Planning Expert to Bring “New Urban” Principles to Montgomery County Planning Board

SILVER SPRING, MD – The Montgomery County Planning Board will learn more about a new planning trend that is transforming suburban communities throughout the country from the president of the Congress for the New Urbanism at a 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 presentation.

The talk by John Norquist, the latest expert in the board’s popular Growth Management Speaker Series, will focus on new urbanism, a planning framework that emphasizes diverse, livable communities with a mix of urban-style uses. The speaker series, which began last spring, informs the Planning Board on topical issues as it grapples with how to shape the future of Montgomery County.

Examples of new urbanism can be found as far away as Portland or as close as Bethesda. Prince George’s County made the news recently when it approved a development featuring single-family houses, townhomes, hotels, a business park and a mix of retail, office and entertainment.

Norquist's work promoting new urbanism as an alternative to sprawl draws on his experience as mayor of Milwaukee from 1988 to 2004, when the city experienced a decline in poverty and saw a boom in new downtown housing. He oversaw a revision of the city's zoning code and reoriented development around walkable streets and public amenities, such as the city's 3.1-mile Riverwalk.

Norquist's topic, “Adding Long-Term Value to Montgomery County,” will delve into how the new urbanist movement applies in Montgomery County and how to reform planning to embrace some of its concepts locally.

WHO:
John Norquist, president, Congress for the New Urbanism

WHAT: 
Presentation on the principles of new urbanism

WHEN:  
Thursday, October 11, 2007 – 7 p.m.

WHERE: 
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD