Anne Arundel Sierra Club Questionnaire For County Council Candidates PRIORITIES 1) If elected, what would be your three top priorities for action by the County Council and, briefly, how would you plan to implement them? ANSWER: My top three priorities for action would be (1) controlling development by introducing a bill to incorporate Small Area Development Plans into zoning codes; (2) encouraging environmentally-friendly building by incorporating solar, wind, storm water management and energy efficiency requirements into building codes, and (3) preparing for the influx of citizens as a result of BRAC. As to the first two matters, I would draft, introduce, and do my best to secure passage of bills to accomplish these ends. As to the third, I would work with the federal and state governments, along with the county executive, to ensure that this influx will be managed properly, and will contribute to, rather than detract from, the quality of living in District 7 as well as the county as a whole. 2) What are the three most important environmental issues Anne Arundel County needs to address in the next year or two? As a council member, briefly, what would be your proposed solutions and how would you implement them? ANSWER: The three most important environmental issues Anne Arundel County needs to address, in my view, are (1) air quality; (2) efficient energy; and (3) stormwater erosion. To improve air quality and energy efficiency, I propose controlling traffic and instituting building standards to require building “green.” To improve stormwater erosion, as a first step, I will propose low-cost solutions where citizens place rain barrels on their property to collect runoff as well as institute programs to encourage the planting of rain gardens, both of which, I am informed, will have a measurable effect on stormwater runoff. Please also see my response regarding a stormwater management fund, No. 7 below. 3) What would you do to improve the enforcement of current zoning and development regulation, especially in the Critical Area? ANSWER: Enforcement is a executive, not a legislative, issue. From a legislative perspective, I will ensure there is more than adequate funding in the executive’s budget to support zoning and development regulation. 4) Do you support construction of another Bay bridge? If so, where? If not, how would you address the growing problem of traffic congestion on Rt. 50 and the existing spans? ANSWER: The issue of constructing another Bay Bridge is one involving millions of dollars and years of effort; until I see final studies, and have the opportunity to test whatever conclusion the study might reach, I can only say I will keep an open mind on this matter. The above being said, I also note that I am well-aware of the problems with the current strands. I often go across and back for work, and my family vacations at the beach, such that we are constant travelers across the bridge(s). We have found that EZ Pass facilitates our travels through congestion, and I would encourage people to get the EZ Pass transponder. I was also impressed with the recent pink signs which indicate to motorists how far they should be behind the car in front, which might lead to a reduction in accidents on the bridge, which will ease congestion. Generally speaking, I favor low-cost solutions that have significant results, such as the pink markers. COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION 5) What steps would you take to promote better coordination of the actions of the County and the City of Annapolis regarding proposed development, annexation, and the provision of public facilities? ANSWER: It has surprised and distressed me to learn that the County and the City have rarely, if ever, recently met. I do not understand how such critical coordination could have gone unaddressed. I would encourage meetings to be held periodically to better coordinate the actions of all parties, and even if there are no formal meetings, will informally meet with city officials, reports of which will be distributed as per my answer to No. 6. 6) Will you support strengthening citizen participation in decisions affecting their quality of life? Will you support revisions in the appeals process to allow community and watershed associations to appeal subdivision, variance and other regulatory decisions? ANSWER: I will definitely support citizen participation in decisions affecting their quality of life. I believe open meetings should be held for the public to discuss its issues and concerns. Moreover, I will give and make available reports on all meetings I attend, whether it be with a citizen’s group, or a developer. I will also support revisions, if needed, in the appeals process so that community and watershed associations can be heard regarding regulatory decisions. There are constitutional requirements regarding standing which cannot be ignored. To the extent it can be legislatively enacted that community associations have standing, I will support, and if necessary, introduce such legislation (my first act will be to incorporate the small area development plans into zoning decisions, so I will initially be busy pushing this legislative act). To the extent the standing problem simply cannot be avoided, I will find out if community associations can submit amicus briefs, and if not, introduce legislation that allows for community associations to submit such briefs so that any decision-maker is aware of the facts the community association