Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-d8cs5 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-13T23:55:20.704Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND CASE STUDIES: Public Participation and Smart Growth in Silver Spring, Maryland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 June 2013

Laura Pavlot  and
Hugh S. Gorman
Laura Pavlot*
Affiliation:
CB&I, Chicago, Illinois
Hugh S. Gorman
Affiliation:
Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan
*
Laura Pavlot, CB&I, 444 North Wells, Suite 602, Chicago, IL 60654; (phone) 412-841-6875; (e-mail) [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

In 2008, the US Environmental Protection Agency identified the redevelopment of the Silver Spring central business district in Montgomery County, Maryland, as successfully modeling the principles of smart growth. An important component of the project involved the use of an innovative Green Tape program that streamlined the permitting process. This article reports on a survey of stakeholders associated with this project, which was undertaken to gain insight into the challenges of smart growth. The main issues identified by stakeholders revolved around the public's role in decisions associated with the treatment of landmark structures and the creation of public space. Stakeholders also suggested that a tension existed between regional plans to increase density and the desire of some residents (such as those in areas surrounding the Silver Spring central business district) to maintain the lower-density character of their neighborhoods. In general, this a case example of the tensions that can emerge as efforts to ensure efficient and predictable decision making, which developers and planners value, clash with efforts to facilitate community participation in decision making, which is essential if projects are to be responsive to a broad range of stakeholders.

Environmental Practice 15:156–168 (2013)

Type
Features
Information
Environmental Practice , Volume 15 , Issue 2 , June 2013 , pp. 156 - 168
Copyright
Copyright © National Association of Environmental Professionals 2013 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Bauman, G. 2011. The Silver Spring War and Rebirth: The Fall and Rise of an American Downtown. Presented at the Montgomery Makeover Conference, Silver Spring, MD, April 14–16. 8 pp. Available at http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/events/rethink2011/documents/MakeoverMontgomeryConference_5A_TheSilverSpringWarandRebirth_TheFallandRiseofanAmericanDownt.PDF.Google Scholar
Daniels, T. 2001. What Does “Smart Growth” Mean for Community Development? Journal of the Community Development Society 32(1):20–34.Google Scholar
Duany, A. 2009. Andres Duany on Smart Growth, interview by J. Sullivan. Builder, December 17. Available at http://www.builderonline.com/land-planning/andres-duany-on-smart-growth.aspx.Google Scholar
Elliott, D.L. 2008. A Better Way to Zone: Ten Principles to Create More Livable Cities. Island Press, Washington, DC, 256 pp.Google Scholar
Fisher, M. 2007. Private or Public Space? Line Blurs in Silver Spring. Washington Post, June 21. Available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/20/AR2007062002354.html.Google Scholar
Foulger-Pratt Development, Inc. 2011, November. Development Portfolio. Corporate website. http://www.foulgerpratt.com/development.Google Scholar
Glendening, P.N. 2001. Ending Urban Sprawl. State Government News 44(8):23–29.Google Scholar
Glendening, P.N. 2002. Maryland's Next Smart Growth Initiative: The Next Steps. Fordham Urban Law Journal 29(4):1493–1494.Google Scholar
Hawkins, C.V., and Wang, X.. 2012. Sustainable Development Governance: Citizen Participation and Support Networks in Local Sustainability Initiatives. Public Works Management & Policy 17(1):7–29.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howland, M., and Sohn, J.. 2005. Has Maryland's Priority Funding Areas Initiative Constrained the Expansion of Water and Sewer Investments? Land Use Policy 24(1):175–186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Innes, J.E., and Booher, D.E.. 2004. Reframing Public Participation: Strategies for the 21st Century. Planning Theory & Practice 5(4):419–436.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jaffeson, R.C. 2003. Silver Spring Success: The 300 Year History of Silver Spring, Maryland, 3rd edition. Self-published, 140 pp.Google Scholar
Jensen, P. 1996. Dream Mall Comes with a Price. Baltimore Sun, October 9. Available at http://articles.baltimoresun.com.Google Scholar
Knaap, G., and Frece, J.W.. 2007. Smart Growth in Maryland: Looking Forward and Looking Back. Idaho Law Review 43(2):445–469.Google Scholar
Knaap, G., and Talen, E.. 2005. New Urbanism and Smart Growth: A Few Words from the Academy. International Regional Science Review 28(2):107–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). 1964. On Wedges & Corridors: The General Plan for the Maryland-Washington Regional District in Montgomery and Prince Georges Counties. M-NCPPC, Riverdale, MD. Available at http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/general_plans/wedges_corridors/wedges_corridors64.shtm.Google Scholar
Maryland–National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). 2000. Silver Spring CBD Sector Plan. M-NCPPC, Riverdale, MD. Available at http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/plan_areas/silver_spring_takoma_park/master_plans/sscbd/sscbd_toc.shtm.Google Scholar
Maryland Smart Growth Sub-cabinet. 2008, December. 2008 Annual Report on the Implementation of the Smart Growth Areas Act. Maryland Smart Growth Sub-cabinet, Baltimore, 15 pp. Available at http://www.mdp.state.md.us/PDF/OurProducts/Publications/AnnualReports/SG_Sub_Cab.pdf.Google Scholar
McCoy, J.A., and Society, the Silver Spring Historical. 2005. Historic Silver Spring. Arcadia, Charleston, SC, 128 pp.Google Scholar
Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services (MCDPS). 2011. Green Tape Program. MCDPS, Baltimore, MD. Available at http://permittingservices.montgomerycountymd.gov/DPS/customerservice/GreenTape.aspx.Google Scholar
Montgomery County Office of Legislative Oversight. 1999. Update on Historic Preservation Commission Workloads. Memorandum report. Montgomery County Office of Legislative Oversight, Rockville, MD, 34 pp. Available at http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/council/olo/reports/pdf/update_historic.pdf.Google Scholar
Montgomery County Planning Board (MCPB). 2008. Draft Green Space Plan for the Silver Spring CBD. MCPB, Silver Spring, MD, 61 pp. Available at http://www.montgomeryplanningboard.org/agenda/2008/documents/20080424_SilverSpringGreenSpacePlan_print.pdf.Google Scholar
Perez-Rivas, M., and Pressler, M. Webb. 1996. Silver Spring ‘Dream’ Mall Turned Down: County Executive Says Developers Lack Funds. Washington Post, November 13. Available at http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-810584.html.Google Scholar
Shen, Q., and Zheng, F.. 2005. Land-Use Changes in a Pro Smart Growth State: Maryland, USA. Environment and Planning 39(6):1457–1477.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smart Growth Network. 2005. Getting to Smart Growth: 100 Policies for Implementation. International City/County Management Association, Washington, DC, 97 pp. Available at http://www.smartgrowth.org/pdf/gettosg.pdf.Google Scholar
US Census Bureau. 2010. State & Country QuickFacts. US Census Bureau, Washington, DC. http://quickfacts.census.gov.Google Scholar
US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). 2008. 2008 National Award for Smart Growth Achievement. US EPA, Washington, DC. http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards/sg_awards_publication_2008.htm.Google Scholar
Walls, M. 2008. Smart Growth @ 10: A Critical Examination of Maryland's Landmark Land Use Program—Final Report on a 3-Day Conference, October 3, 4, and 5, 2007. Resources for the Future, Washington, DC, 23 pp. Available at http://www.rff.org/RFF/Documents/SG10_Final_Conference_Report.pdf.Google Scholar