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| NOURISH YOUR NEW YEAR: Sally Fallon Morell |
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.jpg) Learn about your health, your food supply, the connection of smarter growth and healthy communities, and sustainable farming practices for environmental preservation. The Center for Rural Culture and Ellwood Thompson's Local Market present
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Seminar on Traditional Foods & Healthy Communities with Sally Fallon Morell - author of
Nourishing Traditions and President, The Weston A. Price Foundation.
Saturday, January 10th, 9-6, Montepelier Center for Arts and Education. Hear from many experts, including PSG Steering Committee Member Stewart Schwartz of the Coalition for Smarter Growth, on the important links between health and communities.
Delicious Lunch provided by Ellwood Thompson's Local Market. $65 in advance before 1/9. Register, more info.
Other Seminar Weekend Events:
Friday, January 9th 5:30-9, The Camel Restaurant.
Sally Fallon Morell Meet & Greet, Book Signing, Lecture: "The Oiling of America/The Cholesterol Myths." $10 donation at door.
Sunday, January 11th, 11 am- 1 pm. Ellwood's Thompson's Local Market. Lecture: "Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner: Having trouble getting started with a traditional diet?" Sally offers suggestions for no-fuss, economical meals. Free! Registration suggested. |
| LEARN AND SPEAK UP: Water, Words, Bills, and Bulbs |
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 CBF's Rally for Clean Water: PSG is joining hundreds of clean water supporters at the capitol steps on Monday, January 26, 12 noon, for issues briefings, individual meetings with legislators, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation's Rally for Clean Water. Sign the petition
asking the EPA to keep its promise to clean up the Bay.
Conversation Cafe: Sharpen your small group meeting facilitation skills at this open community discussion on Wednesday, January 21, 7- 9:30. PBS, 23 Sesame Street. Email Lisa for more info.
Virginia Conservation Network's Lobby Day: Join fellow citizens to learn about the conservation community's shared legislative priorities and to take that message to your representatives. Monday, January 19, 8:30 - 2. More info & Register.
Gardening in an Era of Climate Change: Is the Sky Really Falling? Join PSG as we celebrate Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden's 25th anniversary with a series of four symposia, the first of which is on February 4, 5, and 6. More info & register. |
| SMARTER GROWTH AND THE ECONOMY:
The Stimulus Package and Obama |
A jogger on the Huguenot Bridge |
A Sustainable Stimulus Package?
David Brooks' New York Times article expresses growing concern that the emerging national stimulus package will over-emphasize roadway widenings and further entrench us in old guard highway expansion instead of setting us on the path towards a sustainable future. Help us get the word out to federal, state and local officials that infrastructure spending has to place much more emphasis on fixing current roads and bridges first, in addition to transit and more compact communities; otherwise it could set the movement towards smart, sustainable and livable communities back decades.
Please sign the Rails to Trails Conservancy petition to President-elect Obama and key congressional leaders, encouraging them to fund important bicycle and pedestrian projects in the stimulus package.
A Smart Growth President?
More than 3,300 signed a Transportation for America petition, delivered to the presidential candidates just before that last debate, emphasizing the importance of smart growth. Our President-Elect's response as a candidate:
"Everyone benefits if we can leave our cars, walk, bicycle and access other transportation alternatives. I agree that we can stop wasteful spending and save Americans money, and as president, I will re- evaluate the transportation funding process to ensure that smart growth considerations are taken into account. I will build upon my efforts in the Senate to ensure that more Metropolitan Planning Organizations create policies to incentivize greater bicycle and pedestrian usage of roads and sidewalks. And as president, I will work to provide states and local governments with the resources they need to address sprawl and create more livable communities."
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| SAVE OUR CITIES
AND SUBURBS:
Tysons Corner Reinvented |
 How Tysons 7 Looks Now. Source: NPR
Tysons Corner could become a model for smarter growth across the country with its 30 year makeover plan. |
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Started on farmland 13 miles from D.C. in the 1960s, Tysons is a city for cars with two huge shopping malls, tens of thousands of shoppers a day and 167,000 parking spaces. Pedestrians fend for themselves with sidewalks that end inexplicably, virtually no crosswalks, and an infrastructure designed for speeding cars. The product of policies and subsidies that favored drivable suburban development, Tysons' imbalance is affecting quality of life: Only 17,000 live there with 117,000 driving in and out each day, causing unbearable gridlock.
But with Metro rail stations planned to anchor four of five new dense and walkable residential neighborhoods in Tysons, hopes are high that the area will tranform into a beacon for suburban revitalization and land use and transportation solutions. See NPR's Northern Virginia Tries New Model to Battle Sprawl.
