Several residents blasted the Balanced Growth Initiative (BGI) and Charles McPherson during the public appearance portion of the Charles County Planning Commission meeting on Monday night. They also, once more, expressed their support for Charles County Planning Commission Chairman Courtney Edmonds.
Many of the speakers spoke directly regarding the fallout from the February 27th meeting, where several speakers from the Balanced Growth Initiative blasted Edmonds and Charles County Commissioner Ken Robinson (D: 1st). Charles McPherson accused Edmonds of race baiting and said he had been personally attacked by Robinson. He also accused Robinson and others in the county of silencing the voices.
“Facts are being conveniently muffled through arguments against smart growth in Charles County and in the attack against Planning Commission Chairman Courtney Edmonds,” Maury Tobin said. “I think he effort to learn more about the Balanced Growth Initiative and its supporters evolved because of unfounded claims during this comprehensive plan update process, such as the statement that the merged scenario means ‘congestion and crime will skyrocket in Waldorf.’ That statement was SaveOurLandValues rhetoric that Mr. Edmonds brought up in comparing fear mongering that he recalled and suddenly he’s the one under scrutiny.”
“At a November planning commission meeting, (Lou Grasso) said it was inappropriate for Mr. Edmonds to question (Bob Mitchell) because it attacked Mr. Mitchell’s integrity, but then Mr. Grasso yells at a recent meeting that the chairman should be changed,” Tobin continued later on in his comments. “So, if we’re looking at the barometers of conduct or adhering to process, it seems we might be scrutinizing the wrong planning commission chairman. Mr. Edmonds should be commended, not condemned.
“The majority of this planning commission’s questionable decisions, including voting against studies, overlooking certain perspectives when it’s convenient and trying to push through an inadequate comprehensive plan is wrong. As a taxpayer and a member of the general public, I maintain that these actions circumvent my rights and affect my quality of life. Once again, attacking Chairman Courtney Edmonds is way off the mark and an insult to the general public. We finally have a champion for the people and certain folks want to squelch is voice. That, my friends, in unacceptable.”
“In my view, a lot of this is a result of the new way of doing things,” Kurt Wolfgang said. “These kinds of disputes in the past would’ve happened behind closed doors. There were things said by both sides that could have been artfully said and done. I want to commend Mr. Edmonds for trying to expose what he felt was complicity in the process and I expect all of you to do that. Whether it can be done in a civil manner is a different story.”
“I would like to commend the planning commission for what they’re doing, particularly Mr. Edmonds,” Arthur Lorson said. “About the Balanced Growth Initiative, it appears it’s more or less business as usual to promote more sprawl instead of smart growth. I’m also an environmentalists and I want to protect the resources we have here.”
“My concern is about the attack on the chairman and the conduct that’s been forward against the chairman… stuff like he’s a racist,” James Evans said. “This tactic, I’ve seen before. The accusation of being racist is truly unacceptable. The residents of Charles County will respond to those kinds of things. Charles County will not stand for that type of activity. Mr. Edmonds, keep doing a good job.”
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