February 2012
2 posts
Planning Commission member Joe Tieger lowered the...
Joe Tieger: “I realize there are folks who would like the NAHB [National Association of Home Builders] to write this plan, as they have contributed so strongly to plans in the past. But this is not 2006, this is not 2000 … But there is a great deal of information you do not have and because you do not have the background to understand why it’s necessary, you think you can...
Board of Commissioners/Citizens TKO Planning...
Last night at a public hearing, the Board of Commissioners voted 4 to 1 to reject the Planning Commission’s Port Tobacco Environmental Restoration & Recovery Area. Commissioner Reuben Collins cast the only dissenting vote.
WATCH an interview with Candice Quinn Kelly, President of the Board of Commissioners
WATCH an interview with Ken Robinson, Commissioner
WATCH an interview with Ken...
January 2012
6 posts
New 2 min. video explores the threat of a mega...
WATCH our new video about what’s at stake as Charles County’s Board of Commissioners get ready for a public hearing on the Planning Commission’s Port Tobacco Environmental Restoration and Recovery Area (ERRA).
La Plata — Please attend a Jan. 31 BOC public hearing at 6 p.m. regarding the Port Tobacco ERRA — and ask the commissioners to reject this flawed zoning...
More on that alleged "Open Meetings Act" violation
Please attend the 6 p.m., Jan. 31, Board of Commissioners public hearing in the county government auditorium and let the commissioners know you want them to REJECT the Port Tobacco Environmental Restoration and Recovery Area amendment — a possible gateway to allowing massive density increases in the Port Tobacco watershed and up-to-a-1,500-unit community near our impaired river!
By now,...
BOC schedules public hearing for Port Tobacco...
Please attend the 6 p.m., Jan. 31, Board of Commissioners public hearing in the county government auditorium and let the commissioners know you want them to REJECT the Port Tobacco Environmental Restoration and Recovery Area amendment — a possible gateway to allowing massive density increases in the Port Tobacco watershed and up-to-a-1,500-unit community near our impaired river!
LISTEN to the...
Decision time -- Jan. 10th meeting of the Board of...
When and what:
On Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 12:30 pm, the Charles County Board of Commissioners will hold a briefing/vote on a so-called Environmental Recovery Zone for Port Tobacco.
The ERZ, which has been marketed as an “environmental” fix for the polluted Port Tobacco River, has received stiff opposition from citizens and environmentalists as well as from the Maryland Department of Planning....
December 2011
4 posts
And now, a holiday message for Charles County...
To: Director of Planning and Growth Management Peter Aluotto & Director of Planning Steve Ball
From: Port Tobacco Resident Debra Zimmerman Murphey
Dear Gentlemen: Happy Holidays! I am writing with some observations and questions regarding various issues concerning Charles County’s ongoing planning initiatives. For the record, I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication from...
Two Words You Can't Say in Charles County: Smart...
Charles County recently released its merged comprehensive plan scenario for 2012 and many agree it’s an improvement over the county’s 2006 plan.
But at yesterday’s joint meeting between the Planning Commission and Board of Commissioners, the words “Smart Growth” weren’t mentioned and some say this could be a signal that many of the policies that promote...
Commissioner Robinson Pleased With Comp. Plan...
LISTEN to our 5-minute interview with Commissioner Ken Robinson
SEE the merged scenario for Charles County’s 2012 Comprehensive Plan update (released 12/8/11)
November 2011
7 posts
Farmers First, then Smart Growth?
Farmers, landowners, developers and environmentalists packed the Charles County government auditorium on Tuesday to hear what was billed as a “Farmers First” meeting hosted by Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly.
The high stakes meeting, held in response to the controversy created by the county’s comprehensive plan process, centered around the fear of...
A plan to build up to 1,500 homes near the Port...
