tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post1059379012446812668..comments2024-03-29T00:43:16.029-07:00Comments on Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row: Leggett asks Westbard developer to enter mediation in cemetery disputeRobert Dyerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-42419207449243529982017-05-12T05:41:59.069-07:002017-05-12T05:41:59.069-07:00So Robert, Is there anybody you would recommend w...So Robert, Is there anybody you would recommend we look into who might be a better fit that you would be able to provide with information on?MDBGAnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-3984861499717541772017-05-12T04:56:55.584-07:002017-05-12T04:56:55.584-07:003:40: Reed would be powerless on the Board if the ...3:40: Reed would be powerless on the Board if the Council and MoCo cartel's now-exposed conspiracy to appoint him succeeds. He would replace a commissioner who was a rubber stamp vote on every development. He even shares her shocking lack of concern for the African-American cemetery at Westbard. But he'd just be another sure vote replacing a sure vote. Impotent.<br /><br />What the appointment will represent, is the Council's position on the current disarray at the Board and Planning Department. Unfortunately, none of the candidates appears well suited to address the anti-resident bent of the current Board, nor the hostile relationship they've fostered with residents.<br /><br />So the choices range from a competent, here-we-go-again Bruce Romer, to a Wall Street-by-way-of-Mao zealous, in-your-face urbanization shock trooper like Dan Reed. Someone who believes the large single family homes of Bethesda and Chevy Chase should be converted into boarding houses is ill-prepared to serve on the Planning Board.<br /><br />The Council's vote on this will be just one more election issue next year. A Dan Reed appointment, after his clear endorsement by developers who have current projects before the Board that Reed would vote on, would be a fatal move by any incumbent.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-68554886896425089312017-05-12T03:40:40.837-07:002017-05-12T03:40:40.837-07:00I hope they return the Westbard plan to the Planni...I hope they return the Westbard plan to the Planning Board so Dan Reed! can make it GREATER!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-63868270903328067162017-05-11T14:40:10.958-07:002017-05-11T14:40:10.958-07:00Dyer @ 8:26: even if nothing FBI-worthy is reveale...Dyer @ 8:26: even if nothing FBI-worthy is revealed by the Westbard discovery, I am hopeful that the sector plan will be invalidated and returned to the Planning Department, Planning Board and County Council for a re-do. The sector planning process did not reflect the opinions of the surrounding community. I have been shocked and disgusted at how residents have been ignored and disparaged. While I agree that new housing and retail should be built at Westbard, the project is surrounded by single-family neighborhoods and overbuilds/over crowds the area. Unfortunately, public opinion was ignored.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-64685560746337048682017-05-11T06:59:17.803-07:002017-05-11T06:59:17.803-07:008:27: I am rubber, you are glue.8:27: I am rubber, you are glue.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-50588482661097317542017-05-10T20:26:25.281-07:002017-05-10T20:26:25.281-07:004:52: Best case scenario is Westbard lawsuit disco...4:52: Best case scenario is Westbard lawsuit discovery process uncovers a smoking gun we can refer to the FBI. I guarantee an FBI investigation ends with several perp walks outside of 100 Maryland Avenue and 7272 Georgia Avenue.<br /><br />#LockThemUpRobert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-37024093628927808502017-05-10T20:22:38.760-07:002017-05-10T20:22:38.760-07:006:14: That is what makes a compelling case for #De...6:14: That is what makes a compelling case for #DefundThePlanningBoard. Those clowns can't do squat without their funding. Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-8917660455443718782017-05-10T20:20:21.911-07:002017-05-10T20:20:21.911-07:004:44: Journalists aren't biased? How gullible ...4:44: Journalists aren't biased? How gullible are you? Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-36519560480584544022017-05-10T18:54:00.894-07:002017-05-10T18:54:00.894-07:00Support local journalism like Robert Dyer is produ...Support local journalism like Robert Dyer is producing here on Westbard.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-79725375350277979282017-05-10T18:30:40.027-07:002017-05-10T18:30:40.027-07:00If Dyer weren't following this story, we'd...If Dyer weren't following this story, we'd be completely in the dark. Thanks for covering this, Robert.