Council elects two new Planning Board members - Business Gazette

Presley and Alfandre chosen to fill open seats

by Margie Hyslop and Janel Davis | Staff Writers

The County Council elected two new members for the county’s Planning Board on Tuesday — a prominent developer and an activist who played a key role in uncovering hundreds of building violations in Clarksburg.

Their appointments fill out the five-member board which has been without a full complement since the death in January of one of its newest members.

Joseph L. Alfandre, a Democrat from Potomac, developed the Kentlands, a nationally renowned ‘‘New Urbanist” community in Gaithersburg.

Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac, praised him as sensitive to the needs of communities and said he will provide knowledge of the industry to the panel.

Alfandre replaces the late Eugene ‘‘Gene” Lynch, founder of the development firm, Smart Growth Investments, which focuses on building projects that take advantage of existing infrastructure such as nearby transit. Lynch was a former state and county official; he died just seven months after being appointed to the seat.

‘‘I think [Alfandre] is the rightful heir to the Gene Lynch seat,” said Berliner.

Amy Presley, a Republican from Clarksburg, is a strategic planning and marketing consultant and a founder of the Clarksburg Town Center Advisory Committee, whose research uncovered hundreds of overlooked building violations in that community and led to reforms at the planning agency. She replaces Allison Bryant, a consultant, who served on the board since September 1997 when he was appointed to finish the term of Ruthann Aron, who was removed after being charged with trying to hire someone to kill her husband. Bryant then was appointed to two terms of his own.

Bryant’s departure leaves just one board member, John Robinson (whose term expires in June 2009), from the panel that presided when Presley and other activists pushed the board to overhaul procedures and give the public more access to the development process.

There were 19 applicants for the Democratic seat and 10 for the non-majority party seat, including eight Republicans and two unaffiliated candidates.

The five-member panel includes three seats for people who are affiliated with the majority party and two for people who are not.

Thank you for your support.

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who supported my candidacy for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board this year.

I also want to extend my best wishes to Joe Alfandre and Amy Presley on their appointments and to wish them well.

Alfandre and Presley appointed to Planning Board

At its session this afternoon, the County Council appointed Joseph Alfandre (D) and Amy Presley(R) to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

An Open Letter to the Montgomery County Council

Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery County Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Council President Knapp:

I want to thank the County Council for their warm welcome and kind remarks during my recent interview regarding my application to become a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

I very much appreciated the opportunity to share my views about critical planning and development issues in the County, and I hope that your Council colleagues found my answers to be comprehensive, insightful, and honest.

As I mentioned during the interview, I share the Council’s goal to grow a Montgomery County which is not only beautiful and recognized for its design excellence, but also a strong County which is economically and environmentally sustainable, and which meets the broad range of needs of the County’s residents.

As you know, this is the third time that I have presented myself to the County Council in a dedicated effort to support your goals and objectives on the Planning Board—a fact that should speak volumes about my continuing interest to serve the County in this position.

I have the requisite professional experience, community engagement and in-depth knowledge of Montgomery County planning and development issues to be an effective Board member from the outset. My work on the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, the Montgomery County Advisory Committee for the Department of Permitting Services, and my service as President of the Park Hills Civic Association have provided exceptional opportunities to learn, first hand, about the County’s most important housing, transportation and environmental challenges and the mechanics of the planning and development process.

I am pleased to have the strong and enthusiastic support of many friends, neighbors, and colleagues for this appointment. I believe that their advocacy reflects well on my integrity, my leadership, my preparation for this appointment, and my personal dedication to Montgomery County.

I hope that, this year, I will have your support and the support of all members of the Montgomery County Council.

Thank you again for providing me with an opportunity to meet with the County Council and to present my vision for Montgomery County’s future.

All the best,

Alan S. Bowser

The County Council Interview

This afternoon, I was interviewed by Montgomery County Council Vice President Phil Andrews, and Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Nancy Floreen, Duchy Tractenberg, Roger Berliner and Donald Praisner regarding my candidacy for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

All of the Councilmembers were warm and welcoming. It was the first time that I had seen Mr. Praisner since he had been sworn in. I greeted him, specially, and mentioned that I had last seen him at People's Baptish Church for a candidates' debate.

The Council Vice President Andrews asked the following questions, in whole or part:

• Why do you want to be on the Montgomery County Planning Board?
• What experience would you bring to the Planning Board?
• What do you see as the relationship between the appointee and the County Council, Planning Board members, the Chair, the staff, and the County Executive?
• What do you think are the most important priorities for Montgomery County?
• How can the Planning Board advance those objectives?
• What would be your contributions to the Planning Board?
• How could you engage the Planning staff?
• What are your thoughts about: smart growth, the environment, roads and transit, the agricultural reserve.
• What do you think of Montgomery County Parks?
• Do you have the time required to serve as Planning Board member?
• Do you have any conflicts of interests?

Councilmember Marc Elrich asked about possible limitations to Smart Growth, and about the integrity of master plans. He also asked if I, as a Board member, would be willing to look outside of Montgomery County for planning solutions, and specifically those related to traffic and measurement. He also asked what you could do as a Planning Board member to more fully engage the public in county planning issues.

Councilmember Roger Berliner praised my civic engagement, intellect, preparation, and knowledge of the issues. He appreciated my service on the Tree Conservation Task Force, convened by him and Councilmember Elrich. He said that I would be an excellent appointee to the Planning Board.

He added, however, that Montgomery County was blessed with an abundance of riches when it came to exceptional candidates for appointment.

I thanked him for his very kind words, and I asked for his vote!

I'd like all of their votes...

Testimonials for Appointment to Montgomery County Planning Board 2008

Anita Morrison
9318 Worth Avenue
Silver Spring, Maryland 20901
June 9, 2008

Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Mr. Knapp:

I am writing to offer my strongest recommendation for the nomination of Alan S. Bowser to the Planning Board. I have worked with Alan for the last four years co-chairing the
Neighborhoods Committee of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board.

Alan has brought great new energy to the committee, working relentlessly to explore new issues and involve new individuals and organizations in the Committee’s and the Advisory Board’s activities. His leadership has allowed the Committee and the Board to focus on such questions as environmental sustainability, community policing, effective public health services and emergency preparedness, affordable housing and historic preservation. His outreach has brought new collaborations with IMPACT Silver Spring, Friends of Sligo Creek, area civic associations, Prezco and the Takoma Park
CSAFE Program. Anyone on his email list can attest to his tireless attention to the full range of issues addressing Silver Spring and its neighborhoods.

He helped to organize the Community Forum on Youth Violence and Gangs, the Community Forum on Emergency Preparedness and the Community Forum on Veterans Plaza. He is actively involved in the Northwest Park/Oakview Weed and Seed program and community support for Broad Acres Elementary School.

I have no hesitation in recommending Alan. I know that he will devote the countless hours of attention essential to mastering the Planning Board agenda and will help to forge consensus.

Sincerely,

Anita Morrison

Marcie Stickle and George French

TO: Council Members Andrews, Elrich, Berliner, Praisner, & Trachtenberg, 6/12/08
RE: Alan Steele Bowser & Amy Presley for Planning Board Commissioners

We enthusiastically support Alan Steele Bowser for Planning Board Commissioner. We are impressed with his excellent credentials. He has an innate ability to bring people together on diverse issues; he is extraordinary in his ability to really listen, sift through myriad information provided, and arrive at an extremely well-reasoned and equitable conclusion and solution.

