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Stafford planners recently visited Kentlands, a mixed-use community in Maryland
BY KAFIA HOSH GAITHERSBURG, Md.--A group of mothers gathered with their strollers for coffee at a Starbucks in Gaithersburg, Md., recently. The women avoided a jam-packed strip mall parking lot and the morning rush hour. It's likely many of them walked to the store from their homes or parked on a nearby street. Kentlands is a bustling, mixed-use community that blends residential and commercial development. It is decorated with tree-lined sidewalks and grassy courtyards. Its vibrant commercial center includes apparel outlets, restaurants and stores, surrounded by a blend of apartments, townhouses and single-family homes. Kentlands, which sits on 367 acres, has a town-style concept similar to traditional neighborhood developments being planned in Stafford County. To see a traditional neighborhood development in action, four Stafford Planning Commission members toured Kentlands last month. "We see all of these plans, and we read all of the theories," said commission member Steve Pitzel. "We really just wanted to go see what these things look like after they've been developed," Kentlands was one of the first TND communities in the country and is a case study on how neo-traditional neighborhoods are created. Professors, architects and urban planners routinely visit. Shelley Mastran, an urban planning professor at Virginia Tech's Alexandria campus, took her growth-management class on a field trip to Kentlands last year. "We use it as an example," Mastran said. "We walked around and analyzed it and saw what makes it work." Housing The neighborhoods in Kentlands and other TND communities ensure there is constant activity. "The idea is if you mix the uses together, you'll have life all around the clock," Mastran said. "The place won't get dead at night when office workers leave when you have residences there as well." Kentlands includes virtually all housing types, including senior-living apartments, condominiums, townhouses and single-family homes built on smaller lots. The eclectic mix of housing offers several degrees of affordability. "Even wealthier people seem to prefer a different model," said Tony Tomasello, Gaithersburg's assistant city manager for economic and community development. "They're not looking for a big yard. They're looking for a safe place they can lock the house and go do something else." Each Kentlands neighborhood has its own unique touch.
Date published: 11/18/2007
Grab the money and run, leave the suckers sogned on to an ever spiraling upward HOA ruled by Anal SOBs! Give it all up and run while you can!
Husband has been HOA Board member over 12 years at various places. I do indeed know better. Developer will subsidize shuttle for a while, then cost will be shifted 100% to HOA, dues will go up substantially for costs (insurance,driver salaries, maint., gas, etc.). HOA's can only increase dues X amount per year without a super majority. Costs will be exorbitant, especially for the lower income & elderly this community is targeting. Will they use commuter lots,doubtful. Thought TND's eliminated commuting need
I do believe the "free bus" will be around. I have worked for homeowners associations and the general rule is that the developer pays for any shortfall that hoa dues dont cover until 75% of the community is built out. The county will also have power to not allow anymore lots to be created if the bus isnt running. The proffers run with the land not the developer, so even if this developer leaves the next will have to follow the same rule.
Don't be such a naysayer. Its annoying
My understanding of the "free" shuttle from Stafford Town Station to VRE.,etc. is scheduled to paid and operated out of the future Homeowners Association. Means residents will run it and pay for it. Most likely die a quick death. Not enough resdients to financially support it. It's a sales gimmick to attract buyers and fool Stafford County BOS.
Leland road would have been perfect to a TND.
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