Prince
George's County has adopted unofficially of course the vision of "malling
its way to prosperity". The sales
pitch implicitly suggests that open space is a useless resource that needs
fixing. It also suggests that the county can address all of its social and infrastructure
problems by simply adding more people who can pay more taxes. Somehow the idea
that the problems will grow with the population escapes notice. Prince George's
County keeps promising to fix schools but does so by adding more school without
repairing the problems facing the old ones. The county fixes library needs by
adding libraries rather than enhancing existing libraries in established
communities. The county's wealthy elite have no time or use for long term high quality
of life concepts that are achieved, according to the State of Maryland,
"... through universal stewardship of the land, water, and air resulting
in sustainable communities and protection of the environment.[1]
The idea
that the ordinary citizens should be active partners in the planning and
implementation of community initiatives is dismissed or rendered futile by the
complex Byzantine maize of procedures geared towards the professional purveyors
of development. The process is geared towards the professionals and their
clients because they have the money which makes sense but renders any
sensitivity to their responsibilities in achieving community goals mute and
vague.
Contrarian
to Best Management and Policy Practices and Guidelines, Prince George's County
in a complete contrarian position does not concentrate its growth in existing population
and business centers or growth areas adjacent to these centers, or strategically
selected new centers. The county deciders pay lip service to extensive plans
and then override them in appeal to the County Council sitting in its role as
District Council. The idea of planning and developing compact, mixed–use,
walkable designs consistent with existing community character and located near
available or planned transit options is ignored. The idea of a family Justice
Center in Upper Marlboro fails this test instantly, but that is another blog.[2] Prince George's County goes out of its way to
discouraged efficient use of land and transportation resources and preservation
and enhancement of natural systems, open spaces, recreational areas, and
historical, cultural, and archeological resources.
County infrastructure
is expanded before repairs and maintenance costs are addressed for existing infrastructure.
If we cannot fix what we have, who will pay to fix what we are adding? Growth
areas ought to have, as PlanMaryland states, "...the water resources and
infrastructure to accommodate population and business expansion in an orderly,
efficient, and environmentally sustainable manner."[3] The
county's well known propensity for minimum wage service jobs at retail stores
is not in keeping with 21st century economic development practices that
encourage and promote employment opportunities for all income levels with an
eye to fair and equitable living wage.
When it
comes to the environment, the small self selected decision makers of what is
best for all of us have artfully suggested that a healthy ecosystem is a
disservice to the majority of the county residents. Land and water resources,
including the Chesapeake and the Potomac, Anacostia and Patuxent Rivers are
carefully ignored. Efforts to protect are derided as anti-development as are attempts to condition development on restoration
and maintenance of healthy air and water, natural systems, and living
resources. The idea that any of the following is anything but an engine to
personal gain is dismissed: Waterways, forests, agricultural areas, open space,
natural systems, and scenic areas. We are told that either we cannot afford
them or they are an obstacle to solving all our social and financial problems.
As we
pave everything over expanding out disconnected communities, and the size of
our existing problems as a percentage does not change, what, then, will happen
when we run out of natural resources to destroy? Who then will pay? Where will
the money come from at that point to support our crumbling infrastructure and
our diminishing public services? Development should be about the next
generation's quality of life, not about
the well-being of personal balance sheets of a fortunate few tomorrow.
[1] PlanMaryland.
[accessed January 7, 2012] http://plan.maryland.gov/whatIsIt/12visions.shtml
[2] Prince
Georgian. Connecting the Dots: Upper Marlboro seeks input on historic school’s
fate - Washington Business Journal December 23, 2011
[3] Ob.cit. PlanMaryland
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