Minor Master Plan Amendment: Our View

Dear Mayor Searcy and City Councilmembers,

Takoma For All (TFA) and the undersigned write in strong support of the Minor Master Plan Amendment – Public Hearing Draft for the Washington Adventist Hospital site and Maple Avenue corridor. 

TFA is a group of Maryland and D.C. neighbors promoting a sustainable, equitable, transit-oriented community with plenty of homes. We work to strengthen a vibrant, inclusive, prosperous, resilient and transit-friendly community and advocate for the creation and preservation of affordable and market-rate housing, commercial spaces and community amenities including schools, parks, recreation facilities and public spaces. More information about TFA at www.takomaforall.org. 

This proposed plan amendment and included zoning changes are good for the climate, good for equity and affordability, and good for local businesses. For example:

• Adding space for hundreds of new housing units with easy access to both the Takoma Metro station and future Purple Line station will mean thousands of new neighbors are able to live climate-friendly car-free or car-lite lifestyles, helping the City and County meet our climate goals. While city policies have provided existing residents with affordable housing, no new multifamily units have been built in the City of Takoma Park since the 1970s. City policies should encourage new housing to attract residents to our dense walkable community that offers protections for diverse groups of people that few other jurisdictions in the U.S. offer. 
• The inclusion of the Green Promenade, bikeway improvements, pedestrian network and new Town Center along Flower Ave will significantly elevate the role of non-vehicular transportation.
• The proposed new zoning will fit in with existing 12-17 story apartment buildings in the plan area, and will also enable more people at all income levels to enjoy the benefits of living in our community, working towards the County’s goal of 10,000 new housing units. 
• The adoption of mixed-use zoning in the plan area will provide opportunities for additional retail businesses to serve the needs of both new and existing residents and diversify the city’s revenue streams. According to the City’s Housing and Economic Data Analysis from 2017, “the City is under-retailed for its population and level of income […], indicating a capacity for additional retail.”

The modest changes proposed in this plan amendment are necessary to meet the City Council’s 2023-2024 priorities, such as exploring to expand City revenue options to identify long-term solutions necessary to diversify the City’s revenue streams and plan and prepare for development in the City and region while maintaining the special character and economic and racial diversity of Takoma Park. The plan amendment also supports Takoma Park’s Housing and Economic Development Strategic Plan, adopted in 2019, which identifies the need to “produce more housing and opportunities for businesses to start and grow across the income spectrum and in neighborhoods across the City to meet the diverse housing and economic needs.”

We have appended [in a separate post] a Q&A section that we found useful in answering questions that have been raised regarding the plan amendment.

TFA strongly encourages the Takoma Park City Council to endorse the Minor Master Plan Amendment in full. Individual members and friends have asked to include their names below, associating themselves publicly with the organization’s position.

Thank you for your time. 

Sincerely,

Takoma For All

Adam Oppenheim, Ward 1

Alan Zibel, Ward 1

Amanda Hungerford, Ward 1

Amelia Coffey, Takoma DC

Ashley E. Brookshier, Ward 3

Ben Rempell, Ward 1

Beth Davidson, Takoma DC

Birchie Seiffert, Ward 1

Christian Bangert, Takoma DC

Dion Thompson-Davoli, Ward 3

Edward Drozd, Ward 1

Emanuel Wagner, Ward 2

Eyal Li, Ward 3

Fawzia Ahmed, Ward 1

Fred Schultz, Ward 6

Gene Koo, Ward 3

Jeremy Hekhuis, Ward 1

Katrina Furth, Ward 1

Kawsar Talaat, Ward 5

Kenneth Simler, Ward 1

Kerry Porter, Ward 2

Kevin Finelli, Ward 4

Mark Porter, Ward 2

Molly Wasser, Ward 4

Morgan Snyder, Ward 2

Nancy Augustine, Ward 1

Pavan Auluck, Ward 1

Paul Seiffert, Ward 1

Rachel Anderson, Ward 3

Salim Furth, Ward 1

Sarah Brookshier, Ward 3

Steve Teles, Ward 1

Tony Camilli, Ward 1

Troy Jacobs, Ward 5

Walter Scott, Ward 1

Zachary Arnold, Ward 4