Every year, the COG Board holds a summer conference to discuss regional issues in detail. Members spent the weekend of July 23 discussing growth in metropolitan Washington, an issue which will be a priority of the COG Board over the next three years.

At the summer conference, several speakers emphasized that today’s land-use decisions will greatly affect the region’s long-term outlook. William Hudnut, a senior fellow at the Urban Land Institute, stressed the importance of strengthening established communities. John Norquist, CEO of Congress for the New Urbanism, urged leaders to design livable communities and to use old-fashioned Main Streets as a model.

Throughout discussions and forums, the Board focused on how to handle the rapid growth of jobs and population expected in the National Capital Region by 2030. Speakers stressed the need to rebuild older suburbs and design livable communities using old-fashioned Main Streets as a model. Board members discussed encouraging growth around the region’s transit infrastructure and how to use the arts and sports as ways to enhance the region’s reputation as a vibrant community.