Baltimore County?s deputy zoning commissioner ? regarded by some community activists as the most responsive to their concerns ? is unexpectedly retiring, officials said Wednesday.
Deputy Zoning Commissioner John Murphy, one of two officials who have the final authority on development proposals, submitted a letter of resignation to County Executive Jim Smith earlier this week, according to Smith?s spokesman, Don Mohler. Murphy, a former County Councilman who was appointed by Smith in 2002, refused to confirm the news.
“I may not be doing that,” Murphy said, chuckling. “We?ll see how it plays out.”
Murphy tended to be more sympathetic to community concerns than Zoning Commissioner William Wiseman, said alarmed activists who plan to request inclusion in the selection of his successor. Murphy was the only commissioner to deny a project since 2004, said Richard Klein, president of Community and Environmental Defense Services, a company that helps communities fight development plans.
Since then, Wiseman and former Commissioner Lawrence Schmidt respectively approved 72 percent and 80 percent of plans as proposed and denied none, according to Klein?s analysis. Murphy approved 40 percent as proposed, 55 percent with conditions and denied 5 percent.
“He was the most responsive to citizens? concerns, but he was responsive in a way that still allowed the vast majority of projects to go through with as much development as proposed,” Klein said.
Murphy and Wiseman were slated to be reappointed June 1. J. Carroll Holzer, an attorney who frequently represents communities fighting development, said he questioned Murphy on rumors Smith may not reappoint him.
“I told him I would be glad to try to assist him in getting letters of support,” Holzer said. “He said he had pretty much made up his mind to submit his resignation.”
Citing personnel laws, Mohler declined to release Murphy?s letter, but called it “surprising.”
A Catonsville resident and attorney, Murphy served on the county council in the 1970s. He has also served the county?s Board of Appeals, planning board and executive task force.
