Government During Pandemic

Government During the Pandemic

Montgomery County Planning Board and Planning Department has drafted ambitious and sweeping revisions of the county’s General Plan, called Thrive Montgomery 2050, which covers land use and zoning in the entire county. A public hearing at the County Council for Thrive Montgomery 2050 is scheduled for June 17.

See the draft of Thrive Montgomery 2050.

There are compelling reasons to delay further work on Thrive Montgomery. We are six months into the Covid-19 pandemic and economic crisis that has caused major disruptions to life. When the future is so unpredictable, it makes little sense to rely on current assumptions for planning. Furthermore, with all the disruptions county residents are facing, it is simply not realistic to expect meaningful public input that these multiple and complex proposals deserved. Attached is a detailed analysis explaining why work on Thrive Montgomery 2050 should be delayed.   CCCFH has written to the County Council asking them to delay consideration by at least a year. A draft letter that one can send to the County Council asking them to delay Thrive Montgomery 2050 at least one year is attached. CCCFH has filed with the Council a detailed critique of problems with the current draft of Thrive Montgomery 2050. CCCFH has also joined a coalition of civic organizations in a letter with further criticisms. Many individuals have also submitted comments, which can be submitted until December 10.

Letter to County Council Regarding Citizen Access to Planning Board Meetings

CCCFH is concerned that citizen access to and participation at Planning Board meetings has been unreasonably limited. CCCFH wrote to the Montgomery County Council endorsing County Executive Mark Elrich’s proposal that the Board should postpone decisions on controversial issues that impact public policy and the environment until such time that the Planning Board can put in place a format whereby citizens can have a voice in the policies that impact their lives.