BCC Chamber of Commerce - Questionaire and Responses

Planning Board Commissioner - Candidate Questionnaire - May 2009

1. ABOUT YOU: Please explain why you believe you are the best candidate for the position of Planning Board Commissioner? I have over three decades of experience as an economist, attorney, and public policy analyst. In Montgomery County, I have been involved in a broad range planning and design programs, including the Silver Spring Civic Building, the Silver Spring Library, and the Bi-County Transitway aka Purple Line. I have developed constructive relationships with civic organizations throughout Montgomery County, with the County Executive and County Council, with the State delegations, and with the private sector in Silver Spring and Montgomery County. I have worked extensively with individuals and organizations throughout the County on issues such as transportation, environmental protection, housing, and historic preservation.

2. YOUR EXPERIENCE: What interactions have you had with Park and Planning? I have significant interaction with Park and Planning in my roles as a member of the Montgomery County Dept. of Permitting Services Advisory Committee, as a member of the Silver Spring Citizens Advisory Board and immediate past chair of its Neighborhoods Committee, and as President of the Park Hills Civic Association. I currently serve as a member of the Planning Board’s Purple Line Functional Master Plan Advisory Group.

3. YOUR LEADERSHIP SKILLS: What are your leadership skills and how can you use them effectively for the benefit of the Planning Board? I’ve served as a member of the Senior Executive Service of the United States and as a U.S. Dept. Assistant Secretary of Commerce, leading an organization of more that 120 career civil servants. I currently serve as President of the Park Hills Civic Association in Silver Spring and as President of the Silver Spring Town Center, Inc. I’m a staff oriented executive, who believes in team building, innovation and results. I look forward to a constructive and dynamic relationship with other Planning Board members and the Planning staff.

4. CURRENT PROJECTS: What project currently before Park and Planning has affected Montgomery County? Please discuss. I’m particularly interested in the Board’s review of the Growth Policy, Housing Policy, and the revision of the Zoning Code. I believe that the Board’s conclusions and recommendations about adequate public facilities, traffic, design and sustainability will greatly affect the Council’s deliberations about these issues and the direction that the County will take in the future. Regarding specific projects, I’m interested in the plans for Gaithersburg West, Takoma Langley and White Flint, and the CCT and Bi-County Transitway transit projects.

5. ISSUES: What issues or topics currently before the Planning Board, are a priority? Please explain. As noted above, I believe that the Zoning Code Revision is of particular importance. I’m also very interested in the recommendations to be made about the Growth Policy, with a particular interest in the proposed refinements of the traffic formulae.

6. WOODMONT TRIANGLE: What is your view on Woodmont Triangle regarding dollar contributions in lieu of onsite amenities? I believe, in general, that onsite amenities, if required by law and properly developed and agreed to by stakeholders and the appropriate regulatory authorities, should be maintained. Exceptions to that general role need to be carefully evaluated and publicly vetted.

7. PURPLE LINE: Would you support sector plan amendments for Purple Line Stations? I support the Master Plan process. I think that proposed sector plan amendments for Purple Line Stations need to be carefully evaluated on a case by case basis.

8. HEALTH CARE: Montgomery County is blessed with 5 excellent hospitals, and 4 of them are located in residential neighborhoods. The present special exception process, which gives considerable weight to the objections of the neighborhood residents, makes it extremely difficult, time consuming and expensive for these not-for-profit organizations to receive County approval to expand and renovate in order to meet the growing healthcare needs of the patients they serve. How do you fell about the expansion of Suburban Hospital? Candidly, I do not know enough about the Suburban Hospital expansion issues to state an opinion at this time.

9. COMMENTS: Is there anything you would like the BCC Chamber PAC Board to know, in addition to your comments above? I strongly believe in effective public private partnerships, and have worked to make them a reality in every position of responsibility that I’ve held. I’ve worked in private, public and non profit sectors and have an appreciation of their respective strengths.