by Kristina Bostick
There was a huge turnout at last night's Clarksburg Town Hall with the Full County Council. We've rounded up a few highlights for those that missed it (we understand that it will be broadcast on Montgomery Cable soon). Overall- we were pleased to see so many people make it out and that the Council members who voted for the compromise 15-15-6 plan are sticking with it, citing unequivocal scientific evidence that development must be limited to protect the Creek.
1. The Buttons- As we have pointed out before- there is a new messaging campaign/organization on this issue called "Give Clarksburg its Due" which is a thinly veiled project of Pulte homes- the company proposing 900 homes on the most fragile parcel of the watershed. Someone was posted at the door of the Town Hall asking each entrant if they lived in Clarksburg- whomever did was given a yellow "Give Clarksburg its Due" button, without being told who was responsible for the messaging. We all want to "give Clarksburg its due" ( that's why so many took the buttons without a thought) but in practice this was (intentionally?) misleading.
2. "A Wider Conversation" - Multiple Council members responded to the sentiment that "Outsiders", should not be messing in an issue that mostly concerns Clarksburg. Councilmember Berliner responded that this issue is part of a larger conversation that concerns a wider population than just the town.
3. Committee Members Defend the Compromise Plan- The 6-15-15 plan was arrived at by the joint committees of the Council after months of testimony and worksessions highlighting the unique nature of the Creek. The Councilmembers that voted for the plan did a great job of telling the public that the fragile creek calls for a limit on development based on science. Councilmember Leventhal specifically said that he was "comfortable" with the compromise plan. Councilmember Berliner did a particularly great job of explaining that Clarksburg can and will thrive within the plan- meaning a protected creek and a vibrant town co-existing- which to our mind, is all anyone wanted in the first place.
The next step is a vote of the Council on March 4. We are hopeful that Councilmembers vote to protect the Creek and that this long process can end with a liveable Clarksburg and a well protected Ten Mile Creek and backup water supply. As one commenter at the Town Hall urged "There's been a lot of time and money spent on this but it not does not mean you should do the wrong thing."
1. The Buttons- As we have pointed out before- there is a new messaging campaign/organization on this issue called "Give Clarksburg its Due" which is a thinly veiled project of Pulte homes- the company proposing 900 homes on the most fragile parcel of the watershed. Someone was posted at the door of the Town Hall asking each entrant if they lived in Clarksburg- whomever did was given a yellow "Give Clarksburg its Due" button, without being told who was responsible for the messaging. We all want to "give Clarksburg its due" ( that's why so many took the buttons without a thought) but in practice this was (intentionally?) misleading.
2. "A Wider Conversation" - Multiple Council members responded to the sentiment that "Outsiders", should not be messing in an issue that mostly concerns Clarksburg. Councilmember Berliner responded that this issue is part of a larger conversation that concerns a wider population than just the town.
3. Committee Members Defend the Compromise Plan- The 6-15-15 plan was arrived at by the joint committees of the Council after months of testimony and worksessions highlighting the unique nature of the Creek. The Councilmembers that voted for the plan did a great job of telling the public that the fragile creek calls for a limit on development based on science. Councilmember Leventhal specifically said that he was "comfortable" with the compromise plan. Councilmember Berliner did a particularly great job of explaining that Clarksburg can and will thrive within the plan- meaning a protected creek and a vibrant town co-existing- which to our mind, is all anyone wanted in the first place.
The next step is a vote of the Council on March 4. We are hopeful that Councilmembers vote to protect the Creek and that this long process can end with a liveable Clarksburg and a well protected Ten Mile Creek and backup water supply. As one commenter at the Town Hall urged "There's been a lot of time and money spent on this but it not does not mean you should do the wrong thing."
