ReportWire

Tag: walkability

  • Ordinance eliminates minimum parking mandates for new multifamily developments

    [ad_1]

    SALEM — An ordinance signed into law by Mayor Dominick Pangallo Monday eliminates Salem’s minimum parking mandates for new multifamily housing developments with three or more units.

    The ordinance, intended to address the hundreds of unused parking spaces throughout the city, requires new multifamily housing projects receiving a Site Plan Review to identify how they will address residents’ transportation needs by submitting a “Transportation Demand Management plan.”


    This page requires Javascript.

    Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

    kAm!C6G:@FD A2C<:?8 C6BF:C6>6?ED 7@C >F=E:72>:=J 9@FD:?8[ F?492?865 D:?46 :ED 25@AE:@? 😕 `heh[ C6BF:C65 `]d DA246D 7@C 6G6CJ @?6 F?:E @7 >F=E:72>:=J 9@FD:?8[ H:E9 =:>:E65 6I46AE:@?D] p44@C5:?8 E@ E96 4:EJ[ :?DE625 @7 4@?EC:3FE:?8 AC@A6CEJ E2I6D[ 2? 6I46DD @7 F?56CFE:=:K65 A2C<:?8 DA246D 4@?EC:3FE6D E@ DE@C>H2E6C CF?@77[ FC32? 962E[ EC277:4 4@?86DE:@? 2D A6@A=6 3C:?8 >@C6 42CD E@ 7:== A6C46:G65 DA246D[ 2D H6== 2D 255:?8 >:==:@?D @7 5@==2CD 😕 4@DED E@ >F=E:72>:=J 9@FD:?8 56G6=@A>6?ED[ H9:49 DF3D6BF6?E=J 5C:G6D FA 4@DED @7 C6?E2= 2?5 9@>6 @H?6CD9:A]k^Am

    kAm%96 $2=6> 4:EJ 4@F?4:= 82G6 E96 @C5:?2?46 7:?2= 2AAC@G2= @? %9FCD52J[ $6AE] ad[ H:E9 2 `_` G@E6 😕 72G@C] p=@?8D:56 4:EJ 4@F?4:=@CD 2?5 DE277[ >6>36CD @7 E96 p77@C523=6 w@FD:?8 %CFDE uF?5 2?5 !=2??:?8 q@2C5[ 2?5 C6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 7C@> E96 |6EC@A@=:E2? pC62 !=2??:?8 r@F?4:= W|p!r[X |2J@C !2?82==@ D:8?65 E96 @C5:?2?46 :?E@ =2H 😕 2? F?56CFE:=:K65 A2C<:?8 DA246 @? !2=>6C $EC66E @? |@?52J]k^Am

    kAm%96 4:EJ @7 $2=6> 92D 366? H@C<:?8 H:E9 |p!r 2?5 FE:=:K:?8 E96:C “!6C764E u:E !2C<:?8” C6D62C49 E@ A2:?E 2 4=62C6C A:4EFC6 @7 A2C<:?8 FD6 E9C@F89@FE E96 4:EJ] p44@C5:?8 E@ 7:?5:?8D 7C@> E96 4:EJ 2?5 |p!r[ E96C6 2C6 4FCC6?E=J `]`g A2C<:?8 DA246D 3F:=E A6C F?:E @7 9@FD:?8 2E E96 `a >F=E:72>:=J D:E6D DEF5:65 😕 $2=6>] ~7 E9@D6 DA246D 3F:=E[ eaT H6C6 @44FA:65 2?5 bgT D2E G242?E @G6C?:89E] %96 DEF5J 56E6C>:?65 E92E >F=E:72>:=J 9@FD:?8 😕 $2=6> @? 2G6C286 925 2 56>2?5 7@C @?=J _]gd A2C<:?8 DA246D A6C F?:E]k^Am

    kAmx? 255:E:@? E@ 2?2=JK:?8 A2C<:?8 DFAA=J[ 56>2?5[ 2?5 FE:=:K2E:@? 2E E96D6 D:E6D[ E96 4:EJ 2?5 |p!r 962C5 7C@> C6D:56?ED 23@FE E96:C A2C<:?8 2?5 9@FD:?8 6IA6C:6?46D 2E 2 D6C:6D @7 4@>>F?:EJ 6?8286>6?E 6G6?ED] $2=6> 😀 E96 7:CDE >F?:4:A2=:EJ E@ 5:C64E=J 2AA=J |p!r’D !6C764E u:E !2C<:?8 >6E9@5@=@8J E@ :?7@C> E96:C K@?:?8 492?86D]k^Am

