Vision Agenda: Sustain

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Sustain

What is our vision for how we sustain our County, for ourselves and for future generations, especially around energy, natural resources, transportation, and development issues?

How can we maintain and expand the infrastructure that supports our communities—where we live, work, learn, serve, and enjoy—in a sustainable manner. Infrastructure includes all elements of the built environment (including housing, businesses, transportation, and other public facilities) and natural environment (including green infrastructure, water resources, open space, and air quality)?
How do we handle the pressures of future growth, the challenges of climate change and varying energy costs, and the opportunities for alternative energy sources?
How do we best balance the needs to grow and develop as a county, while also preserving and sustaining the natural environment and open space?
What is the role of agriculture in our community and the need to maintain access to a healthy and sustainable food supply?

Vision Ideas for Sustain from the Community Forums

Nearly 450 ideas were received related to Sustain across the six community forums. Eight themes rose to the top. Each is written here as if the desired future has already occurred:

Energy Production Leader: Prince George’s County is a leading producer and user of alternative energy sources, such as solar, wind, and geothermal.
A Model in Energy Efficiency: Prince George’s County is a regional leader in widespread development of energy efficient public and private buildings, public transit and other greener forms of transportation, and reduction in our overall carbon footprint.
Steeped in the Green Economy: Prince George’s County is one of the leading members of the emerging green economy, producing equipment, materials, services and other items needed to help people and organizations produce less pollution and reduce their carbon footprints.
Transit-Oriented Development; Rural Tier Preserved: By the year 2030, the areas around all of the 15 Metro stations and other urban areas have been developed into vibrant, mixed-use, walkable town centers while sprawl has been contained and the Rural Tier is preserved.
Excellent Public Transportation: All residents are able to move around the county and in the region using public transportation that is convenient, clean, quick, and affordable.
Locally Grown, High-Quality Food: Farms in Prince George’s County are a major supplier of locally grown, high-quality food for the region.
Protected Watersheds and Open Space: The watersheds, waterways, and other green areas of the county are well protected and linked together with green corridors and waterways.
Local Jobs, Businesses, and Amenities: A greater number of jobs, businesses, and other services throughout the county decrease the need for long car trips and travel to other counties, which greatly decreases pollution, energy use, and congestion.

Assets, Opportunities, and Challenges

Below are many ideas about the assets, opportunities, and challenges for Prince George’s County to consider as we strive towards our Vision for Sustain.

Assets

Existing pubic transit: 15 Metro stations, 7 MARC stations, 1 Amtrak station, TheBus and Metrobus with high ridership on all.

Road network including expressways and highways: I-95, I-495, Baltimore–Washington Parkway, Intercounty Connector, US 50, US 301, Pennsylvania Avenue, Suitland Parkway, Branch Avenue, Crain Highway, Indian Head Highway, Central Avenue, and others.
Access to major airports, existing general aviation airports, and rail lines.

Extensive green infrastructure that is well protected.
Three major watersheds—Anacostia, Potomac and Patuxent Rivers.
Agricultural land in the Rural Tier of the county.
General Plan has good principles for sustainable development.
Green Infrastructure Plan has good strategies for protecting and expanding open space and green infrastructure.

Opportunities

Rebuild established communities to utilize existing infrastructure.
Use large tracts of undeveloped land to accommodate a balance between open space, recreation, and development.

Facilitate development around metro stations and other transit stops that is mixed-use and pedestrian friendly (Transit Oriented Development)
Grow green businesses and technology to connect to research centers at universities and federal facilities.
Assist farms to meet demand for locally grown and organic food.
Design “complete streets” that are good for all users, including pedestrians, public transit, and vehicular traffic, in order to decrease automobile dependency
Ensure universal access to proposed Purple Line stations and associated new development.
Develop green urban areas such as parks and trails to enhance quality of life, not just protect green areas in undeveloped land.
Develop urban agriculture and community gardens in new and existing neighborhoods to build social capital and foster community togetherness.

Challenges

Inadequate public transit to some major destinations, such as National Harbor.
Threats to water supply for future generations.
Pressure for development in rural areas and on agricultural land.
Limited revenues from residential and commercial property tax base.
Threats to environment caused by future development and global climate change.
Varying energy costs.
Implementation of strategies in General Plan and master plans.