Now open for public comment, a proposed rewrite to the county's zoning code embraces green buildings, lower parking minimums, and increased public engagement by developers.

Taking a favorable view toward the Maryland county's proposed zoning ordinance, In the past several decades, piecemeal updates and amendments to the code have been made to address specific issues or specific areas. The result is a 1,200-page, overly complex code with varying processes, inconsistent standards, regulations within regulations, and a non-intuitive structure."
"The current zoning ordinance is more than 50 years old [...]The new code would require increased attention to green building standards. It would also reduce parking minimums, and even eliminate them for projects next to Metrorail stations.
Another stipulation "would require developers of large projects to meet with members of the public and inform them of their development plans even before an application is submitted to the Planning Department."
"The proposed ordinance is still a draft and has not yet been adopted by the County Council, nor endorsed by the Prince George's County Planning Board. Both the Council and the Prince George's County Planning Department are soliciting comments and suggestions from the public until mid-December."
FULL STORY: Prince George’s zoning code rewrite could make the county greener and less car-dependent

Rethinking Redlining
For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

California High-Speed Rail's Plan to Right Itself
The railroad's new CEO thinks he can get the project back on track. The stars will need to align this summer.

US Senate Reverses California EV Mandate
The state planned to phase out the sale of gas-powered cars by 2035, a goal some carmakers deemed impossible to meet.

Trump Cuts Decimate Mapping Agency
The National Geodetic Survey maintains and updates critical spatial reference systems used extensively in both the public and private sectors.

Washington Passes First US ‘Shared Streets’ Law
Cities will be allowed to lower speed limits to 10 miles per hour and prioritize pedestrians on certain streets.
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