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Delegate Ken Plum’s Virginia E-News – December 14, 2005 COMMENTARY
Our Growing Community Kenneth R. “Ken” Plum
One of the findings of Reality Check: Envisioning Our Region’s Growth, a visioning process sponsored this past year by the Urban Land Institute and others involving more than 300 business and community leaders, was that the Washington metropolitan area will grow by another two million new residents and 1.6 million new jobs by 2030. Everyone can sense the vibrancy of our region and increasingly I hear people wondering aloud: How can we absorb the growth? Where will the new housing go? How will we be able to move around with the new growth? Clearly our current system of transportation planning and funding and land use planning and control will not suffice. As a first item of action, greater coordination must occur between land use and transportation as Governor-elect Tim Kaine has proposed. Land use must be viewed more broadly than single family homes on half-acre lots with regional shopping malls. Traditional methods of financing the multi-modal system that will be required will go beyond the usual methods of taxation and is likely to include more widespread use of tolls and demand management. As a means to stimulate a discussion of some of the alternative policies we need to consider for the future, I am hosting a number of televised conversations on these issues. All the programs are shown on Reston Comcast Channel 28 at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and repeated on Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. On December 20 and 21 I will be talking with Jim Waggener and Carol Hadlock of the “Audubon at Home” project of the Audubon Society of Northern Virginia. We will discuss ways we can individually help to preserve our environment in a high growth area particularly as it relates to wildlife habitat. Pick up a free copy of the excellent book, The Nature of Change: Preserving the Natural Heritage of a Dynamic Region at the Birdfeeder Store in the Home Depot shopping Center at Reston Parkway and Baron Cameron Avenue. It is filled with wonderful ideas. On January 3 and 4 I will be talking to Len Forkas of the Urban Land Institute about the Reality Check envisioning process I referenced above. For more information on the results of the regional workshop as well as the local ones that have been held since, go to www.realitycheckwashington.org. On January 10 and 11 I will be talking to Stewart Schwartz, director of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, about the meaning of “smart growth” and the implications of smart growth policies for our region. For background, go to the Coalition’s website at www.smartergrowth.net. Our region will realize substantial growth in the next several decades, but that growth does not need to degrade our quality of life. By arming ourselves with the best information and tools for planning we can turn growth into an enhancement for our region.
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Annual Public Hearing Prior to the General Assembly Session Tuesday, January 3, 2006 – 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. Reston Community Center at Lake Anne
Each year before the General Assembly session I hold a public hearing with Senator Janet Howell to hear from constituents about the issues and concerns they feel the legislature should be addressing. A public presentation of your views will be informative for Senator Howell and me but will help others to understand and support your issues. I hope that you or a representative of your interests will plan to take part. Pre-registration is not required. Written statements are appreciated but not required. Students are welcome.
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Delegate Ken Plum’s Weekly “Virginia Report” on Reston Comcast Channel 28
Wednesday, December 14 at 10:30 p.m. – John Lynch, Virginia Department of Transportation – “Context-Sensitive Design”
Tuesday, December 20 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, December 21 at 10:30 p.m. – Jim Waggener, Audubon Northern Virginia – “Audubon at Home”
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
Reston Interfaith has become a holiday gift workshop, benefiting over 1300 children and senior citizens in our community. They need help to receive, organize, distribute, and deliver personalized gifts to ensure that each person has a joyful holiday season. Please join them during one of the following days: Thursday, December 15, 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, December 16, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, December 17, 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Contact Susan Stolpe, Volunteer Manager, at Susan.Stolpe@restoninterfaith.org or call 571.323.8569 to sign up for a 3 or 4 hour shift. To view assignment and shift details, visit: www.restoninterfaith.org/Get%20Involved/getinvolvedcalendar12.2005.html.
Fairfax County has organized a Hunter Mill Special Study Task Force to determine the public’s vision for the Hunter Mill Road area. The final meeting of the Special Study Task Force is scheduled for tonight, December 14, 7:00 p.m., at Lake Anne Elementary School, 11510 North Shore Drive. The meeting is open to the public, and all are encouraged to attend.
I will be speaking at the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce’s Regional Policy Update held prior to the General Assembly session. I will be joined by Senator Janet Howell of Reston and Delegate Tom Rust of Herndon. This year’s pre-session Update was originally scheduled for Friday, December 9, but was postponed because of bad weather. The event has been rescheduled for Thursday, January 5, at the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce offices, 1763 Fountain Drive, Reston. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m.; continental breakfast is available. If you are a Chamber member, attend this information packed event to find out how election results will change the dynamics of the session and the future of the Commonwealth.
***************** Authorized and paid for by Kenneth R. Plum.
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