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-284683598130401522017-05-10T18:28:03.629-07:002017-05-10T18:28:03.629-07:00Thanks for the research, 4:52/6:14. Yeah, hard to...Thanks for the research, 4:52/6:14. Yeah, hard to believe that Gwen Wright at the Planning Department and Casey Anderson, the Planning Board chair, would defy Leggett and Berliner on whether mediation should be conducted on the cemetery contract. Gotta believe that something else is happening that we don't know about.<br /><br />This would make a great story for an investigative reporting team. ProPublica, maybe?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-32423493129769462022017-05-10T18:14:30.248-07:002017-05-10T18:14:30.248-07:004:52 pm, again. Did some more research: the MNCPP...4:52 pm, again. Did some more research: the MNCPPC (Maryland National Capital Parks & Planning Commission), the organization that runs the Planning Board and the Planning Department, is financed largely by property tax revenues from Montgomery County and Prince George's County. In Montgomery County, annual appropriations for MNCPPC are proposed in the County Executive's budget and approved/disapproved by the County Council. In 2016, the Montgomery County planning budget was roughly $19.3 million.<br /><br />While MNCPPC is operated autonomously, the County Executive and the County Council set the MoCo planning budget. That should give the Council and the County Executive a good deal of influence on Planning Department/Planning Board decisions.<br /><br />So if Ike Leggett wants mediation on the cemetery investigation contract, why isn't it happening? Is the Council opposed? Is Leggett's recommendation merely for public show? What is really happening behind the scenes here? So far, Leggett, Berliner and Elrich have called for mediation. You'd think that this would be sufficient to make mediation happen, especially as mediation has been endorsed by the Washington Post.<br /><br />What's the story behind the scenes?<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-53684523296646003762017-05-10T18:02:48.803-07:002017-05-10T18:02:48.803-07:00Four representatives of the church and five old wh...Four representatives of the church and five old white NIMBYs. No wonder Dyer was so slow to write his report.<br /><br />Anyway, what's up with that Rockville HS case? Have there been any new developments in that case during the past three days?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-1705615056314207042017-05-10T17:31:33.391-07:002017-05-10T17:31:33.391-07:00The Planning Department and Planning Board routine...The Planning Department and Planning Board routinely impose conditions on developers. That's part of the land use approval process. It would have been very easy for the Planning Department and Board to require that the archaeological study comply with standards set by experts acceptable to the Church. Instead, the Planning Department and the Planning Board gave the Church the run-around and let the developers do pretty much what they wanted. How come???<br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-41354008033925203162017-05-10T17:13:54.970-07:002017-05-10T17:13:54.970-07:0010:40 AM: Macedonia Baptist Church has declined to...10:40 AM: Macedonia Baptist Church has declined to participate in mediation to this point because:<br /> -The developer began the cemetery investigation without the input of the Church, rendering mediation meaningless.<br /> -Neither the Planning Department nor the developer advised the Church that the cemetery investigation had been started, while continuing to dangle the possibility of mediation in the media. The Church learned that the cemetery investigation had been started in public testimony by Planning Department staff in April, a month after a contract for an archaeological study had been signed. <br /> -The Planning Department has never explained why it continued to mislead the Church and the public by not revealing that a contract for the cemetery investigation had been executed and the work begun.<br /><br />Macedonia Baptist Church has acted with integrity, but has not been treated with honesty and respect. Why should the Church enter into sham mediation? Fortunately, the Church is now represented by a capable land use lawyer. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-62105848800194298612017-05-10T16:52:03.587-07:002017-05-10T16:52:03.587-07:0010:43 AM and Robert: My understanding is that the...10:43 AM and Robert: My understanding is that the County Council *appoints* the members of the Planning Board, but does not remove them. The Planning Board is under the supervision of the Maryland National Parks and Planning Commission (MNPPC), an autonomous entity. Yes, the County Council has significant influence over the Planning Board, but does not control it. Hence the use of the phrase "request."