Welcome! Among other things, our goal is to offer a dynamic and invaluable source of substantive and timely information. Please take a look around, and come back often to read new content. We appreciate your interest. (Please contact us if you're interested in writing a guest blog entry.)
Join us for a fabulous Farm to Table Dinner at Bar-T Mountainside to benefit Mountainside Education and Enrichment
As someone who personally experiences all the health and other benefits that come from being surrounded by nature, I am...
Gentle density: Making neighborhoods transit-ready
Accessory dwellings can triple the density on a single-family lot while preserving the character of neighborhoods. Fayetteville, Arkansas, is a...
Riparian Buffers – Celebrating Fifteen Years
The riparian buffers on our farm on Middle River are now fifteen years old. Fifteen years ago, the “River Farm”...
Planning for resilience
“What the city lacks right now is some overarching plan.” That’s what Frederick’s new mayor, Michael O’Connor, said the other...
Why Are Developers Only Building Luxury Housing?
"Developers in my city are only building luxury housing. They're not building anything that ordinary people can afford." If you’ve...
Bicycling Infrastructure: The good, the bad and the ugly
Until recently, I’d been a member of the city of Frederick Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC). I married a...
Environmentalists and development: a complex relationship in a hyperbolic election season
In election races in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, candidates are claiming they “support the environment” or “are for smart growth.”...
County Executive Announces Legislation to support Accessory Dwelling Units
Frederick County is experiencing a gradually increasing problem and challenge when it comes to affordable housing. It is not an...
Wasted! The Story of Food Waste (free film at Hood College: May 12)
Join us for a very engaging and free film: “WASTED! The Story of Food Waste” "WASTED" aims to change the...
Who is going to pay for ALL this new growth?! And how?! (Public hearing Tuesday evening!)
FINALLY the public hearing on legislation to adjust the inadequate Mitigation Fees ("School Construction Fees") is on the agenda after...
GREEN DRINKS! Social hour, then Cafeteria Compost: Frederick County Schools and Food Scrap recycling
In January, Green Drinks was relaunched in Frederick! This Wednesday, join us again, or for the first time, for an...
Forest protection, air pollution, foam container bills fall by wayside in Maryland General Assembly
Bills passed to help fund Chesapeake cleanup, septic pump-outs and promote planning for sea level rise Maryland lawmakers took action...
Hear Royce Hanson at Hood on April 12: “Planning Politics and the Public Interest: Lessons Learned in Montgomery County”
Join us for a excellent presentation next Thursday from Royce Hanson, a recognized author and national leader in land use...
The Science Is In: The healthiest neighborhoods are both walkable and green
Most of us, most of the time, don’t make much connection between place – the neighborhoods where we live, work,...
Small apartments in single-family neighborhoods
A Midwest city considers an affordable option to house more families in walkable neighborhoods. To relieve a worsening shortage of...
MD Dept. of Planning review of Livable Frederick Master Plan
On March 5, 2018, Mr. Anthony Bruscia, the Chair of the Frederick County Planning Commission, received a letter from the...
Help TODAY: STYROFOAM BAN BILL COMING TO THE SENATE FLOOR!
A quick way to make a difference for the environment STYROFOAM BAN BILL COMING TO THE SENATE FLOOR TODAY Good...
Affordability is not a zero-sum game
A new report by Todd Litman offers a vision for optimal urban growth for affordability and livability—laying down a challenge...
My testimony in favor of approving the Monocacy Scenic River Management Plan
Last year, some friends and I paddled down part of the Monocacy River and saw it for ourselves. Some areas...
County Executive Gardner to Hold Livable Frederick Town Hall on Wednesday (March 14)
For those who are interested in the planning of the future of Frederick County, this Wednesday evening (March 14th), there...
MONDAY: Planning Commission Public Hearing on the Livable Frederick Master Plan
On Monday evening (at 7:00pm), the Frederick County Planning Commission is having an important public hearing to take public commentary...
In support of the Monocacy Scenic River Plan (SLIDE SHOW)
The following is an informative slide show, presented in support of the draft Update of the Monocacy Scenic River Management...
Climate Change Working Group comments regarding the Livable Frederick Master Plan draft
EXCERPT: "In summary, the Livable Frederick Plan is a positive framework and a strong step forward in responsible planning –...
Smarter Growth Alliance of Frederick County: Letter supporting proposed amendments to Council Bill 17-17
Below is a letter from the Smarter Growth Alliance of Frederick County, expressing support for the most recently proposed amendments...
Welcoming the Climate Change Working Group of Frederick County to our website!
Envision Frederick County is very pleased to host a section of our website for use by the Climate Change Working...
Twelve steps of sprawl recovery
In communities across America sprawl is giving way to more diverse places. Here are a dozen keys to that trend....
You care about the subdivision regulations, you just don’t know it (yet)
Everybody’s heard of the zoning code. Sooner or later, a developer will submit an application to rezone land near your...
Suburban Remix: A New Generation of Walkable Development
In 2001, a new book came out with my name (and those of two colleagues) on the cover. It was...
They paved paradise, put up a parking lot
The asphalt-industrial complex—otherwise known as Big Asphalt—took control of our cities and towns. Here's how we can take it back....
GREEN DRINKS! This month: Social hour, then “Regenerative Agriculture”
With a very enjoyable, engaging and well-attended event on January 17th, Green Drinks was relaunched in Frederick! Please join us!...
Envisioning Frederick through the eyes of climate change
Climate Change is such a paradigm shifting phenomenon that, as an individual, I find it hard to imagine what I...
We 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...Five 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,...
County 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...Smarter 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'...