My Favorite Scenario

An update on the county’s HoCo By Design process came my way via this thread on Twitter by local blogger Frank Hecker. It starts here. A tip of the hat to Hecker for breaking down this information into easily manageable chunks.

A reminder for those not in the loop on this. HoCo By Design is described by the county as follows:

Once each decade, Howard County updates its general plan, a long-range, visionary document that guides land use, growth and development decisions. From now through the end of 2021, the county’s Department of Planning and Zoning is leading a community outreach effort to create a new general plan, called HoCo By Design. County officials want to hear from every voice to create one vision for the new general plan.

Back to the Twitter thread. I found this part the most interesting: the proposal that Columbia Gateway be an area for future residential development. I’m not over there all that often but I certainly have imagined it as another Columbia Village. It feels as though there is ample room for places for people to live and possibly even some schools.

I was happy to learn from Mr. Hecker that scenario C calls for a redesign of Columbia Gateway road access from MD 175 and Snowden River Parkway. I think that’s a great idea as, at the moment, there are very few ways in and out of Gateway.

Does the idea of Gateway as a fully fleshed out “microcity”appeal to you? For some reason it truly sparks my imagination. I think there are a lot of opportunities to get some things right there in areas where Columbia has struggled. Transportation and walkability come to mind.

HoCo By Design is a visionary process. That means that both planners and citizens are engaging in a process that involves some imaginative thinking. That’s why there are multiple scenarios. Even if you haven’t been a part of this process so far, there’s still time for you to participate.

At the conclusion of the thread, Mr. Hecker gives this reminder:

P.S. I forgot to mention: You can sign up for an in-person "New Town Design Session Open House" on July 1 to talk to the #HoCoByDesign planners face to face. Make your voice heard!

It wasn’t so long ago that we were defending Columbia with statements that used the hashtag #morethanGateway. Maybe it won’t be that long into the future that we decide to make Gateway something more.

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