurecontinuestothreatenlocal farmland,althoughtheAgriculturalReservelimits developmentinalmostone-thirdoftheCounty.+ Thereisagrowingawarenessofanddemandfor environmentallyfriendlybusinesspractices.

What Can We Do?

• Defineandpromotesustainablebusinesspractices, products,andservices.• Providetrainingandeducationtopromotesustainable businessesandemployment.• Provideincentivesforbusinessestodevelopsustainable practices.• Provideresidentswithinformationonlocalgreenand sustainablebusinesses,productsandservices.• Linkwiththesustainabilityprogramsofunions,trade organizations,andprofessionalsocieties.• Supportlocalfarmsandfoodproducers.

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All new buildings over 10,000 square feet in the County are required to meet LEED certification, all public buildings—LEED silver, yet over one third of carbon dioxide is produced by energy use in existing buildings.


• Percentofresidentialbuildingsthataregreencertified• Percentofgreenjobsinlow-andhigh-incomeareas• Numberandpercentofbusinessesthataregreen- certified

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G R E E N I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

Goal: Green Infrastructure

Preserve,manage,andincreasenaturalareas,treecanopy,andwildlifehabitat.Conserveandexpandforestsandnaturalsystemswhilereducingimpervioussurfaces.


Forestsandtreeshavemultiplebenefits.Theyprovidehabitatforourregion’splantsandanimals,includingrarespecies.Theyalsomoderateclimate,loweringsummertemperaturesbyshadingthesoilandpavedareastolimitheatbuild-up.Forestsstabilizethewatersupply.Theirleavesandbranchesretainrainwater,reducingtheamountofrunoffthatmustbetreatedandchanneledtostormdrains.Theforestflooractslikeasponge,soakinguprainwater,filteringit,andgraduallyreleasingittogroundwaterandstreams.

Forestsaffectairqualityandglobalwarmingbyconsumingcarbondioxideandreleasingoxygen,holdingcarbonintheirwood.Evenindecay,carbonintherottingleavesandwoodistakenupbynewtreesandotherplants,furtherreducingthepotentialforglobalwarming.

ForestcoverinMontgomeryCountyisabout30percent,notincludingurbantreecanopy.Manyexpertsagreethattreesandforestshouldcoverabout40percentoftheland.WeareintheprocessofdevelopingaccuratemapsforurbantreecanopyintheCounty.

ThePlanningBoardispreparingaGreenInfrastructureFunctionalMasterPlanthatwillidentifytheconnectednetworkofforests,wetlands,andmeadowsthathelppurifyourairandwaterwhileprovidingrecreationalandrestorativegreenspacesforresidentsandvisitors.Oncethisnetworkisdefined,alevelofprotectioncanbeaddedasanindicator.

Impervioussurfaces—pavingandbuildings—causerainwatertocarrydirtandpollutantsdirectlytostreamsandstormwatermanagementponds.Wecatchsomeofthosepollutantsthroughstormwatermanagementstructuressuchaspondsandsandfilters,buteventhebestsystemsdon’tremoveasmanypollutantsasnaturalforestcanopyandforestfloor.

What Do People Think? - Ourpopulationisgrowingandspaceisneededfornew residentsandbusinesses.Propertyownersseekeconomic valuethroughdevelopment,oftenremovingtrees.+ Naturalresourcesareprotectedifthey’republicly ownedasconservationparklandorlegallyconstrained througheasements.- Protectinglandandnaturalresourcescanlimitland supplyforhousing.- Redevelopmentofolderareasoftenremovesurbantree canopy.- AlargeareaoftheCounty’sundevelopedlandisstill zonedforlow-densityresidentialdevelopmentthatoften needsahighperunitamountofpavingforroadsand driveways.- Noteveryoneknowsthevalueofnaturalresourcesand theriskoflosingthem.- Non-nativeinvasiveplantsareoverwhelmingexisting andnewlyplantedforest.

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• Urbantreecanopy• Aconnectednetworkofnaturalareasincludingforests, wetlands,andmeadows• Pavingandbuildingswithoutstormwatercontrol• Treecanopyandimpervioussurfaceinlow-income communities

What Can We Do?

• Educatehomeownersanddevelopersonefficient redevelopmentthroughpublicadvocacy,government programs,themedia,andschools.• CompletetheGreenInfrastructureFunctionalMaster Plan.• ExpandtheWeedWarriorprogramtocontrolnon- nativeinvasiveplants.• Createanimpervioussurfacetaxcreditformitigation.• Promoteneighborhoodtree-plantingcontests.• Offercouponsforresidentialtree-plantingfromlocal nurseries.• Adoptatreeprotectionordinancetoretainmore individualtreesandsmallergrovesoftrees.• Encourageuseofperviousmaterialswhere appropriate.

Over 17 percent of Montgomery County is public parkland, including an extensive network of protected stream valley parks, yet over half of the County’s forest is on private land subject to development.

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F O R E S T C O V E R

P A V I N G A N D B U I L D I N G

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S M A R T C O M M U N I T I E S

Goal: Smart Communities

EnsurethatMontgomeryCounty’scommunitieshaveasenseofplaceandareaffordable,healthy,andenergy-efficient.


