Sources:

What is Traffic Calming?

What is Complete Street and why?!

Radio Station Road Pathway Project

This episode is a summary of the Town Council Strategic Plan, adopted at our August 23, 2022, Business Meeting. 

In this episode, in response to recent resident comments about the Town Council’s lack of community outreach and engagement, I provide comments and perspective as one of five Council members. I don’t speak for the Mayor and Council, and they don’t speak for me.

La Plata Planning Department links:

• Development Updates
• Development Review 

Maryland Open Meetings Act 

Town of La Plata YouTube

This episode is a follow-up to recent Town Council/Planning Commission public hearing comments,  to provide additional information including: 

• More about Smart Growth 
• La Plata Planning Commission education requirements 
• La Plata Planning Commission/Town Council responsibilities 

What is Smart Growth?   - Smart Growth Online: https://smartgrowth.org/what-is-smart-growth/?fbclid=IwAR0leief_dL1-pT-Lc_ThOYvMYpxdlXECE_gVj4t9TQcaqZ6Btb-tTCSqTY

Maryland Department of Planning, Planning Commission Education Course: https://planning.maryland.gov/Pages/YourPart/PlanCommCourseMaterials.aspx

This episode is about two Town Council annexation public hearings – May 24th, The HUB, and July 18th for the Hawthorne Yards annexation request, and the August 3 Planning Commission public hearing about an amendment to the Steeplechase Master Site Development Plan.

Previous podcasts about growth and development:

Annexations – May 15

Strong Towns – A New Thinking About La Plata’s Growth – May 22 

La Plata’s Planning Department – May 31

La Plata’s Comprehensive Plan – June 12

La Plata 2021 Annual Planning Report – July 11

Strong Towns

La Plata Planning Department

This episode is a follow-up to my April 23, 2022, podcast – Show Me the Money La Plata’s Draft FY 23 Budget.  – Please note - the FY (Fiscal Year) starts July 1, 2022, and ends June 30, 2023. 

All budget information is available on the Town website – www.townoflpata.org  

This is episode is a brief summary of La Plata’s Planning Department’s 2021 Annual Report, required annually by the Maryland Department of Planning. This was reviewed and approved by the Town Planning Commission at their June 7, 2022, meeting. 

This report is available from the La Plata Planning Department website www.townoflaplta.org>Town Government> Planning Department>Annual Reports 

Key items tracked annually are permits, School seat allocations and development capacity analysis.

Town Council Work Sessions/Business Meeting Recap

Work Sessions: April 12, April 19, May 10, May 17, June 10
Business Meetings: April 26, May 24, June 21

 Link to access all meeting agendas: https://laplata.civicweb.net/Portal/
Then click a  specific meeting date on the calendar. 

The Compete Streets program has a direct connection to one of my Town Council priorities, based on the 2020 Town Comprehensive Plan – GOAL #16: Continue to make La Plata a very walkable community.    

This is also personal for me - I am a walker and cyclist, so I have firsthand experience with speeding in our neighborhoods and around La Plata. This includes several close calls being hit by a car, even practicing safe behavior – walking and riding on the correct side of the road (no sidewalks!) when riding wearing a helmet, reflective clothing, bike lights, front and rear, and obeying rules of the road.  

Links to the following in this podcast:

Complete Streets https://smartgrowthamerica.org/what-are-complete-streets/

Maryland Department of Transporation/State Highway Administration  - https://www.roads.maryland.gov/mdotsha/pages/Index.aspx?PageId=332

This is a follow-up to an episode of my May 31, 2022) podcast - La Plata’s Planning Department and What do they do! 

This episode is about the Town’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan, adopted on September 28, 2020.  
The Plan is a policy guide for both the Town Council and Planning Commission.  

 The Plan’s goals and objectives are implemented over time through the decisions related to annexations, rezoning, the subdivision of land, and the location and construction of public improvements. 

  There are 31 Goals, each with specific Action items for implementation. Again, the Comp Plan is a policy guide to how La Plata grows.

I will follow up with Comp Plan a video, with visuals. 

Thanks again for listening!