New Mixed-Use Development Plan for Mount Rainier

Mount Rainier, Md. began as a ?EUR??,,????'??streetcar suburb.?EUR??,,????'??

Mount Rainier is a small city (pop. 8,498) on the northwest border of Maryland in the county of Prince George. The ?EUR??,,????'??Welcome to Historic Mount Rainier?EUR??,,????'?? signs picture an old fashion trolley car, a testament to the city?EUR??,,????'???s founding as a ?EUR??,,????'??streetcar suburb.?EUR??,,????'??

The city is drafting a mixed-use town center development plan, a revision of a 1994 plan, to beautify the city and make it environmentally friendly. Specifically, the city wants to be more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly, to move utilities underground, to increase the tree canopy, to add a small field in front of City Hall and the bus stop, and to streamline the bureaucratic obstacles for new business startups.

Mount Rainier, Maryland?EUR??,,????'???s developmental plan includes making the city more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly, moving utilities underground and increasing the tree canopy. The Maryland State Highway Administration is also currently involved in a multi-year research and demonstration project to develop standards and specifications for low-impact development techniques for the state highways.

A draft of the specific recommendations of the plan will be ready in May, after which residents can submit comments to the Prince George's County Planning Board and the County Council. The plan could be approved by November.

The Maryland State Highway Administration (MSHA) is also currently involved in a multi-year research and demonstration project to develop standards and specifications for low-impact development techniques for the state highways. A pilot project planned along U.S. 1 in Mt. Rainier will also monitor the effectiveness of selected low-impact development techniques in meeting TMDL compliance. TMDL (Total Maximum Daily Loads) is the frightening acronym for the maximum amount of a pollutant that can be discharged into a body of water and still maintain water quality standards.