Constituents Troubled by Huff's Silence on Zoning
County Councilman Todd Huff declined an invitation to be a part of an informational panel hosted by North County Preservation.
Photos
Baltimore County Councilman Todd Huff is staying mum on zoning requests that could impact up to 1,000 acres of space in his district—and his constituents aren't happy.
“He apparently doesn’t care about all the work that has been done historically over the last 30 years,” said Doug Carroll, a Greenspring Valley resident. “The whole system needs to change.”
Carroll was on of several speakers at a panel hosted by North County Preservation on Wednesday night at the Baltimore County Agriculture Resource Center.
The County Council will vote to approve or reject all 71 zoning change requests in the Lutherville-Timonium, Cockeysville, Hunt Valley and North County areas on Aug. 28.
“I’m making my decisions on the 28th,” Huff said of his plans to keep his opinions close to his chest until the deadline for the county’s Comprehensive Zoning Map Process.
Huff was invited to share his views at the panel, but the 3rd district Republican councilman declined the invitation.
“I got the invitation a week and a half ago and I’ve had this fundraiser for over a month and a half,” Huff said Wednesday evening. “It’s at Towson University ... for the Towson University Athletics Department. My family’s business has always been big supporters of theirs.”
North County Preservation president Mike Pierce said the purpose of the panel discussion was to inform North County neighbors of the zoning issues relevant to their communities and the impacts a yes or no vote could have.
Speakers included environmental activists from a wide array of Baltimore County land preservation and conservation organizations.
Panelist Sharon Bailey, board president of the Prettyboy Watershed Alliance, addressed Huff’s absence as a primary concern.
“This [CZMP] is especially challenging because we have someone on the County Council who ... we don’t know how this councilman is going to vote,” Bailey said.
She harkened back to Huff’s predecessor then-Councilman Brian McIntyre who in 2004, submitted a down zoning request to protect 12,00 acres of open space in North County.
“[North County] relied on zoning for conservation in the 1970s,” added James W. Constable, an attorney and president of The Manor Conservancy.
Huff however was critical of the speculation he assumed was being levied against him at the panel discussion.
“I’m not discussing any of my issues. I haven’t discussed any of my issues with anybody [and I won’t] until after the vote,” Huff said. “Whatever they’re saying up there is not factual. They have no idea what direction I’m going on any of my issues.”
A number of audience members who choose to speak questioned Huff’s relationship with developers.
Huff has worked closely with community leaders and developers several times over the last two years to broker solutions for land use issues, including development at Pot Spring and Old Bosley to as recently as the situation with College Manor.
"It seems to be an issue that has come up more and more in this zoning cycle," Constable said. "It sets some very bad zoning precedents."
another resident
6:48 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Hello......lifelong republican
Valerie Williams
7:29 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
The entire meeting was recorded by The Marc Steiner Show and aired tonight at 6pm. You can go to the Show site and listen to the event (both an hour-long version and one that includes the entire 1.5 hours). Here's the link:
http://www.steinershow.org/radio/the-marc-steiner-show/august-23-2012-segment-2
Irving J. Spitzberg Jr.
9:03 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
In a democracy it is essential that politicians tell their constituents how they intend to vote. Only then can the constituents offer salient arguments to persuade the politician about the facts and values at stake. Sticking one's head in the sand and only coming up for air to vote does not enhance the democratic process. Sitting passively at public hearings is theater not real consultation. Of course, since I have only lived in Monkton for ten years and participated in three CZMPs, I don't deserve to be taken seriously, according to the report of some leaders who have heard the third district councilman comment on the local activists.
At the town hall meeting many of the speakers were very critical of the whole CZMP process. I point out to them that were it not for the innovative CZMP process, we would not have the record of preservation we have in the North County. The key was Bryan MCINTIRE- having an intelligent and wise councilman with integrity and a commitment to good government. If the outcome of the current CZMP is a developer's dream, we will have recourse to the ballot box. This will mean beginning organizing the day after our currently elected ostrich comes up for air. Stay tuned next week.
Mike Pierce
10:17 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
I want to especially thank Marc Steiner for agreeing to moderate this panel discussion. Thanks also go to the Agricultural Center for their support of preservation organizations such as ours. North County Preservation is considering continuing with additional Town Hall meetings on further subjects. Mike Pierce
John Hawks
11:55 am on Friday, August 24, 2012
I think the main problem here is structural. Our system throws a Councilman (sometimes new to the process) into this huge life-death struggle with no real support or accumulated insight. While I know that asking a political system to modify the centralization of power is sacrilegious, it seems to me this could mostly be avoided by linking the 4 year zoning decisions to our Master Plan. What is the point of a Master Plan if you aren't going to follow it....or are.....who know? These should not be one-off or Ad Hoc decisions. It is too much to ask of our Council.
Claire Jones
5:01 pm on Friday, August 24, 2012
Is a fund raiser for the athletic department more important than listening to the concerns of your constituents that is going to affect the whole county? I think his priorities are screwed up.
Bill Young
5:34 pm on Saturday, August 25, 2012
We had high hopes in the beginning that Huff would do what he said and that is not undo Bryan McIntire's legacy. Huff's first good move was keeping Bryan's senior aide on staff. She is a smart lady, knows the communities and what the concerns are and understands the county and zoning. Not only has Huff apparently humiliated her, according to past Patch account, but uses her for constituent work only, keeping her out of the loop of all of his decision making. He is often seen in Towson and the district, meeting with land use attorneys and developers in bars with his side kick, a young man who works for him and comes from a development family.
I guess if you want Huff to help you, take him for drinks and you have a shot at it. Remember folks, two more years and we can move him out.
Steve Smith
4:36 pm on Sunday, August 26, 2012
I know the prior Patch incident mentioned above. There was no humiliation to Marci; Huff was the only one who looked bad. She is well loved by the constituents and county folks because she is kind, gracious and intelligent. McIntire wanted her to run for his seat. Huff needs her for credibility but would never take advice from her because he has no respect for anyone other than those who contribute to him and like to party with him.