 How Tysons 7 could look in the future. Source: NPR |
| SAVE OUR FARMS & FORESTS |
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Land Conservation Tools Explained
Read Robert Suydam's article, "Virginia Law Offers Innovative Land Conservation Tools," for a clear and compelling explanation of the importance and mechanics of conservation in Virginia. "We in Virginia well know that development often comes at the expense of land rich in natural resources, and often increases the financial burden on local governments by creating inefficient and costly public services and infrastructure," write Suydam. "If local governments are serious about planning for where development occurs and protecting forest land and agricultural land, they will consider powerful and influential planning tools (such as TDR, PDR, and conservation easements). With them, localities can alter the pattern of inefficient growth and create balance between development and conservation in Virginia." | |
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Thank you for subscribing to Partnership for Smarter Growth's Enewsletter, the Regional Scoop.
Happy New Year! We're confident that with your support, 2009 will be an even better year than 2008. Looking back, PSG made great strides:
 - We convened citizen leaders to begin crafting an alternative regional transportation plan emphasizing bike, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure;
-We provided training, presentations, consultation to over 100 citizens;
- We grew our communications contacts from 500 to 2000;
- We hosted 160 on an urban revitalization bus tour and a local foods celebration at the River City Saunter.
- We advocated for better public process in the Henrico Comp Plan targeting growth in rural Varina, & helped form Envision Henrico;
- We gathered 1000 signatures to endorse the open process of the Richmond Downtown Master Plan, and to form Envision Richmond.
Our New Year's Resolution? To keep working hard with you for a better connected Richmond region and vibrant, vocal citizen groups in our communities.
We hope one of your 2009 goals is to help shape the future of your community with PSG. Read on for when, where, and how to speak up and take part. Only have a minute? Try your luck this year and buy a $5.00 raffle ticket for a scooter donated to PSG by Scoot Richmond!
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| PSG Highlights: In the news and at the polls |
PSG Featured on CBS 6, "Vanishing Virginia"
Greg McQuade reports on one man's stand against urban sprawl and listens to perspectives from planners, developers, farmers, and Partnership for Smarter Growth on the effects of rapid growth in the Richmond region. Aired November 18th and 19th, 2008.
View Part I of the Feature
View Part II of the Feature
Smarter growth movement gained 400 new names on Election Day
On that cold and rainy Tuesday, 27 volunteers at 47 polling places handed out 5,000 pieces of smart growth literature and gathered 400 new names. Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) in conjunction with Partnership for Smarter Growth and local citizen groups across the region coordinated a successful effort to strengthen the grassroots movement for citizen involvement in planning our communities. Together we are building an effective, organized, and passionate network of individuals ready to speak up and take action about how and where we grow, on the local, regional, and state-wide level.
Thanks to the volunteers, and welcome to those who joined! |
| Regional Highlights: The SYIP and the Bike Ped Plan |
Help shape Virginia's transportation future at the region's SYIP Working Draft Public Hearing
 The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) invites your comments about essential rail, transit, bicycle, pedestrian, and highway projects in the Working Draft Revised FY2009-2014 Six-Year Improvement Program (SYIP) to be approved by the CTB this month. Monday, January 12, 6:00 p.m., VDOT Central Office Auditorium, 1221 East Broad Street. More info. Help promote Richmond's Bike and Pedestrian future with the Capital Region Greenway Group
Your taxpayer dollars invested $750,000 into the Richmond Regional Bike and Pedestrian Plan conducted by VDOT beginning in 2001. But few of the important recommendations have become reality, and without our localities prioritizing transportation alternatives, the Richmond region continues on our car-centric path. Come learn about the Plan before it gathers dust on the shelf, and explore what we can do as citizens to put the plan into action in our localities.
Who: Capital Region Greenway/Trails Committee Meeting, open to citizens
What: Presentation by the RRPDC on the Bike Ped Plan
When: Wednesday, January, 28 2009 at 6 PM. Where: Byrd Park Roundhouse - Byrd Park. |
| Locality Highlights: Richmond, Henrico, Powhatan, Hanover, New Kent |
RICHMOND: Envision Richmond Kick-Off Meeting Featuring Rachel Flynn and Citizen Brainstorming
Do you want to participate in shaping Richmond's future? What if you could share your ideas with other Richmonders, also committed to a healthy and vital city, and work together to make sure a strong citizen voice is heard? Join us to help create your organization, Envision Richmond, and learn more about your role for a more vibrant RiverCity. You'll have a chance to buy a raffle ticket for PSG's Scoot Richmond scooter, too. More info.
WHEN: Thursday, January 15th, 6:30 - 8:30 6:30: Networking and Music
7:00: Presentations, Collaboration and Brainstorming
8:30: Networking and Music
WHERE: The Tricycle Gardens Headquarters, "The Expansion Joint," in Manchester, 211 West 7th Street
RSVP: Email Donna at envisionrichmond@gmail.com to register. Treating cities as 'precious heirlooms'
Charleston's Mayor spoke to over 400 government officials, business leaders and community activists on revitalization effort at Richmond Convention Center on November 18th. Mayor Riley urged Richmonders to "insist" on revitalization and a beautiful, inclusive public realm, as outlined in the Downtown Master Plan.