He has proven leadership in the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, and as Neighborhood Committee Chair of the SSCAB. He cares deeply about his town and community and the underserved.

His annual political picnics by his citizens' association, of which he is President, in Sligo Creek Park are an important summer event, and are quite a draw.

Mr. Bowser is an initiator, strategist, and fine analytical thinker; he has produced an important Guide for the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board to evaluate proposed planning projects, and this Guide, required to be used by SSCAB and developers presenting proposed projects, has been incorporated into the SSCAB Bylaws. A good listener and steward, he gives all a chance to speak their minds on a particular topic by calling on everyone in the room in a "round" of opinions and point of views.

He will be an exceptional asset to the Planning Board, Montgomery County, and its citizens. He is a hard worker and extremely well organized; his meetings are extremely informative and bring diverse participants together, who then strategize together to find active solutions to pressing issues.

He presents his thoughtful opinions and positions clearly and articulately. There is a thoroughness and depth to any challenge or task he takes on. He is a fine facilitator, and cares that all voices are heard.

He has applied for the Planning Board Chairmanship previously, and we extolled his virtues then, and feel even more enthusiastic this time. We hold the highest respect for his abilities to listen, analyze, and arrive at thoughtful and equitable decisions.

The Planning Board would a perfect fit for Mr. Bowser; we endorse him whole-heartedly.

Simultaneously, we also endorse Amy Presley. Her ability to help negotiate solutions to the Clarksburg controversy shows her proven leadership. She is a quick study and knows her ways around the Planning issues. We have seen her in action and she specializes in transparency and adhering to the rule of law, and know she will be a great choice.

Amy Presley is level-headed, analytical, articulate, and is a prime candidate for the Planning Board.

Sincerely, George French & Marcie Stickle, 301-585-3817, MarciPro@aol.com

Loretta Vann

June 12, 2008

Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, MD 20850

Dear Councilmember Knapp:

My husband and I urge you to support the appointment of Alan Bowser to the County Planning Board. We have had the opportunity, several times to see Mr. Bowser close up in action in the course of his work on the Neighborhoods Committee of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board. In each instance we were impressed with his keen and speedy skills in addressing each issues as well as his comfortable yet effective manner in which he presided over the meetings. Each gathering was hugely informative, productive, insightful and covered diverse topics such as water-quality, crime, purple-line, historic preservation, and how to bring non-owner residents into the conversation. During the past two years, Mr. Bowser’s speedy responses to my emails concerning neighborhood issues underscore his commitment to the citizenry and his grasp of the issues that face our community. Our community is a much better place because of the dedication of Mr. Bowser, and we feel that, as a board member he would be a terrific asset to the County Council

Thank you for your time and service,

Loetta M. Vann “Lolly”
9205 Harvey Rd.
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301 495-8818
loettavann@rcn.com

Sandra Fair

June 11, 2008

Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Councilmember Knapp:

I am writing in recommendation of Alan Bowser as a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board. For the past two years, I have had the opportunity to serve alongside Alan as Treasurer of the Park Hills Civic Association, of which he is President. I have been impressed with his energy, commitment, enthusiasm and vision for our neighborhood. He has revitalized a formerly inactive civic association, which now has near 150 active, dues paid members. He has organized civic association activities and engaged members in issues involving transportation, public safety and the environment. He exercises diplomacy and maintains neutrality in his role as President - an important quality, as we represent a group of well informed, varied and strongly opinionated neighbors. I think that Alan would be an asset as a member of the Board and recommend him without hesitation.

Sincerely,

Sandra Fair
Schuyler Road
Silver Spring

Dwight and Norma Wilson

-------------- Forwarded Message: --------------
From: nswilson7@comcast.net
To: councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
Subject: Recommendation of Alan Bowser for Planning Board
Date: Wed, 11 Jun 2008 20:56:24 +0000
Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Councilman Knapp,

Please accept our strong recommendation of Alan Bowser for a position on the Planning Board.

We have been active residents of Montgomery County for 34 years and we have not met anyone, other than County Executive Leggett, more dedicated and committed to enhancing the health and prosperity of this community than Alan Bowser. He is a tremendously skilled and talented individual, and his organizational and leadership abilities are immeasurable. We assure you that Mr. Bowser will be an invaluable asset to the Planning Board.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Norma and Dwight Wilson


Chris Arnold-Lourie

Dear Council Member Knapp,

I write in support of Alan Bowser, a candidate for the Montgomery County Planning Board. I am delighted to give Mr. Bowser my unqualified recommendation. I have know Alan for several years, and have been impressed with his dedication to the community. Alan led the effort to revivify our civic association, Park Hills, in Silver Spring, and has served as President, a role in which he continues. He has implemented important improvements in communication, initiating our association's listserv, which he maintains, and through which he provides updates, not only on issues of immediate local interest, but of wider concerns as well. He is also active on other boards and committees serving the Silver Spring community, and is knowledgeable on a wide range of issues. In particular, Alan has provided even-handed leadership as our community considers the impact of the Purple Line, whose positive and negative effects will likely be felt most strongly in the Park Hills neighborhood. I cannot think of a better-qualified candidate for the Planning Board. Alan has served not only our community, but greater Silver Spring and Montgomery County as well. He is tireless in his efforts, and his dedicated leadership would serve the Planning Board and the people of our county well.

As a thirty-year resident of Silver Spring, former officer in our civic association and the Allied Civic Group, and as a long-term Democratic Vice-Chair in precinct 13-50, I have encountered many community leaders, but few who have impressed me as Alan Bowser has. I urge the Council to give Alan's candidacy your serious consideration.

Christine Arnold-Lourie
106 Sheffield St.
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Kathleen Samiy

June 10, 2008

Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building 100 Maryland Avenue Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear County Council President Knapp:

I want to express my support Alan Bowser's candidacy for appointment to the Planning Board.

I have worked with him on community development projects in our neighborhoods, and I have been impressed with his commitment to Silver Spring and his ability to bring people together for a common purpose. He is articulate, fairminded, and seeks to find reasonable solutions for complex issues effecting our communities.

While we do not agree on every detail of every issue, I am impressed with his willingness to listen to disparate views and his ability to forge consensus around community wide concerns.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Samiy
Silver Spring, Maryland 20910

Charlotte Coffield

I strongly support appointment of Alan S. Bowser to serve on the Montgomery County Planning Board. Mr. Bowser is an energetic, disciplined team worker with an impressive professional and employment track record.

I served with Mr. Bowser on the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board since his appointment and continue to work closely with him on the Board's Neighborhood Committee which he chairs. He has proven himself to be knowledgeable and effective and has demonstrated remarkable leadership skills. On his own initiative, he has been instrumental in soliciting the Advisory Board's paticipation in several successful community events such as the Community Forum on Youth Violence and Gangs and the Community Forum on Emergency Preparedness. Under his leadership and guidance, the Neighborhood Committee has made great strides in community outreach by inviting community groups to our meetings to address current issues.

