More MOCO Upzoning - Starting in Silver Spring

[Anonymous]

Planners are looking for opportunities for infill development and will recommend zoning changes to all properties within 500 feet of University Boulevard. There is a meeting tomorrow at Blair to discuss with two other upcoming meetings later.

https://montgomeryplanning.org/planning/corridor-planning/university-boulevard-corridor-plan/

This is going to be the same for each one of these transit plans. It’s coming to your area, too, if you live in Montgomery County. Piece by piece they slip this legislation through. Thanks to that new legislation that the council just passed they won’t even have to include parking. Once it starts it’s all over.

[Anonymous]

Good. I’m a YIMBY. We need more housing.

[Anonymous]

What time is the meeting?

[Anonymous]

The SS/Wheaton area is already terribly congested and overcrowded. Try driving down GA Ave at 7 PM, and compare it to driving down Old Gtown Rd at 7 PM. SS/Wheaton cannot handle more density.

[Anonymous]

Great news! Thanks for letting me know.

The University Boulevard Corridor (UBC) Plan will build on previous initiatives, such as the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050, and Vision Zero. The UBC Plan focuses on a three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193), with the aim to understand community needs in relation to traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The plan explores opportunities for new development, bikeways, and bus rapid transit (BRT), as well as the creation of a complete street with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops, and safe access. Community involvement is key to the success of the process, and Montgomery Planning is offering virtual and in-person opportunities for feedback. The University Boulevard Corridor Plan is part of a larger vision for compact growth, supported by an excellent transit system and a safe, appealing network for walking, biking, and rolling.

[Anonymous]

If they want to drop the missing middle rezoning proposal and just do this one maybe that is a reasonable compromise, but upzoning everything is a bad idea. Vision zero is idiotic and unrealistic though. The goal of reducing traffic fatalities attainable, but we need to balance operational concerns with safety improvements. The only way to achieve basically zero traffic deaths would be to reduce speed limit to 15 mph everywhere. Ridiculous policy goals like vision zero will harm society more than it helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they want to drop the missing middle rezoning proposal and just do this one maybe that is a reasonable compromise, but upzoning everything is a bad idea. Vision zero is idiotic and unrealistic though. The goal of reducing traffic fatalities attainable, but we need to balance operational concerns with safety improvements. The only way to achieve basically zero traffic deaths would be to reduce speed limit to 15 mph everywhere. Ridiculous policy goals like vision zero will harm society more than it helps.

+1. Stuff like this does not help attract new jobs. When people can't get from point A to point B in a timely manner, that is a deterrent to attracting businesses, especially when there are plenty of other jurisdictions in this area to choose. You'll never get to zero traffic fatalities as long as people use cell phones all the time while driving (which is easily about 25% of people) and there is rampant jaywalking even across major 6-lane roads.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. I’m a YIMBY. We need more housing.

I look forward to checking back in with you in a couple years when this turns into an inevitable ghetto to see you defend it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. I’m a YIMBY. We need more housing.

I look forward to checking back in with you in a couple years when this turns into an inevitable ghetto to see you defend it.

That’s a YIMBY goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Good. I’m a YIMBY. We need more housing.

Yes, but adults might be interested, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great news! Thanks for letting me know.

The University Boulevard Corridor (UBC) Plan will build on previous initiatives, such as the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050, and Vision Zero. The UBC Plan focuses on a three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193), with the aim to understand community needs in relation to traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The plan explores opportunities for new development, bikeways, and bus rapid transit (BRT), as well as the creation of a complete street with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops, and safe access. Community involvement is key to the success of the process, and Montgomery Planning is offering virtual and in-person opportunities for feedback. The University Boulevard Corridor Plan is part of a larger vision for compact growth, supported by an excellent transit system and a safe, appealing network for walking, biking, and rolling.

Some of that is ok, but the BRT is stupid and the residents should be looking to line up their lawyers ASAP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If they want to drop the missing middle rezoning proposal and just do this one maybe that is a reasonable compromise, but upzoning everything is a bad idea. Vision zero is idiotic and unrealistic though. The goal of reducing traffic fatalities attainable, but we need to balance operational concerns with safety improvements. The only way to achieve basically zero traffic deaths would be to reduce speed limit to 15 mph everywhere. Ridiculous policy goals like vision zero will harm society more than it helps.

How many deaths do you think it's worth for you to get somewhere 5 minutes faster in your car? How about 10 minutes faster in your car? Also, is it ok for people in your family to be killed or seriously injured in a car crash, or should car crash deaths and serious injuries be limited to people in other people's families?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good. I’m a YIMBY. We need more housing.

Yes, but adults might be interested, too.

Adults need more housing, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Great news! Thanks for letting me know.

The University Boulevard Corridor (UBC) Plan will build on previous initiatives, such as the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050, and Vision Zero. The UBC Plan focuses on a three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193), with the aim to understand community needs in relation to traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The plan explores opportunities for new development, bikeways, and bus rapid transit (BRT), as well as the creation of a complete street with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops, and safe access. Community involvement is key to the success of the process, and Montgomery Planning is offering virtual and in-person opportunities for feedback. The University Boulevard Corridor Plan is part of a larger vision for compact growth, supported by an excellent transit system and a safe, appealing network for walking, biking, and rolling.

This seems like a boondoggle in the making. Why do so many planners insist on making a single road all things to all people? How do you make a 6+ lane through-road a complete street and a vision zero street at the same time? University is a mess currently because its trying to do too much at once.

No one is going to want to walk/bike next to hundreds of cars going 35+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great news! Thanks for letting me know.

The University Boulevard Corridor (UBC) Plan will build on previous initiatives, such as the Countywide Transit Corridors Functional Master Plan, Thrive Montgomery 2050, and Vision Zero. The UBC Plan focuses on a three-mile stretch of University Boulevard (MD 193), with the aim to understand community needs in relation to traffic safety, regional connectivity, environmental sustainability, and economic development. The plan explores opportunities for new development, bikeways, and bus rapid transit (BRT), as well as the creation of a complete street with wider sidewalks, comfortable public transportation stops, and safe access. Community involvement is key to the success of the process, and Montgomery Planning is offering virtual and in-person opportunities for feedback. The University Boulevard Corridor Plan is part of a larger vision for compact growth, supported by an excellent transit system and a safe, appealing network for walking, biking, and rolling.

This seems like a boondoggle in the making. Why do so many planners insist on making a single road all things to all people? How do you make a 6+ lane through-road a complete street and a vision zero street at the same time? University is a mess currently because its trying to do too much at once.

No one is going to want to walk/bike next to hundreds of cars going 35+.

They will try to push this through and then do the same on Colesville and 500 feet in there will be duplexes and apartments, and all parking their cars in the street be air of recent MCC legislation. The schools in the area are crowded enough!

It’s sick.