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Cecil County, Maryland Transit and Mobility Friendly Design Standards Mobility friendly design means laying out new neighborhoods and communities in a manner that enables the residents to achieve many destinations. The result sought is livable streets that:- provide for independence and freedom of choice; - provide orientation, safety and comfort; - encourage a sense of community yet provide sufficient privacy; - foster a sense of neighborly ownership and responsibility; - avoid disturbing nuisances; and - enhance the economic value of adjacent property. Using grants provided by the Wilmington Metropolitan Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO) through the Cecil County Office of Planning and Zoning, municipalities throughout the county have undertaken review and revision of their communities’ development regulations with the purpose of ensuring that mobility needs, especially those of pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users, are addressed in the design of new development. After completing the first such successful project in Cecil County, the Chesapeake City project which received an honorable mention from the 1999 Governor’s Smart Growth Awards, Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC has undertaken similar projects in the towns of Rising Sun and Perryville. PJA’s planning process is designed to demonstrate that the distinction between land use and transportation becomes blurred in planning for mobility friendly communities, as each is inextricably intertwined with the basics of design for positive places. As such, the principles of "livable communities," "livable streets," "quality communities," and "mobility friendly" all apply and must be part of any consideration of zoning requirements and design standards for new development and redevelopment within a community. At the conclusion of the project each municipality will have an updated zoning ordinance and zoning map, and subdivision regulations, including revised "mobility friendly" development design standards and related design guidance materials. These updates, besides bringing the communities into compliance with the State’s enabling legislation, will help prepare these areas for a more positive and pro-active role in the State’s "Smart Growth" programs. Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC 416 Goldsborough Street Easton Maryland 21601 Telephone 410.822.9630 Fax 410.820.5039 Email plj@peterjohnstonassociates.com |