Mr. Bowser is a hardworking, dedicated and loyal citizen of Montgomery County and would be an excellent choice to fill the Democratic seat on the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Charlotte A. Coffield
Former two-term member of the Silver Spring Citizen's Advisory Board
Long time member of the Lyttonsville Civic Association

Vern McLendon

From: vernie mclendon
To: councilmember.knapp@montgomerycounty.gov
Sent: Mon, 9 Jun 2008 5:09 pm
Subject: Alan Bowser Candidacy for appointment to Montgomery County Planning Board

Mr Knapp,

This Message is in support of Alan Bowser's candidacy for appointment to Montgomery County Planning Board. I am Vernie McLendon, a second term member of the Silver Spring Recreation Advisory Board. One of my Board responsibilities is to attend meetings and report activities of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board where Mr. Bowser is a member. I also attend meetings of the Neghborhood Committee, for which Mr. Bowser is the Co-chair. I have also been involved with Mr Bowser on various county activities and functions.

I am impressed with Mr. Bowser's work ethic for his Board responsibility. He is very active in community issues and extremely knowledgeable regarding creative approaches to analytical problem solving initiatives. He has good interaction and communication skills with his Board members. His views and ideas of Board issues are always sound. When an asssignment is requested of him, Mr. Bowser is a tireless worker and committed to detailed planning with necessary follow-up practices to assure correct and completed work.

If selected, Mr. Bowser will do a tremendous job and will be a great asset for the County Planning Board.

Vernie McLendon


Robert Bor


June 10, 2008

Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville , Maryland 2085

Dear Councilman Knapp,

I wish to endorse the candidacy of Alan Bower to be a member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

I endorse his candidacy with enthusiasm knowing in some detail of his commitment to our neighborhood, Silver Spring, and Montgomery County in general. I have worked with him on issues affecting the Park Hills community, especially with regard to local transportation issues and have observed his activities on the Silver Spring Advisory Board. In addition, I have spoken with him on occasion regarding Montgomery County Planning and zoning issues.

I am a long term resident of Silver Spring and a friend and neighbor of Alan. I feel qualified to recommend him because of my experience as former President of the Park Hills Civic Association, and a person who in the past has been active on many county zoning and planning issues.

I believe that Alan would be an outstanding member of the Planning Board and a credit to the County.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Bor, Esq.
406 Deerfield Ave.
Silver Spring, Md. 20910
301 587-5793

Lisa Dubay

June 12, 2008

Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Council Member Knapp,

I am writing to support the candidacy of Alan Bowser for the County Council's appointment to the Montgomery Planning Board.

As a community member of the Neighborhoods Committee of the Silver Spring Citizen’s Advisory Board I have worked with Alan for the past three years. Through is work as Co-Chair of this Committee and as a leader in the East Silver Spring community, I have been impressed by his energy, the breadth of his knowledge of local issues, and his commitment to service. Perhaps more importantly, Alan has the unique ability to work with and bring together diverse populations with often competing interests to solve difficult planning, crime, public health and youth issues facing East Silver Spring specifically and the county in general.

In short, Montgomery County would be very well served by the appointment of Alan Bowser to the Montgomery Planning Board.

Sincerely,




Lisa C. Dubay, Ph.D., Sc.M.
Associate Professor
Department of Health Policy and Management

Mary Reardon

TO: Councilmember Valerie Ervin
FROM: Mary Reardon, Silver Spring resident
RE: Planning Board positions

As you go through process of selecting two new Planning Board members, I strongly urge you to vote for Alan Bowser and Amy Presley.

Mr. Bowser has impressive credentials, having held key policy-related positions in the public and private sector. He is an attorney and civic leader, and has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Commerce Department, among other endeavors which you no doubt have seen on his resume. He is exceptionally qualified to serve on the Montgomery County Planning Board. I believe he was among the finalists in the search for Planning Board Chairman several years ago.

Mr. Bowser is one of a new breed of activists on the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board (SSCAB). He listens to all sides of an issue, he gets out into the community and sounds people out on their views, he is deeply committed to the community and to the county, and he has a broad knowledge of land use issues confronting the Board. I am particularly impressed by the importance he places on design in evaluating various land use proposals. While I do not always agree with his positions, I can be sure that he will carefully consider all angles in any decision he makes. I believe the SSCAB is a better institution, and its discussions more thorough and thoughtful, for having Alan Bowser as a member.

Having gotten to know Alan Bowser through participation in civic activities, I can say with confidence that he is a principled person, an amiable person, and one who is highly respected in the civic community.

Amy Presley became expert in the Board’s review process during the Clarksburg controversy. She has demonstrated a commitment to transparency in the deliberations of planning staff and Board and an ability to master the technicalities of land use issues. She is sensitive to the needs of communities while maintaining a realistic approach to the outcomes. I believe you will agree that in the last several years, Ms. Presley has earned the respect of both private citizens and public officials.

Both Alan Bowser and Amy Presley would be assets on the Planning Board. I ask that you vote to select both of them.

My address: 2236 Washington Avenue, Silver Spring 20910

John Komoroske
From: Komoroske, John
To: councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
Sent: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:22 pm
Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850
Re: Application of Alan Bowser for Appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board

Dear President Knapp:

I am writing in strong support of Alan Bowser’s application to become a member of the Planning Board.

I have served on the Alexandria VA Planning Commission for 17 years, the last two as Vice Chairman. Alan and I have known each other well for more than 22 years as members of a running club that meets weekly. We have spent hours running or at each other’s houses discussing civic activities in our respective jurisdictions. While I thought I contributed at least my fair share to my jurisdiction (e.g., president of the largest civic association for more than 3 years, 5 terms on Planning Commission, chair of a number of commissions and task forces over the past 25 years), Alan has given much more to Montgomery County in his numerous roles.

The breadth of his interests – zoning, planning, transportation, environment and housing – and his grasp of them has never failed to impress me. Through our 22 years of friendship, I have admired his razor sharp intellect, his ability to develop a course of action from a sound theoretical basis, his gift of working things out among disagreeing parties, and his practical approach to problem solving – no matter how complex the factors involved.

Based on the hours of discussions Alan and I have had over the years, I would like him to move to Alexandria and serve on the Planning Commission with me, but he feels too strongly for Montgomery County to even consider it.

I recommend Alan to you for appointment to the Montgomery Planning Board without reservation.

Best regards,
John H. Komoroske
3106 Circle Hill Road
Alexandria VA 22305

Mark Gabriele

From: Mark Gabriele
To: councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
Sent: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:12 am
Subject: Recommendation for Alan Bowser for Montgomery County Planning Board
The Honorable Michael Knapp

President, Montgomery County Council

Dear Mr. Knapp,

It is my pleasure to recommend Mr. Alan Bowser to you as a distinguished and highly qualified candidate for the Montgomery County Planning Board. My acquaintance with Alan began several years ago when I was elected to the presidency of my local civic organization, the Seven Oaks / Evanswood Citizens' Association. At that time, Alan was working to re-invigorate the civic organization representing his neighborhood, Park Hills; that organization had been effectively dormant for many years. He succeeded admirably; the Park Hills Civic Association is now an active and effective advocate for their community, and it was Alan's effort that made the difference.

