Smart Development

In the late 1990's, citizens were asked to give input as to how their neighborhoods should grow in the upcoming years. People from all over the county participated in writing what are known as Small Area Development Plans, which describe how development should proceed in their areas, and in 2001, the County Council passed Ordinance 68-01, which said that the Small Area Development Plans should “guide” zoning decisions.

The use of the word “guide” was a mistake. Notwithstanding that citizens had spent thousands of hours writing these Small Area Development Plans, developers and the zoning administrators think they can be ignored, because they are only “guides.” Accordingly, I have pledged that, as my very first act on the Council, I will introduce a bill that will incorporate the Small Area Development Plans into all zoning decisions.

For District 7, this will stop big-box development, such as the Target in Wayson’s Corner and the Wal-Mart in Crofton. The Small Area Development Plan for South County does not talk about “destination malls,” such as what Target has proposed, but rather a small commercial district, where citizens can gather. Similarly, the Small Area Development Plan for Crofton explicitly recognized that the Berkshire land was available for development, but never mentioned a big-box store like Wal-Mart, which will only further increase traffic congestion on the already crowded Rt. 3.

The citizens of this area have spoken, and their words should be given great weight. I intend to pass a law that says so.

Green Building Standards

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Schools

Public Safety

Citizen Involvement

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