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Coming Events

Next HCCA Board Meeting
Monday, March 8 at 7:00 PM at 11915 Gold Needle Way, Columbia MD 21044,. Members who wish to attend please call 410 740 0655 to advise of your concern and to ensure seating.

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HCCA Focus Areas


The Howard County Citizens Association (HCCA) is a non-partisan, non-profit citizens organization founded in 1961. Its purpose is to voice the needs and concerns of County residents. For 2006-2007 HCCA has four focus areas:
  • RESPONSIBLE LAND DEVELOPMENT
Development and redevelopment must be part of specific master plans such as those for Route 1, Turf Valley, Maple Lawn, Route 40 and Columbia Downtown.  Implementation of the Route 40 master plan needs to begin now.  The Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) should be strengthened to ensure developers are fully responsible for adequate infrastructure including schools and roads (compensating for both local and downstream impact) as well as amenities.  Independent consultants ought to do traffic studies for development applications and be paid out of a common fund of developers’ contributions.
  • PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT
Energy-saving/environmentally-friendly (‘green’) technology should be aggressively promoted using incentives and publicity.  The required proportion of undeveloped land (‘open space’) needs to be maintained or increased.  Further development in the rural west should be drastically minimized by use of easements prohibiting construction, and by requiring lots of no less than 25-50 acres for each new dwelling unit instead of the current 4.25 acres.
  • AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Housing stock has become too expensive, excluding average families.  Both moderate and low income (up to 60% of regional median income), and middle income (above 60% of median income) housing should be ensured throughout the County.  New developments should have a 20% minimum of affordable housing with no less than 10% low-income housing.
  • TRANSPORTATION / TRANSIT
Bus frequency should be 30 minutes or less and commuter bus service should be improved and expanded.  Bus rapid transit and light rail options should be planned and MARC services improved by increasing the frequency of departures, extending the hours of service, and improving Camden line service.  The Green Washington Metro line should be extended to Howard County.  A comprehensive traffic/transit study for Columbia is needed before promulgation of a master plan.  Prevention of traffic congestion should one of the county’s highest priorities.

 

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