<br /><br />If there is wrongdoing by the Planning Department or Planning Board, the MNPPC has an inspector general. Presumably, there is a process for removing malefactors if wrongdoing is uncovered.<br /><br />The MNPPC was established as an autonomous entity in order to provide professional planning services insulated from corruption. Unfortunately, the current setup has led to a developer-friendly system that is unresponsive to public concerns.<br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-31465378190325614442017-05-10T16:44:48.060-07:002017-05-10T16:44:48.060-07:00But you aren't a journalist. You're a blog...But you aren't a journalist. You're a blogger. Journalists aren't biased.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-44852658516846350802017-05-10T13:14:44.867-07:002017-05-10T13:14:44.867-07:00Do you also believe in guilty until proven innocen...Do you also believe in guilty until proven innocent? Your writing seems to support that notion as well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-65106271391130560412017-05-10T12:42:12.838-07:002017-05-10T12:42:12.838-07:006:38: I'm just going on the facts, as all jour...6:38: I'm just going on the facts, as all journalists should. All documentation supports graves still being there. There is not a single document indicating a legal removal of remains. Until a study proves otherwise, we must rely on actual documentation.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-2464503762418239932017-05-10T12:38:59.178-07:002017-05-10T12:38:59.178-07:0010:43: That someone is indeed the County Council, ...10:43: That someone is indeed the County Council, at whose pleasure the planning commissioners serve.Robert Dyerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01975969463714952623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-24438346825318346132017-05-10T10:43:50.799-07:002017-05-10T10:43:50.799-07:00Why is the county council & county executive *...Why is the county council & county executive *requesting* jack from the planning board? Doesn't the planning board report to one of them? I'm honestly curious why people treat the planning board like they're some untouchable, separate entity. They must report to someone, and be accountable to someone. Why isn't that someone answering?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-16893016659719714972017-05-10T10:40:46.170-07:002017-05-10T10:40:46.170-07:00Macedonia backed out of mediation setup by county ...Macedonia backed out of mediation setup by county before. Bunch of babies....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-78602364399477879762017-05-10T10:00:30.185-07:002017-05-10T10:00:30.185-07:00I can't believe that the Planning Department a...I can't believe that the Planning Department and Planning Board continue to disregard Macedonia Baptist Church on the matter of the cemetery investigation. To put it bluntly: what is wrong with these unelected bureaucrats? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-26634645487386310142017-05-10T09:37:05.715-07:002017-05-10T09:37:05.715-07:00Good for County Executive Leggett for requesting t...Good for County Executive Leggett for requesting that Regency Centers meet with a mediator on the cemetery issue.<br /><br />What is tremendously sad is the failure of the County Council (with the exception of Councilmember Elrich) to do the same.<br /><br />To resolve this matter, County Council and the County Executive should request the Planning Department, with County funds, to either: 1)conduct an independent study of the cemetery issue or 2)hire independent experts to oversee the ccemetery study being conducted by Regency Centers.<br /><br />The real issue here is that the Planning Department, with the concurrence of the Planning Board, has the authority to undertake either of the above actions, especially if County funding is provided. That the Planning Department and the Planning Board have refused to do so shows tremendous contempt for the community. If the County Council does not challenge this stance, the Council will be displaying contempt for the people who pay their salaries.<br /><br />Whether or not you support the Westbard project, the disregard for the community shown by the Planning Department and the Planning Board should alarm you. It is time to revise Montgomery County's planning process to ensure that County residents have greater input than they do now. As it stands, the process is responsive to the needs of developers, leaving citizens largely unrepresented. A better balance needs to be restored.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28521945.post-37600443464687162512017-05-10T07:47:01.526-07:002017-05-10T07:47:01.526-07:007:30 - What did sand ever do to you?7:30 - What did sand ever do to you?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com