Tonight -- Planning Expert to Emphasize Great Urban & Suburban Design Scenarios at Montgomery Planning Board

Ken Firestone sends this along. Had I not a committee meeting tonight, I would go. Ed McMahon is one of the greats in the field, particularly about the impact of chain retail.

SILVER SPRING, MD - At a 7 p.m. Thursday, June 7 presentation to the Montgomery County Planning Board, a nationally renowned authority on sustainable development will discuss tools and techniques for achieving design excellence in commercial areas.

Ed McMahon, senior resident fellow for sustainable development at the Urban Land Institute in Washington, D.C. is the latest expert in the Montgomery County Planning Board's Growth Management Speaker Series.

McMahon, a leading voice on topics related to sustainable development, land conservation, urban design and historic preservation, will present about the architecture and design of commercial corridors - including chain stores, franchises and big box retailers.

His experience in raising awareness about the benefits of green and sustainable development and improving development on the urban fringe is particularly relevant to Montgomery County. McMahon, author of Better Models for Commercial Development, advocates pedestrian-friendly streets in places like Bethesda, Takoma Park and downtown Silver Spring rather than traditional shopping centers and strip malls.

McMahon's presentation, "The Dollars and Sense of Place-Responsive Design," will include a question-and-answer period.

Thursday, June 7, 2007 - 7 p.m.
Park and Planning Headquarters
8787 Georgia Avenue
Silver Spring, MD
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This gives me an idea of getting him to speak at a couple different venues in DC...