I have worked with Alan since then on a variety of community issues affecting our neighborhoods, and have found him to be thoughtful, reasonable, and insightful. He is an excellent listener and seeks to find common ground to bring all parties together, while not losing sight of the goal. Not only is he a good listener; Alan is also capable of expressing his own opinions in a clear, yet diplomatic, fashion. As a resident of Montgomery County, I can honestly say that he is the sort of person that I would want to have on the planning board. He has my enthusiastic recommendation for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Yours sincerely,

Mark Gabriele
831 Woodside Parkway
Silver Spring, MD 20910


Sheryl Brissett-Chapman
From: SherylBC@aol.com
To: councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
Cc: ASBLAW@aol.com
Sent: Tue, 17 Jun 2008 11:30 am
Subject: (no subject)
Honorable Michael Knapp:

I have been a resident of downtown Silver Spring for 25 years, raising children and participating in such community efforts as the Silver Spring Civic Center Advisory Committee, in recent years. I have also had considerable exposure to the Planning Board in my role as Executive Director of the National Center for Children and Families (NCCF) as it has undergone major facility transformation over the last decade.

I am now writing to support the appointment of Alan Bowser to the Planning Board. I serve on the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. Board with Alan who is President and have watched his leadership both with the Silver Spring Advisory Board and the Park Hills Civic Association. Alan is very smart, thoughtful, well-connected to people, hardworking, analytical, able to acknowledge what he does not know, asserts what he knows, and works collaboratively. He is well known in the community and highly regarded by many. In my opinion, he would be an excellent addition to the Planning Board, especially during these current times.

Thanks for your consideration.

Sheryl Brissett Chapman
June 17, 2008


Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Mr. Knapp:

I am writing to you in support of the application of Alan S. Bowser for a position on the Montgomery County Planning Board.

I have lived in Silver Spring for fifty-seven years, helped raise our family with my wife, Eileen and have worked here representing residents of Montgomery County for more than twenty-five years.

I have known Alan for more than twenty years. He has been very involved in civic association, community development and planning issues as an attorney and as a volunteer for many years. He has experience and common sense. I believe he would be a credit to the Board and enhance the reputation of our great County. I strongly urge you to give thoughtful consideration to his application and appoint him to the Planning Board.


Sincerely yours,

Robert J. Coyne


To: councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2008 10:49 AM
Subject: Planning Board

Dear Council President Knapp:

I write to endorse the candidacy of Alan Bowser for the Planning Board vacancy.

I work with Mr. Bowser on the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board and know first hand of hard work, diligence, and complete commitment to any task he undertakes and makes a priority. In particular his work as Chair of the Neighborhood's Committee demonstrated these qualities as he produced and managed monthly meetings whose scope was broad and whose attendance was large.

He brings a sharp analytical mind of a lawyer (which he is), the energy of a community activist, and the thoroughness of a professional to whatever he undertakes. I am sure that he would do an excellent job as a member of the Planning Board for the reasons stated above and because of his interest in planning, land use, housing, transportation, and the environment for our county. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mark Woodard

Caren Madsen

Dear Council President Knapp:

I hope you and the Council will support adding Alan S. Bowser to the Planning Board. I have worked with Alan on various committees and have known him to be reasonable, knowledgeable, and extremely dedicated to community service. Alan would be an outstanding choice for a Planning Board Commissioner. He is professional to the core and would serve us all well.

Best,

Caren

From: Korey Hartwich
To: county.council@montgomerycountymd.gov; councilmember.knapp@montgomerycountymd.gov
Sent: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 2:18 pm
Subject: Planning Board
June 18, 2008

Montgomery County Council
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Council Members:

As you consider applicants for the vacancies on the Planning Board, I urge you to consider applicants' experience with and dedication to the community as a primary factor. As we have seen from problems and challenges our community faces, Montgomery County needs resident-focused leaders whose first priority is the needs and greater good of the people who make this county home.

I would like to draw your attention to the experience and dedication to the community of Alan Bowser, with whom I served on the county's Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board. Alan proved his eagerness to serve the community by repeatedly and energetically stepping up to the plate when volunteers were needed and when jobs had to get done. He was active, well informed and enthusiastic in his support for a variety of organizations and initiatives in our community. His experience, like my own, on the Advisory Board and with a variety of other community and political organizations, undoubtedly gave him a broad education on how the County works, the issues that we continue to face, and the various stakeholders that should absolutely be a key requirement for whomever you choose to serve on the Planning Board.

You undoubtedly have a number of qualified, capable applicants for the opening for a Democrat. While knowledge of the planning process, budgets, contracts, parks, zoning law, departmental management, etc. should all be part of every applicant's resume, I encourage you to choose Planning Board members who will consider their primary duty to work for the benefit of the people of Montgomery County. Please give Alan Bowser your consideration.

Sincerely,

Korey Hartwich
Silver Spring, Maryland 20906
khartwich@hotmail.com


Paul H. Davis, Esq.

Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Council President Knapp:

I write in unwavering support for the candidacy of Alan S. Bowser, Esq., for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board. I've had the pleasure of association with him over the past year in service to the African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County where I serve as Treasurer and he as Representative for Councilmanic District Five. During our period of association, in meetings and on a personal basis, he has impressed me as a very intelligent, organized, dedicated, conscientious individual with the success of the organization as a paramount consideration.

For a number of years, from the 1980s until 2000, I served as a community representative of the Greater Colesville Citizens Association, during which time I successfully appeared several times before officials of the Planning Board on issues impacting our community. During the early 2000s, while residing there, I served several years as a representative on the board of the Lake Arbor Civic Association in Prince Georges County. My years of association with civic associations and the resulting interaction with the planning boards has created a sensitivity to the type of deportment necessary to establish and set workable parameters to address the various demanding and competing interests relative to land use and development and the fair, just and equitable determination of what will be in the best interest of the county, residents, environment and other relevant factors.

I am satisfied Mr. Bowser possesses the overall knowledge, character and temperament, coupled with his diverse background, to be highly successful as a member of the Planning Board. I encourage you and your colleagues to appoint him to this key service oriented position.

Sincerely,

Paul H. Davis, Jr., Esq.
11514 Bucknell Drive #102
Silver Spring, MD 20902-2878

Mark Kozaki

Honorable Michael Knapp
Montgomery Council President
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Mr. Knapp:

I am writing to express my support of Alan Bowser's candidacy for appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

I have known Mr. Bowser for approximately two years, during which time we have served together on the Board of Directors of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. (SSTCI), of which Mr. Bowser is the Board Chairperson.

With the SSTCI organization, Mr. Bowser consistently demonstrates a keen understanding and sense of critical issues, astutely applies a recognition of priorities, and effectively leads with an inclusionary, consensus-building approach regarding problem solving. His management skills enable him to very efficiently advance our agenda in a positive manner as he balances the needs to address both macro and micro issues.

I am confident that Mr. Bowser would substantially contribute to the Montgomery County Planning Board and serve our community's best interests by helping the Board to achieve its goals. I hope that you will please give him every consideration for this appointment.

Thank you very much.

Sincerely,

Mark Kozaki
2122 Clark Place
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 589-5434

Montgomery Council Sets Interviews for 12 To Fill 2 County Planning Board Positions

* Release ID: 08-088
* Release Date: 6/10/2008
* Contact: Justina Ferber 240-777-7938
* From: Council Office

Montgomery Council Sets Interviews for 12 To Fill 2 County Planning Board Positions

ROCKVILLE, Md., June 10, 2008—The Montgomery County Council has set interview dates with 12 applicants seeking to fill two vacancies on the Montgomery County Planning Board.