    kAm“tI2>A=6D 7C@> 24C@DD E96 r@>>@?H62=E9 2?5 E96 4@F?ECJ D9@H E92E A2C<:?8 C67@C> 42? 96=A AC@5F46 >@C6 9@FD:?8[ =@H6C 9@FD:?8 4@DED[ AC@G:56 8C@HE9 H:E9 =:>:E65 4@?86DE:@? 2?5 2:C A@==FE:@?[ 2?5 :>AC@G6 H2=<23:=:EJ[” |p!r 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C {:KK: (6J2?E D2:5] “%96D6 2C6 2== AC:@C:E:6D E92E H6 2C6 H@C<:?8 @? H:E9 4@>>F?:E:6D E9C@F89@FE E96 |p!r C68:@?[ 2?5 $2=6> ;FDE D6E 2 8C62E 6I2>A=6 @7 9@H :E 42? 36 5@?6] x? E96 4@>:?8 H66@C6 56E2:=65 42D6 DEF5:6D @7 9@H $2=6> 2?5 @E96C 4:E:6D 2?5 E@H?D 😕 vC62E6C q@DE@? 92G6 249:6G65 A2C<:?8 C67@C> DF446DD]”k^Am

    kAm%96 ?6H @C5:?2?46 5@6D ?@E 32? AC@5F4E:@? @7 ?6H A2C<:?8 DA246D 7@C >F=E:72>:=J 9@FD:?8[ 3FE 6=:>:?2E6D >:?:>F> C6BF:C6>6?ED[ 2==@H:?8 7=6I:3:=:EJ 7@C AC@;64ED E@ AC@G:56 E96 2>@F?E @7 A2C<:?8 E92E >66ED E96:C ?665D[ 32D65 @? >2C<6E 4@?5:E:@?D DF49 2D AC@I:>:EJ E@ EC2?D:E 2?5 H2=<23:=:EJ @7 E96 AC@;64E =@42E:@?] $:E6 !=2? #6G:6HD 7@C >F=E:72>:=J 9@FD:?8 AC@;64ED H:== ?@H :?4=F56 %C2?DA@CE2E:@? s6>2?5 |2?286>6?E A=2?D[ E@ 36 2AAC@G65 3J E96 !=2??:?8 q@2C5[ H9:49 @FE=:?6D 9@H E96 56G6=@A6C H:== H@C< E@ 255C6DD C6D:56?ED’ EC2?DA@CE2E:@? ?665D]k^Am

    kAmp44@C5:?8 E@ $2=6> $6?:@C !=2??6C t=6?2 t:>6CE[ 2AAC@I:>2E6=J a[ggd 4:E:6D E96 D2>6 D:K6 @C D>2==6C E92? $2=6> 92G6 6=:>:?2E65 A2C<:?8 >:?:>F>D] $F446DD7F= A2C<:?8 C67@C> 92D 92AA6?65 😕 $@>6CG:==6[ q@DE@?[ r2>3C:586[ 2?5 tG6CC6EE[ 2D H6== 2D 36J@?5 |6EC@ q@DE@? 😕 p4E@?[ {@H6==[ uC2>:?892>[ 2?5 4@>>6C4:2= 56G6=@A>6?E 😕 $2=6>]k^Am

    kAm“%9:D 😀 2 492?46 7@C $2=6> E@ E2<6 4@?EC@= @7 :ED 7FEFC6[” E96 $2=6> !=2??:?8 q@2C5 D2:5 😕 2 DE2E6>6?E] “ t=:>:?2E:?8 >:?:>F> A2C<:?8 C6BF:C6>6?ED 😀 2 9:DE@C:4 AC6D6CG2E:@? DEC2E68J[ 2 4=:>2E6 24E:@?[ 2 >@3:=:EJ H:? 2?5 2 9@FD:?8 277@C523:=:EJ A@=:4J C@==65 :?E@ @?6] xE 96=AD >2<6 9@FD:?8 >@C6 277@C523=6[ ?6:893@C9@@5D >@C6 H2=<23=6[ 2?5 @FC 4:EJ >@C6 =:G23=6] xE 2=:8?D H:E9 3:A2CE:D2? 36DE AC24E:46D 2?5 8C@H:?8 >@>6?EF> 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ] p?5 7:?2==J[ 2D H6 9625 :?E@ $2=6>’D c__E9 J62C[ :E 8:G6D FD E96 =@42= 7=6I:3:=:EJ E@[ @?46 282:?[ 56D:8? @FC 4:EJ 7@C A6@A=6[ ?@E ;FDE 7@C 42CD 2D H6’G6 5@?6 7@C E96 A2DE 92=746?EFCJ]”k^Am

