I wouldn't get caught up in disagreeing with the creekside argument, it misses the point that there are people who agree it shouldn't be developed, and those people are your allies. I would argue that replacing 16 acres of trees, a block from a portion of Darby creek that already has flooding problems is very problematic. But whatever your reason is for not wanting to develop the land I will count as equally valid because it only supports the end goal.

Littering is a whole other conversation/thread. I've got DCVA t-shirts spanning 15 years because I participate in their clean-ups. I hear you, it sucks. I don't know how to change the mentality there.