"The capital of the Confederacy has great historical resources but has done a terrible job of protecting them. An engaging riverfront revitalization instills hope for improvements." - National Geographic
First Public Hearing on Comprehensive Plan
Show up and speak out during the Public Hearing on the Comprehensive Plan, recently updated on the website for citizens. The turn-out at this Hearing will gauge public interest and determine future public input processes, so your presence is important. The planning staff has responded to citizen requests for changes and needs to continue to hear from you.
WHEN: Jan 22, 6 p.m.
WHERE: the County Administration Building in the Government Center at Parham and Hungary Spring Roads
Landfill worries Henrico residents.
Henrico residents, some of whom attended PSG's recent Smart Growth Advocacy Training Program: Grassroots Is Always Greener, are banding together to fight a rezoning that would bring a landfill to their backyard.
POWHATAN:
Pam McCune, PSG Steering Committe member and a leader of the citizen goup Powhatan Tomorrow, helped sponsor a forum in October to educate citizens and elected officials on the impacts of land-use decisions on transportation. The forum brought land use and transportation solutions to the pages of several media outlets, and highlighted the important work of the study group commissioned by the Board of Supervisors to address the concerns of a fast-growing county.
PDR Committee meets January 12.
The Purchase of Development Rights Committee, which was created to support the conservation of the county's rural lands, continues to craft a plan for the Board of Supervisors' consideration. Although the meeting is open to the public, it is not a public hearing. Visit Coalition for Hanover's Future's website for more info.
WHEN: January 12, 7 p.m.
WHERE: Planning Dept. Seminar Room, 2nd Floor, County Administration Building
Parks and Rec Online Survey
In 10 minutes time, help Parks and Rec develop a blueprint for future development. Now is the time to envision how Hanover can create a plan that encompasses green and open passive spaces and natural areas as well as sports and active facilities.
NEW KENT
Form-based Codes? - A workshop
Led by Vlad Gavrilovic of Renaissance Planning Group and Milton Herd of Herd Planning and sponsored by New Kent County, this workshop will explore the concept of form-based codes.
Form-based codes are replacing or supplementing traditional zoning in more and more localities, including a number in Virginia. Form-based code largely ignores the use of structures and instead focuses on their relationships with each other, the street and public and private spaces.
WHEN: January 22, 6:30 PM
WHERE: The Board Room of the New Kent County Administration Building during the meeting of the Zoning Ordinance Rewrite Committee, call 966-9690 for further info. |
Volunteers/Commute/Quote of the Month
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Volunteer of the Month
 PSG thanks Grant Mizell, our Graphic Design Intern, who joined us in October and has been indispensible ever since for his creative eye and committed approach. He has a B.S. in Mass Communications, Creative Ad Track, from VCU, and is now an Adjunct Professor there. A native of Richmond, Grant also volunteers with a delegate. We are fortunate that he is lending his innovation and expertise to a smarter, more sustainable Richmond! Creative Commute of the Month
 PSG's Commute of the Month goes to the VCU student-created website, www.HowIRichmond.org, which innovatively explores transportation alternatives in Richmond and beyond. "The site works as a virtual chat room, news aggregator and all-around information resource for Richmond's burgeoning alternative transportation community," said a Style Weekly feature, Need a Lift? Try Virtual Ride Finder.
"It is only when we recognize the gifts of every sector of Richmond and bring them together in solidarity that we can begin this journey to new and exciting new places." John Moeser, in a Style Weekly Back Page editorial, "A Letter to Our Next Mayor."
"The draft plan of the regional transportation authority is not adequate... and would funnel the money back to localities to use largely as they wish. It won't do much in the way of providing truly comprehensive regional transportation solutions and public transit, which is essential." A. Barton Hinkle, RTD Op/Ed, "Mayor's Office: Certain Tasks Can Cultivate Good Will." | |
The grassroots movement for smarter growth starts with you. Thank you for staying connected and taking action.
Sincerely,
Sheila J. Sheppard
Coordinator, Partnership for Smarter Growth
p: 804-225-1902
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| OUR STEERING COMMITTEE |
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Locality representatives:
Charles City:
Fred Fisher
Goochland:
Ennion Williams
Hanover:
Martha & Lynn Wingfield
Henrico:
Jane Koontz, Lynn Wilson
Petersburg:
Richard Taylor
Powhatan:
Pam McCune
Richmond:
Barbara Williamson
State & Regional Representatives:
The Sierra Club Virginia Chapter:
Glen Besa and Charles Price
Virginia League of Conservation Voters -Education Fund:
Lisa Guthrie
Coalition for Smarter Growth:
Stewart Schwartz
Southern Environmental Law Center:
Trip Pollard
Back Porch Initiatives:
Virginia Walters
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