By Adam Pagnucco.
Over the objections of County Executive Marc Elrich and others, the county council unanimously passed the Thrive 2050 plan today. The only vote in doubt belonged to Council Member Sidney Katz (District 3), who wound up voting yes. After he spoke, the council voted to approve Thrive and boos followed from the crowd. The transcript of Katz’s remarks appears below.
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Sidney speaks.
As has been no secret I have had issues with Thrive 2050. I have always been supportive of the goals but concerned about how we get there. Let me say very clearly that since this plan has come to the Council, you, Mr. President, and the Planning Housing and Economic Development Committee and Council staff, through tireless work, have done a very good job in working through many of the issues. This plan is far from perfect, and might I add no plan ever is, but hard work on it has been obvious.
Since the beginning when it was being worked on by the Planning Board, it was during the most difficult of times, during a pandemic, it was very concerning how the public was being engaged in the process. Any endeavor this all encompassing is going to cause comment and concern, especially one that has 125 plus pages and volumes of comments.
As was mentioned by me and others how I was concerned that whenever Thrive was being discussed, it was continually mentioned that it does not change the zoning but that the entire statement was not being said which was that although it did not change the zoning, zoning would need to be changed in order for Thrive to happen. That was corrected by this Council.
We also heard from many that their opinion was not being listened to and only those in agreement were being heard. As you might recall I mentioned that during a presentation from Planning Board that they had a slide that listed the many groups and organizations that were supportive but did not have any slides of those groups and organizations that had difficulties with the plan.
Staff speaks, protestors protest.
This Council along with PHED and staff has continually worked to get us to today. It has been said many times that this is not a one size fits all plan. I understand why it has been suggested that we should wait to vote on it, to wait for a new planning board and a new Council. I realize The Planning Board and the next Council will be the groups who will be working on this plan even though they were not directly involved in writing it. They will be the groups who will be perfecting it.
So in many ways this document is the beginning not the end. The goals are what we need. And we must pledge that on the individual basis for each area and neighborhood that we will work together with the public, with planning and each other to truly thrive. To make certain that each neighborhood’s quality of life is enhanced and all are listened to.
This is not a perfect plan nor will any plan ever be perfect, especially a 30 year plan. Many discussions and changes will take place. I candidly, at times thought that it made sense to wait and that I would vote against this plan today. But after deep consideration I am going to vote for the plan. Not because it is perfect, but because it is not and by hard work, we will get to a better place.