The Montgomery County Council this morning appointed Casey Anderson as the new Planning Board chairman.
Anderson, 45, a research consultant and current member of the Planning Board, was supported by a vote of 8- 1. Councilmember Marc Elrich cast the only dissenting vote.
Councilmember George Leventhal spoke briefly before the vote, saying that Anderson is committed to preserving and maintaining the lifestyle of the county’s residents.
In his application and interview, Anderson said he would be committed to expanding public transportation, increasing affordable housing and better engaging the public in planning decisions. He also said he’d be committed to increasing open space, developing the county’s park system and protecting the agricultural reserve.
Anderson, a Democrat, will replace Francoise Carrier, who served one term in the powerful, if not always high profile, position this August. The chairman oversees the Planning Board, which makes zoning and planning decisions that affect the future of the county, such as guiding sector plan rewrites and approving plans for new buildings and major construction.
Leventhal commended Carrier for her four years of service, saying, “I would have happily supported her for another term,” but he also hinted that disagreements between Carrier and the Council may have led to her departure from the board after one term.
Anderson was selected over Rose Krasnow, the deputy director of the Montgomery County Planning Department; Meredith Wellington, a former planning board member; Norman Dreyfuss, a developer and current planning board member; and Mike Knapp, a former councilmember.
Councilmembers also voted to set the salary of the Planning Board chairman at $200,000 an increase from Carrier’s salary of $160,000.
The Council plans to reopen applications for Anderson’s board position now that he has been appointed.
Anderson, current member of planning board, wants to focus on diversifying housing in county #MoCo pic.twitter.com/2wHwmZidlB
— Matt Bush (@MattBushMD) July 15, 2014