The term of Allison Bryant, a Republican, will expire on June 14. Mr. Bryant has served two terms and is not eligible for reappointment. The other vacancy was created by the passing of board member Eugene Lynch, a Democrat, on Jan. 31. Mr. Lynch’s term will expire on June 14, 2011.

Interviews are open for public observation. They will be conducted at the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. The interview schedule is as follows:

Patrick Ryan June 12, 2008 1:30 PM
Benjamin Ross June 12, 2008 2:00 PM
Gerald Roper June 12, 2008 2:30 PM
Goldie Rivkin June 12, 2008 3:00 PM
Cary Lamari June 12, 2008 3:30 PM
Marye Wells Harley June 12, 2008 4:00 PM

Carol Placek June 19, 2008 1:30 PM
Alan S. Bowser June 19, 2008 2:00 PM
Joseph Alfandre June 19, 2008 2:30 PM
Paula Bienenfeld June 19, 2008 3:00 PM
Amy Presley June 19, 2008 3:30 PM

William Mooney June 24, 2008 8:30 or 9:30

The Planning Board has five members. No more than three members of the Planning Board may be from the same political party, and all members must be residents and registered voters of Montgomery County when appointed. Members serve four-year terms and are limited to two full terms. The positions can be filled by a Democrat; a Republican; a voter who declines to affiliate with a party; or by a member of another party officially recognized by the Montgomery County Board of Elections.

In addition to Mr. Bryant, the current board members are Chairman Royce Hanson, a Democrat; Jean B. Cryor, a Republican; and John Robinson, a Democrat. Annual compensation for Board members is currently $30,000.

The Planning Board serves as the Council’s principal adviser on land use planning and community planning. Planning Board members also serve as Commissioners of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission.

The Planning Board’s responsibilities with regard to planning include preparation and amendment of County General Plan; preparation and amendment of Master Plans and functional plans; formulation of subdivision regulations; preparation of or recommendations on text amendments to the County Zoning Ordinance; implementation of the subdivision process by reviewing and approving all preliminary plans, site plans and other plans for development; advice on the planning implication of capital facilities and programs of the County government, Montgomery College, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission and Montgomery County Public Schools; commenting, under its Mandatory Referral authority, on plans for public facilities of local, state and federal agencies; and approval of the work program and the annual operating budget for the Planning Department and the Commission’s bi-county offices.

The Planning Board sits as the Park Commission and approves the annual Parks Department operating budget and Capital Improvements Program (CIP) budget; land acquisition contracts and major development contracts for parks; development plans for individual park facilities; policies for park operations; and park user fees.

The Montgomery County Planning Board meets all day every Thursday and often meets on one other evening a week. The entire Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission meets the third Wednesday of every month. On average, a Planning Board member can expect to spend at least two full days a week in scheduled and informal meetings. Additionally, substantial time is required for preparatory work and other activities related to Planning Board responsibilities.

Openings on Montgomery planning panel draw 29 applicants - Gazette

19 Democrats vie for Gene Lynch’s seat
by Margie Hyslop | Staff Writer

Twenty-nine applicants are seeking appointment to two seats on the Montgomery County Planning Board.

The County Council will consider 19 Democrats to fill the seat held for less than a year by the late Gene Lynch. The council also will consider eight Republicans and two unaffiliated applicants to succeed Allison Bryant, whose second term expires in June.

Among the better-known applicants are:

* Joseph L. Alfandre (D) of Potomac, who built the Kentlands in Gaithersburg and comes from a prominent family of developers.

* Robin Ficker (R) of Boyds, an anti-tax activist who has petitioned many issues onto the ballot and is former state delegate who most recently ran for county executive.

* Cary Lamari (D) of Silver Spring, a civic activist who has run for county council

* William M. Mooney Jr. (D) of Olney, a former acting deputy director at the park and planning agency who is a partner in Smart Growth Investments, a firm founded by Lynch.

* Amy Presley (R) of Clarksburg, a strategic planning and marketing consultant and co-founder of the Clarksburg Town Center Advisory Committee. That group’s research and persistence uncovered hundreds of overlooked violations in her community and reform at the planning agency.

* Gerald J. Roper Sr. (D) of Silver Spring, a former Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission member. Roper was pushed off the utility’s board in 2004 by County Executive Douglas M. Duncan over turmoil at the agency surrounding the ouster of its general manager, John R. Griffin, who is now the Maryland Secretary of Natural Resources. Formerly a hearing examiner for the District of Columbia and director of minority business contracting for the Maryland Transit Administration, Roper is now a consultant.

Also applying are:

* Lourdes Baldoza-Cabanas (unaffiliated) of Silver Spring, chief financial officer of an auction and appraisal firm

* Jeff Baron (D) of Bethesda, a part-time foreign service officer at the U.S. State Department and former staffer for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

* Paula Bienenfeld (R) of Bethesda, a consultant for environmental and cultural resource management.

* Pamela R. Bingham (D) of Silver Spring, a construction management consultant and industrial engineer.

* Walter S. Booth (D) of Bethesda, a civil and criminal defense lawyer.

* Alan S. Bowser (D) of Silver Spring, a lawyer and former deputy assistant secretary of commerce.

* Gerald R. Cichy (R) of Rockville, a certified planner and former transportation director for the county.

* Leonard S. Cohen (D) of Silver Spring, a retired entrepreneur and engineer.

* Benjamin W. George (R) of Boyds, a real estate agent.

* Bruce Goldensohn (R) of Gaithersburg, a former two-term mayor of Gaithersburg who has worked in the defense industry.

* Wendell M. Holloway (D) of Potomac, a member of the Board of Appeals and former interim president of Bowie State University.

* Herbert N. Jasper (D) of Bethesda, a retired federal employee and consultant.

* Issa Khozeimeh (R) of Bethesda, an electrical engineer and utilities manager for the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

* Philip Litman (unaffiliated) of Rockville, former audit manager for the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission of which the county planning board is a part.

* Jon M. Lourie (D) of Silver Spring, an architect.

* Cynthia Pansing (D) of Gaithersburg, a marketing and strategic planning consultant.

* Carol A. Placek (D) of Kensington, a lawyer and former business development manager at the county’s Housing Opportunities Commission.

* William S. Richbourg (D) of Potomac, a mortgage banker for Wells Fargo.

* Goldie W. Rivkin (D) of Bethesda, a planning consultant.

* Nelson M. Rosenbaum (R) of Bethesda, civic activist and president of a health care information services firm.

* Benjamin Ross (D) of Bethesda, president of the Action Committee for Transit and a retired physicist.

* Patrick E. Ryan (D) of Silver Spring, a lawyer and civic activist who ran for county council in the recent special election to replace the late Marilyn Praisner.

* Marye Wells-Harley (D) of Silver Spring, former director of Parks and Recreation for Prince George’s County.

Black Democratic Leader Seeks County Planning Board Seat - Washington Informer 2007

By Barbara Flack-Darko
WI Contributing Writer
Thursday, May 24, 2007

Alan Steele Bowser, a respected leader in local and national Democratic circles, is seeking one of two appointed seats on the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Bowser is a former deputy assistant secretary of commerce and a lawyer who represents clients before federal agencies and Congress. A former World Bank consultant, he has extensive experience as an economist and international policy analyst in the public and private sectors, as well as experience in privatization, overseas market development, and regulatory and legal reform.