    kAm|@C6 :?7@C>2E:@? @? E96 ?6H @C5:?2?46 42? 36 7@F?5 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEAi^^:>28:?6D2=6>]@C8^C6D:56?E:2=A2C<:?8>:?:>F>DQm:>28:?6D2=6>]@C8^C6D:56?E:2=A2C<:?8>:?:>F>Dk^2m]k^Am

    kAm|:4926= |4wF89 42? 36 4@?E24E65 2E k2 9C67lQ>2:=E@i>>49F89o?@CE9@73@DE@?]4@>Qm>>49F89o?@CE9@73@DE@?]4@>k^2m @C 2E fg`fhhda_ak^Am

    [ad_2]

    By Michael McHugh Staff Writer

    Source link

  • Montgomery County’s Planning Board lays out development plans for a 3.5 mile stretch of University Boulevard – WTOP News

    [ad_1]

    Montgomery County’s Planning Board has released a bold new vision for the University Boulevard Corridor. The 20-year plan proposes a mix of low-density residential and high-density mixed-use development near five future Bus Rapid Transit stations.

    Montgomery County’s Planning Board presented its proposed development plans for the University Boulevard Corridor on Tuesday morning.

    “It looks for the next 20-plus years and delivers recommendations that can improve everyone’s experience along the corridor,” Planning Board Chair Artie Harris told county council members.

    The plan covers a 3.5-mile stretch of University Boulevard from Interstate 495 to Amherst Avenue.

    According to the draft of the plan submitted to the council, the plan is designed to support lower density “predominantly” residential development between five bus-rapid-transit, or BRT, stations, and higher density mixed-use development near those planned stations.

    “The plan’s recommended zoning changes would not lead to change unless a property owner decides to pursue a development,” said Carrie Sanders, east county division chief for the planning department.

    Sanders also said that in cases that allow more density, “Generally, the buildings facing the corridor between the transit stations, the five stations, will have a height of up to 50 feet.”

    According to planning board staff, a chief focus of the plan includes improving transportation safety. A video played at Tuesday morning’s council meeting pointed out that between 2015 and 2024, there have been 38 severe injury crashes and four fatal crashes along the corridor.

    Included in the plan is consolidating, removing or relocating driveways from University Boulevard to side streets and alleys and “limit future driveways.”

    The 11-member council had no questions after the presentations.

    There has been concern from residents in the areas under the University Boulevard Corridor plan. The public will get a chance to offer comment on the plan.

    On Wednesday night, a public hearing will be held at Montgomery Blair High School starting at 7 p.m. A second public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Montgomery County Council building in Rockville.

    Ahead of Wednesday’s public hearing, a neighborhood group under the name of EPIC of MoCo plans on holding, what it’s calling, a “Funeral for Affordable Homes and Community Stability.”

    The draft plan states that part of the goal of the plan is to “preserve existing market rate affordable housing where practicable, striving for no net loss of market rate affordable housing in the event of redevelopment.”

    Montgomery County Executive Marc Elrich has also objected to the plan. In a Sept. 2 memo to Council President Kate Stewart, Elrich wrote, “It is focused solely on producing as much housing as possible without adequately addressing the other essential elements of a master plan.”

    Elrich also criticized the plans laid out regarding BRT, writing, “This plan is based on a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) line that does not exist and is not even in the planning stage.”

    The council’s Planning, Housing and Parks Committee is tentatively scheduled to begin its review of the plan on Sept. 29.

    Editor’s Note: WTOP has a property within the zone that’s part of the University Boulevard Corridor plan.

    Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

    © 2025 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

    [ad_2]

    Kate Ryan

    Source link

  • Can spacing out gas stations boost walkability in your neighborhood? City Council wants to find out

    Can spacing out gas stations boost walkability in your neighborhood? City Council wants to find out

    [ad_1]

    Two gas stations near the intersection of Evans Avenue and Monaco Parkway. July 30, 2024.

    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    Along Evans Avenue in South Denver is a one-mile stretch that is home to nine gas stations.

    It’s the kind of development city leaders are trying to prevent in the future. 

    A group of City Councilmembers are working on a bill that would restrict where developers can build new gas stations.

    They’re touting it as a housing measure, one that favors new housing, neighborhood walkability and local businesses over gas stations built specifically for cars.

    “What our residents have said is, ‘We want to see housing. We want to see small businesses. We want to see coffee shops where we can go hang out with our friends that we can walk to down the street from our house,’” said Councilmember Amanda Sawyer, one of the co-sponsors behind the bill along with Councilmembers Diana Romero Campbell and Paul Kashmann. “Nowhere in any of that feedback did we hear from people, ‘We want more gas stations.’”

