Cheverly Green Infrastructure Plan
LAND USE AND OUR BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Green infrastructure connects land conservation and land use planning, promoting more efficient and sustainable land use and development patterns, and protecting natural ecosystems and the many benefits and services they provide. Cheverly benefits from past land use practices, such as the layout of town streets to complement the natural topography and deep lots allowing some backyard areas to remain in a natural state. The town’s use of state Program Open Space funds to purchase park land and other efforts to prevent inappropriate land use have contributed to the natural areas we have today.
Cheverly also bears the burden of the virtual wall of highways and rail lines around and through much of the town that bring pollution, are barriers for hiking and biking trails, and have seriously altered the character and functioning of Lower Beaverdam Creek and the adjacent floodplain. The deleterious environmental and health effects of development near Cheverly have resulted in action by community groups and the Town of Cheverly. The town has joined litigation against a proposed concrete batching plant that would add to air pollution in the region.
The Cheverly Green Infrastructure plan identifies sites that due to their special nature or location are valuable to the community as natural areas and corridors linking those areas. The unbuilt lots on Joslyn Street, at the headwaters of Tributary 4, can provide a natural corridor linking to the Cheverly East Park hub. The plan also identifies sites that where “green” redevelopment practices can help maximize the ecosystem values and services they could provide. The deep lots on the south side of Landover Road west of the Baltimore-Washington Parkway adjacent to a currently piped section of Quincy Run could be redeveloped as attractive commercial properties complementing use of a restored stream as an amenity and greenway that improves Cheverly’s connection to adjacent communities while reducing flooding in the area.
Green building techniques can make our homes and commercial buildings more energy-efficient, limit our carbon footprint and significantly reduce our impact on area streams. We can work with the county, for example, to encourage the widespread replacement of flat asphalt roofs with pollution-fighting cool vegetated roofs (or solar or white reflective roofs where that is not feasible) on nearby commercial and industrial buildings. Asphalt roofs need replacement every 20 years, while green roofs last twice as long in addition to the energy, water and clean air benefits they provide.The sooner we establish and implement green development policies and strategies the sooner we will realize the benefits, including long term cost savings.Recommendations
Inform and guide land use decisions by the principles of green infrastructure, land stewardship guidelines and the Prince George’s County water resources functional master plan.
Convert underutilized and/or abandoned properties, as appropriate, to contribute to green ribbons and designated hubs and/or the natural storm water management system.
Create incentives for the voluntary restoration and stewardship of private open space and residential properties and integration with the natural lands network.
Promote natural practices, green building techniques, and green infrastructure principles into neighborhood design, urban environments, and commercial/institutional areas. Future development projects, for example the Prince George's County Hospital property, Arbor Street/Tuxedo Road, and the 202 corridor, may be opportunities to advocate for these practices.
Encourage the use of permeable surface materials through retro-fit incentives, permit approval process, and innovative zoning mechanisms.
Replace impervious parking lots with permeable materials; consider rain gardens and green roofs. Specific projects include redevelopment of commercial areas along Landover Road to increase permeable surface and decrease street entrances and exits.
Restore the 58th place lots abutting the Baltimore-Washington Parkway to aid in stormwater management and create a community amenity.
Revise transportation and streetscape standards improving conditions for street tree growth and increasing tree canopy.
Encourage the adoption of green infrastructure principles in building development and redevelopment, for example to achieve better stormwater retention.
Explore leasing industrial or institutional flat roof space to a Cheverly solar energy cooperative.
Extend the hubs by acquisition of the Joslyn Street lots, the water tower lot, and the State Highway Administration cloverleaf which we now use as part of Woodworth Park.
Encourage consideration of “green” building methods and materials for residential uses.
Seek opportunities to build pedestrian/bicycle crossings to improve connectivity within Cheverly.
Collaborate with community and area organizations and government agencies on demonstration projects and educational initiatives.
Reduce noise and light pollution.
Encourage best practices to reduce ground level ozone by discouraging vehicle idling, especially by trucks and buses. Install “no idling” signs at places where idling has been observed.
Promote the use of public transportation and car pooling, bicycling and walking; bundling errands; proper car maintenance (e.g. emission controls and tire pressure); driving at designated speeds.
Monitor particulate pollution levels emanating from industrial sites in and around Cheverly.
As an inside-the-beltway family community directly impacted by poor air quality, especially vehicular emissions, advocate for full implementation and enforcement of the Clean Air Act.
The Air We Breathe
Air pollution harms living organisms and damages both the natural and manmade environment. As an inside-the-beltway family community, Cheverly is directly impacted by poor air quality, especially from vehicular emissions. Reduced air quality is among the causes of a rapid increase in respiratory illness among children. Asthma rates in Prince George’s County are higher than Maryland’s statewide average, which is above the national average. The Prince George’s Hospital Authority has reported that respiratory illnesses are among the top causes of death in our region.