By Adam Pagnucco.
Earlier today, I wrote about a power grab attempting to transfer the functions of park and planning to the county executive. I asked the Acting Chair of the Planning Board, Jeff Zyontz, for his opinion on the bill at the heart of the issue. He responded with the statement below.
*****
I am aware of the proposed legislation and do not support its goal. For nearly a century, M-NCPPC has served as the steward of the natural and built environment in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Our bi-county organization is internationally recognized as a model of innovative, sustainable, and excellently designed land use practices and park planning efforts. There have been several attempts over the years to remove the Commission’s land use and park planning authority. Moving these functions into county government would mean that political agendas would interfere with serving the people of Montgomery County. M-NCPPC’s role as independent experts in park and planning functions has successfully served Montgomery County’s communities in allowing these departments the space to be bold and innovative in their work, for which both departments have won multiple local and national awards. As I do not believe that changing planning, zoning, and subdivision authority is in the public interest, my position is that a committee to investigate the feasibility of such a change is completely unwarranted.
*****
A couple things are worth noting. First, Zyontz’s history with Park and Planning goes back to the 1970s. There may be a few people in the county who know as much about the agency as he does but it’s a very short list. Second, Zyontz was recently appointed by the council to reboot the planning board, so he enjoys their respect. And finally, it’s hard to imagine that the council’s viewpoint will be much different. Council Member Andrew Friedson has already condemned the legislation in public and that was just a warning shot.
To any state legislators reading this, do you really want a piece of this action? It’s far better to enjoy the glories of working with Wes Moore than to referee the upcoming shootout in Rockville.