wishes to present, as well as the association(s)’ opinions regarding what those facts show. PROGRAMS 7) Would you support or oppose establishment of a new stormwater utility fee to finance measures to fix runoff problems from existing development? Would you support hiring more sediment control/stormwater management inspectors so that county regulations can be adequately enforced? ANSWER: I would support the establishment of a new stormwater utility fee to fix runoff problems and hiring more sediment control/stormwater management inspectors. Saying that I would support such a program is the easy part, however; the problem is the potential of imposing costs on those who are already taking environmentally sensitive steps, essentially subsidizing those who have not. From that perspective, I would not support an across-the-board fee on all households, as some have proposed. I would support a program wherein those who are causing the problem pay the costs of the remedy. This is consistent with my overall philosophy that businesses and citizens have to act responsibly, and when they do not, they should shoulder the costs of fixing that which they “broke.” 8) Anne Arundel County's traffic congestion and air pollution are growing worse. This area had the largest number of ozone alert days on the entire East Coast during the summer of 2004. The major cause of this air pollution is vehicle emissions. A major solution to this problem is for the average household to cut the number of daily auto trips it makes by walking, bicycling, and taking public transit. If elected, what initiatives, if any, would you support to provide convenient, affordable public transit and safe bicycle and pedestrian pathways? Would you work to change Anne Arundel County's fleet to fuel efficient vehicles? ANSWER: I think public transportation is likely not a very feasible alternative for much of South County, given its rural nature. What I think will more likely reduce vehicle emissions is micro-development, such as the new store at the corner of Rt. 2 and Harwood Rd., which will eliminate persons in the Harwood area having to drive to Edgewater. Lothian is also in need of such micro-development, as set forth in the small area development plan. Accordingly, I support environmentally friendly micro-development. I would also encourage the county’s fleet to be fuel efficient vehicles, including ethanol and electric-powered cars. 9) Program Open Space has helped fund public land acquisition in the county and the program has had great success. Just one such success has been Quiet Waters Park, which drew 580,000 visitors last year, while generating revenues of a half million dollars. Several major pieces of land in the county are now in play - the Crownsville and Naval Dairy Farm sites, to name two. What would you do to insure that Program Open Space continues, and would you support the expenditure of additional county funds to acquire appropriate properties? What would be your priorities for use of Open Space funds and the use of the Crownsville and dairy farm sites? ANSWER: Government purchase of land to preserve open space is a good idea, and a proper use of its police powers. I would, therefore, support, within budget, government purchase of land to preserve ecologically sensitive areas, as well as to allow the citizens to enjoy open areas. To that extent, I support the development of an equestrian facility, although, like with the stormwater fund, the details of funding need to be finalized, and I would like to see the costs primarily shifted to those who would use such a facility. 10) What steps would you take to implement the recommendations of the Small Area Plans? ANSWER: As indicated above, as my first priority I would implement the incorporation of the Small Area Plans into zoning codes. I believe such an act will manage the development which is sure to come and result in a contribution of the quality of life. 11) Will you support the comprehensive rezoning of the Annapolis Neck and the downzoning to RLD (Resource Limited Development) of the Childs Point, Ferry Point, Melvin Point and Persimmon Point peninsulas except for the Wild Rose Shores, Romar, and Rundelac communities as recommended in the approved Annapolis Neck Small Area Plan? ANSWER: These areas are not in my district and therefore think it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time (although I once lived on Melvin Rd. and am familiar with the area). As noted above, however, I support incorporating small area development plans into zoning codes, and to the extent the small area development plans call for such rezoning, I would support such an effort. OTHER 12) Any additional comments you might wish to make (optional) I actively seek the Sierra Club’s endorsement. This county is about to experience significant growth, which, if not managed properly, might make it into a Waldorf or Rockville Pike, which I think would be disastrous. Managed properly, however, the growth could fill the county’s coffers so that we could be a leader in environmentally-friendly development, fully fund our police, firefighters and teachers, and generally have a place in which to live that would bring delight to everyone living here as well as our visitors. I am committed to achieving this goal. Name: Eric Lipsetts Office sought: County Council, District 7 Mailing address: 7 Willow Street, #101, Annapolis, MD 21401 Daytime Phone: (410) 507-6750 or (410) 224-7630 Email address: ericfor7@ericlipsetts.com | 