The Board of Commissioners will now have the ultimate say on the fate of the developer-inspired ERZ, which has been marketed as an “environmental” fix for the polluted Port Tobacco River, but has received stiff opposition from citizens and environmentalists as well as from the Maryland Department of Planning.
LISTEN to the Planning Commission’s discussion and vote for the ERZ...
Smart Growth = Communism in Charles County? Expert...
LISTEN to our 18 minute interview with David Jenkins, Vice President for Government and Political Affairs at Republicans for Environmental Protection
LISTEN to soundbite 1: “Are the supporters of environmental protection and Smart Growth anti-business or even Communists?”
LISTEN to soundbite 2: “Is it possible to be a conservative and at the same time be for environmental protection?
LISTEN...
While developers fret over plans for Smart Growth...
LISTEN to our 8 minute interview with Gerard T. McDonough — WATCH a video excerpt from our interview
LISTEN to soundbite 1: “Is the party over for sprawl developers in Charles County?”
LISTEN to soundbite 2: “Charles County needs a viable TDR program.”
LISTEN to soundbite 3: “Do you think Smart Growth is not only smart policy, but smart politics for the Board of Commissioners?”
Cross County Connector -- a road going nowhere?
WATCH our interview with Commissioner Ken Robinson in which he discusses the Board’s decision to not appeal MDE’s permit denial of the Cross County Connector
WATCH our interview with Bonnie Bick, Sierra Club
WATCH our interview with Josh Urban, Indian Head
LISTEN to the Board of Commissioners’ 38-minute debate about whether to appeal MDE’s permit denial (audio has been...
ENVIRONMENTALISTS WIN BIG -- CROSS COUNTY...
LISTEN TO OUR EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH COMMISSIONER KEN ROBINSON
LISTEN to the reaction of Bonnie Bick of the Sierra Club
LISTEN to the reaction of Ken Hastings of the Mason Springs Conservancy
Why can't the Commissioners do anything about it?
QUESTIONS PERSIST OVER ERM’S HANDLING OF THE 2012 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN PROCESS
LISTEN to Candice Quinn Kelly explaining the approach of the Board of Commissioners
LISTEN to the November 1st meeting
WATCH Ken Hastings of the Mason Springs Conservancy warning about the train wreck that is the 2012 comp. plan process
October 2011
3 posts
Landowners/developers turn out to defeat Smart...
TWO SIDES FACED OFF AGAINST EACH OTHER AT AN OCTOBER 19 MEETING ABOUT THE FUTURE OF GROWTH IN CHARLES COUNTY
No one said it was going to be easy to hammer out Charles County’s 2012 Comprehensive Plan update. But when the county recently published on its website an evaluation of land-use scenarios by the county’s consultant Environmental Resources Management (ERM), many say...
DEVELOPERS TO ENVIRONMENTALISTS: SMART GROWTH PLAN...
‘THAT’S ABSURD’ SAYS NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED SMART GROWTH EXPERT STEWART SCHWARTZ IN AN EXCLUSIVE WeMakeItNews.com INTERVIEW
An open house hosted by Charles County govt. on Wednesday, October 19th (5 to 8 pm at La Plata High School) is certain to bring out competing interests battling over the shape of future development in Charles County.
Environmentalists see the 2012...
Tobin Communications, Inc., producer of... →
Tobin Communications, Inc. (TCI) is a public relations business based in Charles County — for more information about TCI, visit our website http://www.tobincommunications.com and our company blog http://www.tobincommunications.tumblr.com
September 2011
2 posts
Charles County, along with other counties...
WHAT’S WRONG WITH THE PORT TOBACCO RIVER AND DOES...
September 12th — yet another Planning Commission meeting to discuss the developer-inspired Port Tobacco Environmental Recovery Zone. Proponents of the ERZ include Danny Mayer, a consultant for a landowner who wants to build up to 1,500 homes on 1,000 acres near the Port Tobacco River (a nine-fold increase in currently allowed housing density).
LISTEN to our 7-minute interview with MD Attorney...