He also has extensive political credentials that include serving as a campaign advisor and speechwriter for several local and national Democratic campaigns. He currently is an executive board member of the African American Democratic Club of Montgomery County and a member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board.

Bowser holds a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center, a master’s from Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, and a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.

He was among the finalists last year for planning board chairman. Now he is among nine other candidates who will be interviewed next month by members of the county council for two planning board seats. Seven of the finalists are Democrats, one Republican, and an independent. A total of 26 people applied for the appointments.

Bowser’s Democratic competitors are: Robert Cope, a lawyer and civic activist; Elvin J. Crespo, a lawyer and real estate investor; Cary Lamari, former president of the Montgomery County Civic Federation who lost a bid last year for an at-large seat on the county council; Gene Lynch, former chief of staff to Gov. Parris Glendening (D) and special assistant to former Montgomery County Executive Neal Potter (D); Robert L. Mitchell, a developer and civil engineer; and Tedi S. Osias, director of legislative and public affairs for the county’s Housing Opportunities Commission and aide to former county councilmember Howard A. Denis (R).

The Republican applicant selected for an interview is Jean B. Cryor, a 12-year state legislator who lost her re-election bid last year to Craig Rice, one of two Black delegates in the Maryland General Assembly. The Independent applicant is John Low, a Green Party member and an antiques dealer.

The interviews will be held in public on June 11 and 12 in the council’s sixth-floor conference room in the Stella B. Werner County Council Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville.

The council has to select two new commissioners to succeed Democrat Wendy C. Perdue and Republican Meredith K. Wellington whose terms expire June 15.

The planning board’s five commissioners are elected to four-year terms and are paid $30,000 a year.

One new board member must be a Democrat or an independent and one must be a Republican or an independent. Currently, the planning board’s lone Black member is a Republican, Allison Bryant; his term expires next year.

http://www.washingtoninformer.com/ARBlackDemocrats2007May24.html

Letter of Application to Montgomery County Council - March 2008

March 31, 2008

Council President Michael J. Knapp
Montgomery County Council Office
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Mr. Knapp:

I am pleased to present my application for the position of Member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

As you know, my interest in serving the Council and the residents of Montgomery County as a member of the Planning Board is longstanding. With the encouragement of members of the Montgomery County Council, I have been privileged to meet with the Council on other occasions to discuss my views about the important planning and development issues facing Montgomery County.

In previous correspondence to the Council and in our meetings, I have shared my ideas about Montgomery County planning. I’ve noted my strong support for preserving Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve and my commitment to smart growth and the idea that “great urban design—focused on great transit, pedestrian safety and convenience, green space, public amenities, arts and culture—is the future for our transit station areas…” I affirmed the Council’s view that that the County’s regulatory processes must be up to the task of 21st century development, and that “community input and transparent decision making are more important than ever.” I also expressed my support for the application of the best principles of community design, adequate public facilities and sustainability to guide future growth and development toward our smart growth centers.

I believe that my appointment to and service on the Montgomery County Planning Board can help the Board move forward with even greater community understanding of its mission and public support for its decisions. I look forward to assisting the Chairman and the other Board members with their work. My experience in environmental, transportation, and housing issues can contribute directly to the Board’s mission.

Montgomery County Service. Throughout my career, I have been extensively involved in community development and planning issues as an attorney, economist and policy analyst. My recent service in Montgomery County includes my work as a member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, recently renominated by Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, and reappointed by you and your colleagues on the Montgomery County Council. It has been my pleasure to serve as Chair of our Board’s Neighborhoods Committee, a hard-working and ever-growing group of Board members and community volunteers who have effectively advocated for many important issues of concern to Montgomery County, generally, and Silver Spring, in particular. I was recently nominated by the County Executive and appointed by this Council to serve as a member of the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services Advisory Committee, representing the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board. I am also privileged to serve as a member of the working group that has been established by Councilmembers Berliner and Elrich to help develop Montgomery County Tree Preservation legislation.

In Silver Spring, I serve as President of the Park Hills Civic Association, one of the oldest civic associations in Montgomery County. In this capacity, I have helped our neighbors advocate for environmental protection, public and pedestrian safety, and community revitalization.

Professional Experience and Education. Please recall that my professional experience spans over thirty years working on energy, environment, transportation, housing and agriculture issues, in the public and private sectors. I have worked as an economist for the United States Treasury and the Executive Office of the President and I served as a legislative assistant in the United States House of Representatives. I have also worked as a consultant to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Federal Highway Administration, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Federal Transit Administration, and the U.S Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I am a graduate of Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, and the Georgetown University Law Center. Currently, I am an attorney and consultant in private practice in Montgomery County.

Executive and Management Experience. I have a record of leadership and accomplishment as a senior executive and manager. In 1999, I was appointed to the Senior Executive Service of the United States. I served as the United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Basic Industries, with responsibility for one of the largest group of offices in the International Trade Administration. As U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary, I managed over 100 professional staff members in the U.S Office of Automotive Affairs, the U.S. Office of Energy, Infrastructure and Machinery, and the U.S. Office of Metals, Material and Chemicals. During my tenure at the Commerce Department, I led active and successful programs in China, Russia, Eastern Europe, India, Mexico and Europe, and I supported a dynamic group of public-private partnerships.

Among many significant achievements at Commerce, I developed President Bill Clinton’s Clean Energy Trade Initiative, which promoted the sales of U.S. clean energy and environmental technology throughout the world. I also organized an International Mass Transit Trade Mission, which drew on the resources of the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Transportation and supported the export of U.S. transportation products and intelligent transportation technology to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. I also led the Department’s participation in the President’s China Housing Initiative, which worked with American businesses and key industry trade association to promote the export of U.S. building materials and construction technology.

Board Experience and Expertise. I have extensive and unique high-level experience and expertise with public sector boards and committees that is directly relevant to this appointment. For over ten years, I served as Board Operations Officer at the World Bank Group, assisting its Chairmen, its Corporate Secretaries, Managing Directors and Executive Directors on important Board-related issues. During my tenure at the World Bank, I frequently served as acting Secretary for the Bank’s Audit and Budget Committees and was selected to serve as the Secretary of the Bank Board’s Inspection Panel Working Group. Earlier in my career, I served as the staff economist on President Jimmy Carter’s Commission on World Hunger, a Presidentially-appointed body to examine the nature and extent of domestic and international hunger and to propose policy recommendations for the United States Government.

Over the past year, some of my civic activities have included:

• Community Development: Community and neighborhood revitalization remains a high priority issue for me. Over the past year, as President of the Park Hills Civic Association, I teamed with the Friends of Sligo Creek Park and the Seven Oaks Evanswood Civic Association to bring government and public attention to the critical issue of pollution in Sligo Creek Park. I have worked to help focus government and community attention on underserved neighborhoods in Silver Spring, particularly, Oakview, Northwest Park, Long Branch, South Silver Spring, and Langley Takoma. I have supported the revitalization and new leadership of the Northwest Park/Oakview Weed and Seed Program, and supported the work of the Long Branch Advisory Committee.

• Transportation and Pedestrian Safety: Over the past year, I have participated in the work of the Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Committee, Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, and supported its work on traffic engineering, police manpower, and public education. I have helped to focus government and community attention on critical public mass transit issues in Silver Spring and Montgomery County. I have participated in numerous Maryland Transit Administration Community Focus Groups on the Purple Line, and have organized several MTA briefings on the project for the Park Hills Civic Association.

