Google's Cafeteria and City Planning?

From a post by Cass Sunstein on LinkedIn: What Google's Cafeteria Can Teach Us About Designing Cities

HoCo Exec Ken Ulman Awarded for Sustainability

From the Baltimore Sun: Ulman accepts sustainability award for Downtown Columbia plan

Comprehensive Rezoning Deadline is 12/14/12

From Howard County's Department of Planning and Zoning:

Deadline Fast Approaching for Comprehensive Rezoning Proposals

The Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ) is accepting proposals for zoning map and regulation amendments through December 14, 2012.  Any property owner may request a zoning map change on their property.  For example, if a property is zoned for residential use, but the owner of that property wants the property zoned for business use, a request may be submitted.  Requests for zoning regulation changes, also known as text changes, may be made by anyone.  Until December 14, 2012, proposals for both types of zoning changes should be made via the official request forms, which can be found on the County’s website (www.howardcountymd.gov/compzoning). 
The 2012 Comprehensive Rezoning effort will include the following steps:

1.    DPZ accepts requests for zoning map and regulation changes

2.    DPZ compiles and evaluates all requests

3.    DPZ submits recommended changes to Planning Board and posts all properties

4.    Planning Board conducts a public hearing on recommendations

5.    Planning Board submits recommended actions to the Administration and County Council

6.    The Administration’s revised proposal is introduced as legislation to the County Council for its consideration

7.    County Council holds a public hearing

8.    County Council votes on recommendations

For general information and questions about the comprehensive rezoning process, residents may submit specific inquiries via email at compzoning@howardcountymd.gov and/or contact the County’s information line at 410-313-0500. 

HoCo Announces Comprehensive Rezoning!

Howard County’s Department of Planning and Zoning announced today that it will launch
 the countywide rezoning process and will be accepting proposals for zoning map and regulation
amendments between October 15 and December 14, 2012. For more information, see the announcement sent out by the county today (.pdf).

North Laurel Residential Development

From explorehoward.com: Proposed residential development in North Laurel gets mixed reviews

185-home subdivision planned for end of 29 in Ellicott City

From Explore Howard: 185 homes planned where Route 29 ends in Ellicott City

Howard Hughs Corp. buys 70 Corporate Center

From the Baltimore Sun - Howard Hughes Corp. buys former Ryland Group headquarters in Columbia

Chin Baptist Mission Church granted conditional use

From the Baltimore Sun: Glenwood church gets zoning exception from Board of Appeals

Columbia Bridge

From the Baltimore Sun: Bridge to unite Columbia villages seen as crucial for town

U.S. House passes bill on Eminent Domain

In 2005, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kelo v. City of New London that local government could take over private property of several homeowners for the purpose of converting the property commercial use. The case was unique in that eminent domain had traditionally been used for public works projects - such as highways or public facilities. The Court held that "The city’s determination that the area at issue was sufficiently distressed to justify a program of economic rejuvenation is entitled to deference"; essentially, local governments were best suited to determine what public use was locally under the takings clause of the Fifth Amendment. Kelo drew much backfire, and in response many state governments enacted laws limiting eminent domains takings to very specific uses.

On February 28, 2012, the US House of Representatives passed a bill seeking to limit the Kelo ruling. The bill, H.R. 1433 (known as the Private Property Rights Protection Act) is co-sponsored by James Sensenbrenner, R-Wisconsin, and Maxine Waters, D-California. According to the Washington Post, the

"legislation would withhold for two years all federal development aid to states or locales that take private property for economic development. It also bars the federal government from using eminent domain for economic development purposes and gives private property owners the right to take legal action if provisions of the legislation are violated."

The Private Property Rights Protection Act was opposed by John Conyers, D-Michigan, who was concerned that the bill exempted the Keystone XL pipeline from the eminent domain restrictions. The Keystone XL pipeline is a project by a Canadian company which proposes to build a gas pipeline from Canada to Texas. Additionally, Rep. Conyers noted that over 40 states have already enacted legislation in response to Kelo.

It is interesting to note that the property in question in Kelo was taken initially for Pfizer to develop a new location. In 2009, Pfizer abandoned the plans. For more information, see this CBS news article from November, 2009.

Patty Rouse, widow of James Rouse, passes away

From the Baltimore Sun: Patty Rouse, widow of Columbia founder, dies