Mr. Kittleman's choice to not reappoint Josh Tzuker to the Planning Board has me scratching my head in confusion, because it seems like a solution in search of a problem.
I first became aware of Mr. Tzuker's position on the Planning Board a few years ago when reading an article about development in Columbia's Downtown. He spoke of a new paradigm of town planning and development that allows people to walk conveniently and safely in a somewhat dense environment, unencumbered by cars, and he acknowledged the importance of pedestrians in creating a vibrant, healthy Downtown.
Since then, I've continued to follow county development issues, especially those facing Columbia and southern Howard County, through local news and through the minutes of Planning Board meetings. Mr. Tzuker has shown himself to be clear on the elements of successful development — for all stakeholders.
He asks both county planning staff and developers for more information when they do not provide enough to inform the board of a project's impacts. He has advocated for walkability, a broad spectrum of housing affordability, and placing denser development nearest to important transit infrastructure. He has a deep history as a resident of Howard County and experience in community planning that I see as an asset to county residents.
Given all of that, why would County Executive Kittleman choose to cut short the amount of service county residents receive from someone with Mr. Tzuker's qualifications and record? As Mr. Kittleman told this paper, he campaigned "not on changing Howard County, but improving it." His choice to not reappoint Mr. Tzuker doesn't look like an improvement to me.
Lisa Schlossnagle
Fulton