• Public Safety and Law Enforcement: Following our community’s experience with the Forest Glen Pedestrian Bridge, I have advocated for the application of the Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to new public projects in Montgomery County, and have encouraged a greater role for the Montgomery County Police Department in the planning and evaluation of new projects such as the Silver Spring Transit Center and the Long Branch pedestrian walkway. Through the Citizens Advisory Board, I have supported the community building and community policing work of the Takoma Langley Community Development Authority and the C-SAFE International Corridors Program. I also had the privilege of serving on the public safety working group of County Executive Isiah Leggett’s Transition Team

• Environmental Protection: I have worked with the Friends of Sligo Creek and the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission to educate the community about the importance of local water quality, storm water management, and litter control. I participated in the Anacostia Watershed Society’s and the Friends of Sligo Creek’s Earth Day activities in Long Branch and Sligo Creeks.

• Historic Preservation: With a long time interest in historic preservation, I have supported the efforts of various local groups that seek to educate the community about its history and the importance of historic preservation. I supported Montgomery Preservation, Inc.’s efforts to preserve the Comsat building, and I have convened an expert panel on “Neighborhoods and Historic Preservation” with representatives from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Silver Spring Historical Society, the Maryland Native Plants Society, and Montgomery Preservation. Recently, working with representatives of Silver Spring’s Lyttonsville community, the Citizens Advisory Board and the Silver Spring Historical Society, I helped to secure official County recognition of the Lyttonsville community’s contribution to Montgomery County for this year’s Black History Month observance.

Mr. Council President, you might recall that at my interview last year regarding possible appointment to the Planning Board, Councilmember Berliner asked me to provide some preliminary thoughts about the work the Planning Board was doing with regard to a proposed new County Growth Policy. My written response to the Councilmember’s request is included as an addendum to this letter of interest, for your information and use.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to discussing this matter further with you and your colleagues on the County Council.

I hope to have your support for this appointment.

Sincerely yours,

Alan S. Bowser, Esq.

Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board - Roles & Responsibilities

Advisory Board Responsibilities (2004 to present)

• Member, Executive Committee, Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board
• Chair, Neighborhoods Committee: organize monthly meetings for Board and community members on a range of subjects including: community revitalization, public health, public safety, emergency preparedness, environmental protection, affordable housing, homelessness, parks and recreation, community arts and entertainment, senior citizens issues, immigrant issues, and education.
• Member, Commercial and Economic Development, and Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Committees
• Founder, Silver Spring Neighborhoods Online

Advisory Board Representation: Presently representing the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board at

• the Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services Advisory Committee;
• the Northwest Park Oakview Weed & Seed Steering Committee; and
• the Silver Spring Town Center Inc. Board of Directors.

Some Accomplishments
• Bylaws Revisions leading to establishment of the Board’s Secretary position and our Board's development review process.
• Contributions to the Board’s public outreach through Letters to the Editor about Civic building funding; Veterans Plaza, etc.
• Historic recognition of the Lyttonsville community.
• Establishment of the “Silver Spring Neighborhoods” Blog.
• Strengthening the Weed and Seed Program and its Steering Committee
• Enhanced cooperation with the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.
• Enhanced cooperation with the Director and staff of the Silver Spring Regional Center

Community Building. Have organized (with Victor Salazar) the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board’s Community Forum on Youth Violence and Gangs (Sligo Middle School), and (with Muriel Bowser, now D.C Councilwoman) the Community Forum on Emergency Preparedness at Montgomery College. Helped to organize the Advisory Board’s Community Forum on Veterans Plaza (Roundhouse Theatre).

Helped organize the Avery Park Apartments Tenants (Community) Association, and the Northwest Park Athletic Association.

Extending Outreach. Have raised the Board’s profile in the community by supporting such projects as the Long Branch Task Force, the Long Branch Advisory Committee, the Silver Spring/Montgomery County Thanksgiving Day Parade, Magical Montgomery, the South Silver Spring Block Party, the Long Branch Earth Day “Clean the Creek” program, Long Branch Unity Day, the Annual Neighborhood Night Out Observance, and the Long Branch and Northwest Park/Oakview Weed & Seed Programs.

Have substantially increased the Board’s outreach to the following civic associations: Sligo Branview, East Silver Spring, Seven Oaks, Park Hills, Indian Spring, North Four Corners, South Four Corners, North Hills of Sligo, Woodside, Woodside Forest, Woodside Park, South Silver Spring, Avery Park Tenants Association, Oakview Citizens Association, Long Branch Neighborhood Initiative, Lyttonsville Civic Association, Takoma Langley Community Development Authority, and the Takoma CSAFE program.

Strengthening Community Partnerships. Have developed strong working relationships with, among others organizations, Impact Silver Spring, Montgomery Coalition for the Homeless, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Silver Spring Historical Society, Montgomery Preservation, Inc., Anacostia Watershed Society, Friends of Sligo Creek, Long Branch Business League, Casa de Maryland, Montgomery County Police Department, Montgomery County Depts. of Public Works and Transportation, Housing and Community Affairs, Environmental Protection, and Health and Human Services, the Mary’s Center, and Washington Adventist Hospital.

Have strengthened ties between the Advisory Board and Prezco, the Presidents’ Council of Downtown Silver Spring Civic Associations, the Montgomery County Civic Federation, and the Silver Spring Urban District Advisory Board.

Public and Community Advocacy. During my tenure, I have effectively advocated for:

• More police officers and community policing in the 3rd District
• More attention to affordable housing issues
• Environmental sustainability: clean air and water projects; recycling projects
• Effective public health services and emergency preparedness
• Historic recognition of the Lyttonsville community in Silver Spring
• Increased community input into planning and development decisions
• Increased focus on transportation and pedestrian safety issues.
• Increased focus on small business issues
• Increased tenant participation in community affairs
• Increased immigrant participation in community affairs.
• Greater sensitivity to historic preservation and heritage tourism.
• Community building in Long Branch, Northwest Park Oakview, and South Silver Spring.
• Community outreach regarding proposed renovation of the Sligo Creek Golf Course; new Coleville Road Arts and Entertainment project, Purple Line modes and alignments.

The Neighborhoods Committee’s minutes are located here:

Neighborhoods Committee Online: 2007-2008 Minutes and Annual Report

Alan Bowser - Summary of Experience

ALAN S. BOWSER
409 Deerfield Avenue Silver Spring, Maryland 20910 301-608-3932 ASBLAW@AOL.COM

Summary of Experience
Alan Bowser, a graduate of Princeton, Johns Hopkins, and the Georgetown University Law Center, has extensive professional experience as an attorney, economist, and executive in the public and private sectors. A former United States Deputy Assistant Secretary for Basic Industries in the Department of Commerce, he also was a senior staff member of the World Bank Group, and a Director of the Petroleum Finance Company, Ltd. Currently, he is a member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board, and President of the Park Hills Civic Association.

Professional Experience
Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Alan S. Bowser, general civil practice, 1995-present. Admitted to practice in Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Washington, DC.

Director, Privatization Group International, LLC
Provide consulting economic and business development services to international clients.

Consultant, World Bank Group, Office of Vice President and Corporate Secretary
Provide consultant services to the World Bank Group.