Landusesintrulysustainablecommunitiesprovidehousing,offices,shopping,schools,communitygatheringspaces,recreation,andtransportationchoiceswithineasyandsafewalkingdistance.Withnecessitiesandamenitiesnearby,allresidentsbenefitfromimprovedphysicalhealth,areducedcarbonfootprint,andstrengthenedcommunityconnections.

Transitaccessisincreasinglyimportantasroadwaysbecomemorecongestedandfuelpricesescalate.PeoplewhocanwalkorbiketoabusstoporMetrostationhavemoretransportationchoicesandgetmoreexercise.Whenmorepeopleusepublictransit,weseelesstrafficcongestion,fewergreenhousegases,fewerpeoplesufferingfromrespiratoryillness,andimprovedbicyclistandpedestriansafety.

Therelativespeedofautoandtransittripscanaffectthewillingnessofpeopletoliveincompactcommunities.AsgrowthintheCountyisfocusedaroundtransitcorridors,mobilityforautomobileswilldecreaseandtransitspeedrelativetoautomobiletripspeedwillincrease.

Smartcommunitiesindicatorscanexaminethedifferencesbetweenaccessibilityoflow-andhigh-incomegroups.Accesstotransitforbothgroupsisgraduallyincreasing,andmorepeoplewithlowerincomeshaveeasyaccesstotransit.Accesstoparksisexactlythesameforbothgroups.


+ Thereisgreaterplanningemphasisandmarketpressure formorecompactdevelopmentwithamixofuses.- Financingformixedusedevelopmentismoredifficult.- Manysuburbancommunitiesdon’thavesufficient densitytosupportfrequenttransitservice.- Fundingpolicieshavefavoredroadconstructionand auto-orienteddevelopment.- Publictransit,bikefacilities,andsidewalksaren’tfunded toserveallareasoftheCounty.

What Can We Do?

• IncreasepublicoutreachandeducationaboutSmartCommunities.

• RevisetheCounty’sbuildingandzoningcodestorequireenergyefficiencyandpromotehigherdensities.

• Increasetherangeofcommunitytypestocreatelifestylechoices.

• RedirectfundingtosubsidizeSmartGrowth.• Rebuild“thecommons”—publicspacesandnaturalareas.• Redevelopneighborhoodshoppingcenterstoincludemixed-

uses.• Fundadditionalmodesoftravel—bikepaths,affordable

publictransit,andsidewalks.• Improveaccessibility—doanaccessibilityauditofeach

communityandrespondtoitsneeds.• Reduceparkingrequiredfornewdevelopmenttoencourage

alternativetransportation.

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* Low-income includes households with incomes 80 percent or less of the median income. High-income is greater than 80 percent of the median.

Other Potential Indicators • Percentofdailytrips(theaverageissevenperday) usingwalkingortransit• Percentofpeoplewithinwalkingortransitdistance oftheireverydayactivities(groceries,libraries,parks, schools,culturalevents,etc.)• Availabilityofaffordablehousing

The County’s Ride On bus fleet servedmore than 26 million people in FY07, yetonly 72 percent of the County’s populationlives within one fourth mile of a bus routeor Metro station.

40

50

60

70

80

90

1990 1995 2000 2005Perce

nt of

Resid

ents

with

¼mi

le of

a Par

k or S

choo

l

Year

40

50

60

70

80

90

1990 1995 2000 2005Perce

nt of

Resid

ents

with

¼mi

le of

a Par

k or S

choo

l

Year

2030405060708090100

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Year

2004 2006

Perce

nt of

Resid

ents

with

¼mi

le of

a Tra

nsit R

oute

Low Income AccessHigher Income Access

2030405060708090100

1990 1992 1994 1996 1998 2000 2002

Year

2004 2006

Perce

nt of

Resid

ents

with

¼mi

le of

a Tra

nsit R

oute

Low Income AccessHigher Income Access

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

1997 2000 2004 2006

Ratio

Year2005

Ideal Ratio

1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

1997 2000 2004 2006

Ratio

Year2005

Ideal Ratio


R E L A T I V E M O B I L I T Y

JOBS/HOUSINGRATIO

A C C E S S T O P A R K S

A C C E S S T O P U B L I C T R A N S I T*

18

P H O T O C R E D I T S

AmericanLungAssociationMarionClarkCoalitionforSmartGrowthEricCoffmanEnvironmentalProtectionAgencyFlickrSamHummelNet_efektRon VaughnDougWeisburger

D A T A S O U R C E S

MontgomeryCountyDepartmentofEconomicDevelopmentMontgomeryCountyDepartmentofEnvironmentalProtectionMontgomeryCountyDepartmentofTransportationMontgomeryCountyPlanningDepartmentMontgomeryCountyDepartmentofParksMetropolitanWashingtonCouncilofGovernmentsMarylandDepartmentoftheEnvironmentU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencyU.S.CensusBureau

20

T H E M A R Y L A N D- N A T I O N A L C A P I T A L P A R K A N D P L A N N I N G C O M M I S S I O N

8787 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

www.MontgomeryPlanning.org



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