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Presentation (Aug. 1): Ron Kaltenbaugh on Climate Change: Science, Impacts, and Solutions
Please join us on Tuesday evening, August 1st, at the new McClintock Distilling Company, in downtown Frederick, for a free and informative presentation and discussion with Ron
Our Lawns Are Killing Us. It’s Time to Kick the Habit
Pristine turf grass lawns are as synonymous with America as baseball and apple pie. For those of us who grew up in the suburbs, waking up to the lulling drone of lawnmowers signaled the start of a
Yes, Virginia…is trying to revive plans for outer beltway and new Potomac River crossing
The following was sent out via email by the Montgomery Countryside Alliance. Over the years, the alliance has been diligent on this issue, working to head off any and all efforts to build a new
Smarter Growth Alliance for Frederick County letter on Draft Monocacy Scenic River Management Plan
The following is a copy of a letter sent from the Smarter Growth Alliance for Frederick County (see the list of the 17 organizations that signed the letter below) to the chair and members of the
The Invisible Hand That Designed Your City
Lately I’ve been thinking about the invisible forces that shape our behavior. In an era of ubiquitous access to technology, we’ve become like Pavlov’s famous dogs. One quick glance at our phone
Presentation (July 25th): Jim Schulman on Reinventing Prosperous Local Economies
Join us on Tuesday evening, July 25th, at the new McClintock Distilling Company, in downtown Frederick, for a free and informative presentation and discussion with Jim Schulman, the
Couple goes solar and restores a creekside forest in Myersville
"I'm all about being green. And I think I've finally achieved net zero when it comes to electricity." Today, I am a retired federal employee with a utility bill of $5.36 a month. But a few
Great idea: Rethinking parking
From coast to coast and in middle America, more sensible parking policies are taking hold and may be the quickest path to urban revitalization. Parking is one of the primary
The Smarter Growth Alliance for Frederick County celebrates with a Gathering of Friends
It was a great afternoon in early June at the beautiful Hall’s Choice Farm near New Market. The Smarter Growth Alliance for Frederick County hosted an afternoon gathering for the
It’s Time to Change How We Measure Affordable Housing
The “commonly accepted” 30 percent standard for judging housing affordability leaves out transportation and location. I’ve long been dissatisfied with commonly used measures of
The Politics of Personal Destruction in Frederick County
EDITOR'S NOTE: We thank Rick Brace for sharing this perspective about one of the disturbing aspects of the recent, ongoing and heated controversy about the Monocacy Scenic River Advisory
Presentation (June 20th): Livable Frederick and East Frederick Rising
Join us on Tuesday evening at the new McClintock Distilling Company, in downtown Frederick, for a free and informative presentation and discussion about Livable Frederick and
Panel Discussion: “Advancing the Public Interest for the People of Frederick”
Please check out the media advisory below, and consider joining us for a lively conversation, at Winchester Hall, between Jan Gardner (County Executive), Ron Young
Trout in the Classroom
Middle school students are getting a chance to see firsthand how healthy ecological systems maintain quality of life by raising trout in the classroom and eventually releasing these fingerlings, as
Smart Growth America’s “(Re)Building Downtown”
Smart Growth America is a great resource for any citizen, planner or elected official interested in planning and development and land use. About a year and a half ago, … Read More
Why Greenspace is different from a Park
It's nice to be outside and among nature, especially this time of year. For urban residents, access to nature is particularly important because it's not as easy to come by. And the way we provide … Read More
Great idea: Form-based codes
New urban codes have allowed cities and towns to code for complete neighborhoods and public spaces as shared-use places. Since the middle of the 20th Century, zoning has been a
Is placemaking a ‘new environmentalism?’
If our approach to environmentalism should be "new," so too should our approach to urbanism. Can placemaking – in short, the building or strengthening of physical community
Addiction on the Monocacy
I climbed through the pile of debris, a great mass of limbless logs, sticks, mud, and leaves driven together in a recent flood, in order to grab the Frappuccino bottle for my trash bag. It was only at
Great idea: Mixed-use urban centers
In the 20th Century, retail shifted from main streets and downtowns to strip shopping centers, enclosed malls, and big box stores. Building and revitalizing urban centers is one of the great tasks of
Green Neighbor Festival: Culler Lake in the spotlight (May 20 & 21)
In a few short weeks, Culler Lake will be the site of the first ever Green Neighbor Festival celebrating environmentally friendly practices to protect our natural resources. In
Support the bill to Prevent Zoning Amendments immediately before and after elections
There is an important public hearing this Tuesday evening (May 2, at 7:00pm) for County Executive Jan Gardner's proposed legislation to prohibit zoning amendments six months before and three months
Brenda Platt on May 25th: Composting to reduce waste, create jobs and fight climate change
Envision Frederick County and the Center for Coastal and Watershed Studies at Hood College are very pleased to invite you to join us for a free presentation by Brenda Platt as part of our ongoing
Farmers Surveyed on Composting
Survey Reveals Interest, Questions about On-Farm Composting A survey of Frederick County farmers indicates interest in expanded use of off-farm organics to make compost.
Live Downtown Frederick Housing Symposium (Friday evening, April 28)
Downtown Frederick Partnership is working towards a goal of welcoming 335 new residents to Downtown Frederick by 2020. Reusing, adapting and growing the Downtown Frederick building stock is the
Great idea: Incremental development
Great places are built in small increments, and urbanists are restoring America's know-how and capacity for small-scale development by many individuals in their own communities. Do you want to
Green Homes Challenge: Saving energy and money! Learn how it can work for you.
Every year for the past six hears, the Frederick County Office of Sustainability and Environmental Resources has hosted an event to celebrate the households in Frederick County that are going green,
What should Maryland look like in 20 years?
The unfortunate events surrounding the confirmation process for the Maryland Department of Planning secretary lead to two bigger questions: What should the state’s lead smart-growth agency be doing
Healthy soil…here and everywhere…is the real key to feeding the world
One of the biggest modern myths about agriculture is that organic farming is inherently sustainable. It can be, but it isn’t necessarily. After all, soil erosion from chemical-free tilled fields
Frederick Compost Summit (May 22 at Fox Haven Farm)
Frederick is a beautiful place to work, live, or visit. Covered bridges, Civil War History, Gambrill State Park, Carroll Creek Promenade, and an astonishing amount of productive farmland as well as
Rural quality of life jeopardized by proposed event venue legislation
If you live in the vicinity of an agricultural parcel of land, your quality of life is in jeopardy. Legislation before the County Council would allow someone to use a parcel as small as 25 acres for
Solid Waste: “What’s Next” Phase 2 Report complete and available for comment
WHAT'S NEXT PHASE 2 REPORT IS AVAILABLE COMMENTS BEING TAKEN UNTIL APRIL 27 Frederick County's consultant, Geosyntec has completed the Phase 2 Report, which was presented to the
Maryland Senate gives final approval to fracking ban
With governor's signature likely, state to become second in nation with natural gas reserves to prohibit drilling practice. Maryland’s Senate gave final approval Monday night
Making the proposed event venues bill better for neighbors and the county
What we have before the County Council now is a Limited Private Event Venue in the Agriculture Zone: Bill No. 17-05, brought forward by Council Member Tony Chmelik on Feb. 21. This bill raises a
Great idea: Missing middle housing
Increasingly in demand today, missing middle housing forms the backbone of the quintessential American neighborhood. In celebration of the upcoming CNU 25.Seattle, Public
An opportunity to weigh in on the next Frederick County budget!
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is excerpted from Frederick County Council member Jessica Fitzwater's most recent newsletter. She regularly publishes an excellent e-newsletter with good