Consultant, U.S. Department of Transportation. Served as consultant to the Federal Transit Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, and Federal Highway Administration.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Basic Industries, U.S. Department of Commerce, International Trade Administration, Washington, D.C. 1999 to 2001. Appointed to the Senior Executive Service of the United States, with responsibility for the U.S. Government’s Office of Automotive Affairs, Office of Energy, Infrastructure and Machinery, and Office of Metals, Materials and Chemicals. Developed President Clinton’s International Clean Energy Trade Initiative.

Board Operations Officer, The World Bank, Corporate Secretariat, Washington, D.C. 1989 to 1999. Served as acting staff secretary for the Bank Group’s Audit Committee and Budget Committee; staff secretary for the Executive Directors’ Working Group on the Inspection Panel.

Director, The Petroleum Finance Company, Ltd., Washington, D.C. 1986 to 1988
Provided political risk and market analysis for international public and private sector clients.

Legislative Assistant, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 1983 to 1985
Served as principal legislative assistant to the Hon. George W. Crockett, Jr. for the Committee on the Judiciary and Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Economist, Executive Office of the President, U.S. Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 1976-1980. Staff economist for the Presidential Commission on World Hunger, the Treasury’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, and the USDA’s Office of International Cooperation and Development

Education
A.B., Princeton University Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, 1974, M.A., A.B.D., The Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies, 1978, J.D., Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. 1995.

Community Development. Member, Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board; Chairman, Neighborhoods Committee; Member, Transportation and Pedestrian Safety Committee, Member, Montgomery County Department of Permitting Services Advisory Committee; President and Executive Board Member, Silver Spring Town Center, Inc.; President, Park Hills Civic Association; Friends of Sligo Creek.

Comments on Montgomery County Growth Policy June 2007

June 14, 2007

Council President Marilyn Praisner
Montgomery County Council
Stella B. Werner Council Office Building
100 Maryland Avenue
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Dear Ms. Praisner:

At my June 11th interview with the Montgomery County Council regarding possible appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board, Councilmember Berliner requested that I forward to the County Council any comments that I had regarding the Planning Board’s recommendations for the 2007 Growth Policy. My comments follow.

As I mentioned during our meeting, I think there is much to commend in the Planning Board’s recent recommendations to the County Council. In particular, I broadly support the Board’s recommendations regarding “Identifying and Prioritizing Infrastructure,” “Schools,” “Other Infrastructure,” and “Growth Management Improvements.” However, some elements of the Planning Board’s recommendations, especially regarding “Transportation,” are of concern to me.

Identifying and Prioritizing Infrastructure. The Planning Board has recommended that the biennial component of the Growth Policy review be substantially expanded to provide improved information and guidance for the Capital Improvements Program and other public decisions. I think this would be a most useful addition to Council’s review of growth policy. According to the Board’s recommendations, this component of the Growth Policy review would include, inter alia: 1. “an analysis of current and future pace and pattern of growth in the County and the factors affecting demand for public facilities in established communities; “2. “an update on the County’s success in meeting a set of indicators” that would be useful to measure and analyze growth; 3. “an implementation status report for each master plan and sector plan, that would include a review of how planned development is proceeding and whether the public actions/facilities in the plan are occurring in a timely way;” and 4. “a comprehensive list of priority facilities that are recommended for addition to the Capital Improvements Program.” Each of these elements would greatly assist the Council’s review of County growth policy.

Schools. I support the Planning Board’s recommendation for schools, including the proposed refinements to the adequacy tests for school capacity and the recommendation to retain the “upper limit” for enrollment. The Planning Board has recommended that the “County revise the test so that the definition of adequacy more closely conforms to the MCPS definition of capacity by lowering the threshold that triggers the School Facilities Payment.” This refinement of the adequacy test would increase private sector support for school facilities in several areas of the county where schools face enrollment challenges from new development. I think this is an important recommendation.

Other Infrastructure. The Planning Board has recommended that there be no changes to the adequacy tests for 1. water and sewerage systems; 2. police service; and 3. fire and rescue service. I think that, particularly regarding the police, fire and rescue services, this is an area that merits additional analysis as some community representatives and members of the police, fire and rescue services have indicated to me that there may be inadequate manpower levels and service for these functions in some parts of the County and that new development might put pressure on the availability and quality of these services. I strongly support the recommendation (or suggestion) that there are benefits to having the Montgomery County Policy Department participate in the Planning Department’s Development Review Committee for Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) review of new development. I have advocated for CPTED review for all new private and public sector projects in the County, in particular, for the new Silver Spring Transit Center project and the new pedestrian bridge in Silver Spring’s Long Branch community.

Transportation. It is the Planning Department’s recommendations regarding “transportation” that are of most concern to me. The Planning Board has recommended the continued development of a new policy area test, tentatively called Policy Area Mobility Review (PAMR); and retaining the Local Area Transportation Review (LATR), with some revisions. As I understand the Planning Board’s recommendations, the proposed refinements to staff transportation analysis would indicate that only two “policy areas” in the County are presently inadequate in terms of traffic congestion; and would remain inadequate in 2013, five years in the future. If this is the conclusion of the recommended “new” analysis, it seems to fly in the face of my personal experience in the County and anecdotal information from many other Montgomery County residents, i.e., that there are more areas in the County where traffic and congestion are significant quality of life and public safety issues. There are many areas in the Board’s transportation analysis and recommendations where I would like to learn more, including: the tradeoffs between “transit service” and “roadway congestion,” the measures of roadway congestion, the measures of transit service, and the possible “provision of payment-in-lieu of construction.”

Infrastructure Financing. I am broadly in support of the “short term” infrastructure financing recommendations made by the Planning Board for the “Short Term School Impact Tax” and the Short Term Transportation Impact Tax,” to be applied to new development. The Planning Board stated that these recommended “rates would provide the funds needed (approximately $270 million) to supply the school capacity needed for the approximately 27,000 additional school students that would be generated by new development by 2030.” The Short Term Transportation Impact Tax recommendation sets “transportation impact tax rates at levels that reflect the full cost (approximately $1.2 billion) of planned increases in transportation capacity. However, I would like to see more analysis regarding the analytical foundation for the Planning Board’s recommendation, as the estimates of funds needed for education and transportation to the year 2030 seem conservative.

Growth Management Improvements. I strongly support the inclusion of “Sustainable Development” and “Design Excellence” as components of the Council’s assessment of overall growth management. While it appears that the Planning Department staff has not yet completed its analytical work regarding
the establishment of meaningful and measurable indicators for these concepts, it is very encouraging that this analysis will be a part of the Planning Department’s future work program. I am particularly encouraged about the future inclusion of “environmental sustainability criteria in growth policy discussions as I believe that this cluster of issues should inform many aspects of the Council’s and the Commission’s work. How considerations of “design excellence” will be incorporated into the

Council’s and Commission’s growth policy decision-making remains to be seen, but the fact that it is on the agenda is most welcome.

Madame President, in closing I would like to restate my view that I think that the work product produced by the professional staff of the Planning Department is very impressive and reflects a very useful and valuable refinement of the tools that the County Council has to affect growth in Montgomery County. I hope that I have an opportunity to participate in the conversation that you will have about the Board’s recommendations as a new member of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Thank you again for the opportunity to meet with you and your colleagues on the Council with regard to an appointment to the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Sincerely,

Alan S. Bowser