    How would the bill work?

    The bill would likely prohibit building new gas stations within a certain distance of an existing pump or a light rail station. There are also potential additional restrictions in neighborhoods with lots of single- and two-family homes.

    That land could instead be used for new housing, local businesses or both.

    Sawyer said the team is still figuring out the exact distances for those restrictions.

    The bill would not ban new gas stations altogether, just place restrictions on where they can be built.

    There is nothing afoot at this Circle K on Evans Avenue,. July 30, 2024.
    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    Crucially, Sawyer said, it would still allow for gas stations connected to grocery stories. Those pairings are often key to bringing groceries to areas without access to fresh food.

    “There’s got to be a balance here,” Sawyer said. “We don’t want to effectively ban gas station development in Denver altogether, because we need gas stations, especially in areas of the city that aren’t fully built out, like Green Valley Ranch.”

    The potential rezoning is the latest in a string of bills aimed at promoting new housing and walkability.

    Like many Western cities, much of modern Denver was built for cars. Just look at streets like Colfax Avenue with its long-standing motels and drive-thrus.

    But Denver’s housing crisis — combined with climate initiatives aimed at promoting walkability and transit and reducing car dependency — is pushing city leaders to reconsider who city streets are meant to serve.

    Last year, City Council rezoned a large swath of Colfax Avenue, restricting new businesses like drive-throughs and storage facilities. The goal there is to promote pedestrian-facing businesses in anticipation of the massive bus improvement project coming to the stretch in the next few years.

    “As Denver continues to grow, we look forward to responding to Denver residents’ needs, including thoughtful planning around land use near transit corridors,” said Romero Campbell in a statement Tuesday. “We hope this is a step toward creating more spaces for our communities to be healthy, connected, and thriving.”

    Reactions from local businesses have been mixed.

    Existing gas stations welcome less competition, Sawyer said. But big companies looking to bring additional gas stations to the city are less supportive of the restrictions.

    Reactions from residents, meanwhile, have been welcoming.

    “Most residents we have heard from would like to ban gas stations altogether,” Sawyer said. “People want to see local businesses in their neighborhoods and places that they can gather and be together.”

    The bill still needs work before any potential vote. Sawyer expects it to go before the Denver Planning Board in August and before City Council in November.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Summit will explore pedestrian and bike safety on LI | Long Island Business News

    Summit will explore pedestrian and bike safety on LI | Long Island Business News

    [ad_1]

    The annual Long Island Complete Streets Summit will explore issues and solutions surrounding walkability in downtowns throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. 

    Scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 23 at Antun’s by Minar in Hicksville, the summit is hosted by Vision Long Island and will feature walkability expert Dan Burden, director of innovation and inspiration for Blue Zones, as its keynote speaker. 

    Burden, who made Planetizen’s list of “100 Most Influential Urbanists,” is a co-founder of Walkable Communities Inc. and is recognized as a leader in transportation planning. Following the summit, Burden will visit Long Island areas in need of safety improvements that have been identified by local community leaders in Huntington Station, Hempstead, Deer Park and Coram/Middle Island. 

    The Complete Streets summit will also include updates from several elected officials, planning experts and community leaders, including Nassau County Presiding Officer Richard Nicollelo; Nassau legislators Delia Deriggi Whitton, Siela Bynoe and Debra Mule; Bernard Macias from AARP; Frank Wefering from Greenman Pedersen; Rosemary Mascali from Move LI; Dan Flanzig from NY Bike Lawyers; Elissa Kyle of Vision Long Island; Carter Strickland from Trust for Public Land; and several others. 

    Over the last five years Vision Long Island, AARP and local community leaders have led walking audits in many Long Island communities, including the villages of Hempstead, Valley Stream, Rockville Centre, Lynbrook, Amityville, Freeport, the City of Glen Cove, Huntington Station, Coram, Middle Island, Central Islip, the Shinnecock Tribal Nation and Wyandanch.  

    The resulting recommendations for roadway improvements help lay the groundwork for investments from federal and state infrastructure funding in existing and future capital plans, according to a Vision Long Island statement. 

    “With more Long Islanders walking, biking, patronizing local downtowns and working from home reducing speeds and providing safe road design solutions critical,” Eric Alexander, director of Vision Long Island, said in the statement. “Some solutions are as simple as painted crosswalks, better lighting, medians and street trees that have all been employed in parts of Long Island and other areas around the country that both save lives and improve our local communities.”   

    d

    [ad_2]

    David Winzelberg

    Source link