The debate about the role of the Howard County Council acting as the county?s zoning authority has heated up as a council campaign issue.
“Is the system broken or are the people running it broken?” said Harold Bernadzikowski, a former planning supervisor for the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning. “That?s what it comes down to.”
Some candidates said the county council should not comprise the zoning board and have the final say on zoning decisions, while others said the board members need to be elected to remain accountable to the public.
“When you are talking about a rezoning case, you are dealing with subjective parameters,” such as how it might change the feel of a neighborhood, said Bernadzikowski, who is not running for office. “It?s open to interpretation.”
Steve Lafferty, deputy director of planning and zoning, said he did not have a position on the current debate. He said the planning board makes recommendations to the Department of Planning and Zoning, which passes those along to the zoning board with any needed background. The county executive appoints the director and Planning Board members.
Another option would be to appoint a single person with a background in land-use law who “has no financial or other interest in Howard County,” said Angela Beltram, leader of Citizens for an Open Process for Everyone, a group that has protested land-use changes. She is not running for office.
The county has a similar person in the zoning counsel who sits in on hearings, presenting evidence that helps determine if the zoning change supports the county?s general plan, Beltram said.
The zoning official also should make the decisions, she said. The county council only would be involved in appeal cases and periodic zoning reviews.
Several candidates suggested a task force that would review the process and compare it to other counties. Bernadzikowski said a task force may have its merits, but it is likely to find other jurisdictions dissatisfied with their independent boards.
Howard County Council
» District 1: Ellicott City, Elkridge and Hanover
Tony Salazar (R)
Courtney Watson (D)
» District 2: Elkridge, Ellicott City, Jessup and Columbia Villages of Long Reach and Oakland Mills
Gina Gabrielle Ellrich (R)
David Hlass (R)
Calvin Ball (D) (incumbent)
Adam Sachs (D)
» District 3: Allview/Arrowhead, North Laurel, Savage, Guilford, Jessup and Columbia Villages of Kings Contrivance and Owen Brown
Donna Thewes (R)
Jen Terrasa (D)
» District 4: Columbia Villages of Dorsey Search, Harper?s Choice, Hickory Ridge, River Hill, Town Center and Wilde Lake, and parts of Clarksville, Highland and Fulton
Tom D?Asto (R)
Joshua Feldmark (D)
Mary Kay Sigaty (D)
UNcommon Councilman (D)
» District 5: West Howard County
Jim Adams (R)
Greg Fox (R)
Wayne Livesay (R)
Don Dunn (D)
Source: Howard County Board of Elections
