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An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.


"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

First People - The Legends. Cherokee Legend of Two Wolves. November 16, 2004. [accessed April 7, 2012].

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Public Planning Forum: Where and how should Prince George's grow? Thursday, January 26, 2012, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM


               Planning In Prince George's County is well thought out on a grand scale but ignored when convenient. The triple tiers of developed, developing and rural serve as broad guidelines for a future but not necessarily the future. In an attempt to bring predictability and professionalism to the land use planning process, M-NCPPC was created by the Maryland General Assembly in 1927 to develop and operate public park systems and provide land use planning for the physical development of the majority of Montgomery and Prince George's Counties, and to operate the public recreation program in Prince George's County. State-of-the-art facilities and national, regional and state award-winning programs have been the result. The county planning department is charged with helping to "...preserve, protect and manage the County's resources by providing the highest quality planning services and growth management guidance and by facilitating effective intergovernmental and citizen involvement through education and technical assistance."[1]       

               Prince George's County's growing population brings an ever greater interest in land development processes and the public and private services that its citizens expect. The planning department values community engagement and is committed to enhancing knowledge and participation of the public in every element of its work. All too often the citizens of the county, however, feel they are left out of the process because of pressing family or business concerns which are not focused at that moment on the long range concept and planning opportunities to participate early in the planning process. In other words, we get excited and vocal when the construction is ready to roll feeling left out of the visioning and conceptual piece of the process. Part of this is the demand on time and perhaps someday Prince George's County will have webinar and wiki planning sessions so that residents can attend and participate on line as well as in person in all the stages of planning.

               Be that what it may, tomorrow the planning department is holding a public forum:      Where and how should Prince George's grow?[2] 

               The forum appears to be in collaboration with Coalition for Smarter Growth.[3]

Event date: Thursday, January 26, 2012, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Location: CSC Building, 7900 Harkins Road, Lanham - by New Carrollton Metro station

Date:    Thursday, January 26, 2012
Time:   6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Location:          CSC Building, 7900 Harkins Road, Lanham - by New Carrollton Metro station
Contact:            RSVP Required. Click here to RSVP.

Comments:     
Prince George’s grew by seven percent over the last decade, yet little of it occurred at the 15 Metro stations or in established town centers. Beginning in 2002, the county adopted a General Plan to provide an overall land use approach to focus growth at transit stations, in new and existing town centers, and to preserve rural lands. However, much of the county’s growth over the last decade spread out across former fields and forests, and far from transit stations. The county is preparing to launch a update to its General Plan to guide where and how the county should grow.

This forum will begin a public conversation around how to plan a better future for Prince George’s by taking stock of past experience and addressing changing needs and emerging trends for the county and the region. Hear from a former County Council Chairman, a new Council Member, and the county’s leading economic development advisor on their vision for guiding a more prosperous and sustainable county in the future.

Moderator:
Derick Berlage, Chief of Countywide Planning, Prince George's County Planning Department

Panel:
Mel Franklin, District 9 County Council Member

David Harrington, former Prince George’s County Council Chair, State Senator and Bladensburg Mayor

David Iannucci, Assistant Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Economic Development, Office of the County Executive, Prince George's County




[1] About Planning. [accessed January 25, 2012] http://www.pgplanning.org/About-Planning.htm
[3] Coalition for Smarter Growth. Partner Organizations: Piedmont Environmental Council; Audubon Naturalist Society; Sierra Club; Clean Water Action; Chesapeake Bay Foundation; Partnership for Smarter Growth; Southern Environmental Law Center; Surface Transportation Policy Project; Friends of the Earth/DC Environmental Network;
Environmental Defense; Prince William Conservation Alliance; Campaign for Loudoun's Future;
Montgomery Countryside Alliance [accessed January 25, 2012] http://smartergrowth.net/anx/index.cfm/1,104,521,0,html/CSG-Partner-Organizations


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