tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35921470.post1658380275821463538..comments2023-07-16T06:34:24.888-04:00Comments on Tales Of Two Cities: The Best Offense is a Good Defensewordboneshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00250201271555676642noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35921470.post-87905764911755492142009-01-15T01:24:00.000-05:002009-01-15T01:24:00.000-05:00I, too, thank you, Anon 1:12, for the well detaile...I, too, thank you, Anon 1:12, for the well detailed clarifications.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35921470.post-28652907691363089972009-01-13T07:16:00.000-05:002009-01-13T07:16:00.000-05:00Thank you, Anon 1:12.Thank you, Anon 1:12.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35921470.post-9023171348006595232009-01-13T01:12:00.000-05:002009-01-13T01:12:00.000-05:00Some observations....- Generally, 10% of petition ...Some observations....<BR/><BR/>- Generally, 10% of petition signatures are routinely invalidated. That being said, you can't be too careful when dozens of people are collecting signatures and you don't know what quality control standards to expect from each one. You either meet the requirement within 60 days or you're out of luck.<BR/><BR/>- Developer resources, influence and legal tactics are generally successful in commanding the political and legal arenas. The ONE aspect of the zoning and growth process where they can't exert disproportionate control is when issues are placed on the ballot. This is the one vehicle where citizens have considerable influence and power.<BR/><BR/>- A few of the reasons that citizens from across the county have been motivated to take CB58 to referendum are:<BR/><BR/>1. The attempt to rezone a single property for the express benefit of one owner is clearly "spot zoning" which the Council should have referred to the Zoning Board. Unfortunately, development attorneys have learned that it's much easier to push a ZRA text amendment through the Planning Board/Council than it is to meet the legal "change & mistake" burden required by the ZB.<BR/><BR/>2. As a text amendment, there was absolutely NO requirement to notify neighborhoods bordering the one affected property. Furthermore, the ZRA was mistitled by DPZ, without any reference to Turf Valley or the property owner.<BR/><BR/>3. The Turf Valley developers chose not to submit the complete ZRA application (from DPZ's website). They chose not to report financial contributions to 5 out of 6 elected county officials as well as the DEPUTY DIRECTOR of DPZ !!!<BR/><BR/>4. CB58 represents a significant change to the Route 40 business corridor. Rather than being reviewed in the context of a Route 40 Master Plan, utilizing current retail market demand and traffic information, the Bill was approved under the misnomer of being a local neighborhood grocery store that was welcomed by the majority of areas residents and businesses (both of which are egregious misrepresentations).<BR/><BR/>The overwhelming concensus of citizens, taxpayers and registered voters is that the vast majority of people support well planned and managed development that is supported by forward funded infrastructure improvements and public amenities.<BR/><BR/>So much for being an obstructionist ;-)...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com