Thread by @janelyonsraeder

The Nspiregreen consultant report on #Thrive2050 can be found under the Agenda/Staff Reports for Tuesday, September 13. This includes feedback from the additional outreach and a new racial equity and social justice chapter. montgomerycountymd.gov/COUNCIL/ondema…

Here is the Council work session schedule for Thrive ⬇️ a final vote is expected on October 25

The executive summary of the report says there was a "lukewarm reaction to Thrives policies" from their target demographic. "One thing everyone could agree on, is that Montgomery County is doing a great job with their parks,
recreation and open space planning."

The consultants identified three shortcomings of the Planning Dept's outreach: 1) lack of demographic data gathering and reporting, 2) racial rep in early planning, 3) lack of clarity and transparency in the outreach
and engagement process. Good recs follow this.

Here's a pretty clear summary of what the consultants' additional outreach process entailed. All of these except the compensated focus groups were part of the county's outreach efforts from 2019 to 2021.

A strong majority of BIPOC residents from the focus groups and questionnaire support #Thrive2050's issues and policies. Community forum was more split.

Then the report talks about the themes from the focus groups. A majority of these reflect what is in Thrive, but some also express skepticism that good change is possible. Thrive only gives us a direction, the rest is up to 30 years of implementation.

Interesting results from the CHEER listening session. "Latinos can't benefit from compact growth" (Would sprawl benefit more?) "Focus on transit ignores non-office worker needs" (Buses overwhelmingly carry non-office workers) "Integration will not be possible"

71% of survey participants were already aware of Thrive, and nearly 80% were white. This is not a statistically significant survey, whereas the Data for Progress poll was and showed 55% support with strongest support from Black or African American residents.

The Nspiregreen survey also showed majority support for Thrive's vision, including the Housing chapter having 40% "absolutely fits my vision." This held true for BIPOC residents as well.

Here were the demographics of the community forum. Mostly female and white. Nearly 60% agreed that complete communities and compact growth are the right approaches for MoCo's future.

Interestingly, housing and transportation polled the best of the attendees and design, arts & culture and parks & rec we're in the high 40s of support.

Gonna have to pause for now while I attend the rent stabilization rally at the County Council building! Rent stabilization and tenant protections isn't something Thrive currently talks about, but it should!

Alright, I'm back on the Q4 (my new bff). Rent stabilization rally went really well! Kudos to all the organizers and activists. Now back to Thrive!

Let's jump right into the big stuff. Here are the consultants' recommended changes to #Thrive2050. "Focus density near transit stations." Big If True. (This is like the crux of Thrive...)

"If market rate housing is going to be built in areas with naturally occurring affordable housing, strong tools to prevent displacement
are needed."

Pretty much all the research shows it's infrastructure improvements that increases home prices, not new market-rate housing.

The recommendations for the transportation and housing chapters ⬇️ Aren't rent to own programs, like, super predatory? Also, love bullet #4! That's what I've been saying!!!

"Develop a zoning and design strategy which allows different housing types to be built and high income (primarily single family)
areas that will preserve existing property values through careful design and allow for low income residents to live with dignity."

Overall 🔥 but I don't like that this implies that having different housing types lowers property values. There's no evidence of this.

Another interesting recommendation is reintroducing the River Road growth corridor, and focusing growth primarily on low/moderate income homes to help integrate the county.

A lot of these recommendations are already in Thrive? Like, word for word?

Now we're at the new chapter on racial equity & social justice, which overall is really good imo. There will also be reintroduced chapters on the environment and economy. One of the things we've advocated for all along is more focus on RESJ, so I'm glad this chapter exists.

This framing really rubs me the wrong way. Sprawl can also bring these things. Compact growth is necessary for the quality of our natural resources.

The transportation section of this chapter is, frankly, really bad. Won't someone please think of the drivers? They only have over half a century of prioritization in our built environment!

Reminder that the people who disproportionately suffer the most from our car-centric built environment are Black and Hispanic people who get killed at a higher rate and the working class who can't afford a private vehicle.

And that's it! My takeaway is that most residents support what is in #Thrive2050 but are of course concerned that the devil is in implementation. The consultants have some good recommendations, and I look forward to seeing the plan pass this fall.

cc: @Andrew_Friedson @RicePolitics @nancy_navarro @CmHucker @SidneyKatz4MC @willjawando @hansriemer @albornoz_gabe @CMEvanGlass