(12/12/2004) Friends of Frederick County, a new
environmental group advocating for quality of life changes to
development initiatives locally, heard from a distinguished
group of local legislative leaders at their kickoff party on
Wednesday, December 8th, 7 PM, at the C. Burr Artz
Library Community Room.
Frederick
County Commissioner Jan Gardner addressed the crowd first,
calling Friends a true grassroots effort, "I'm excited to see
a group this large come out to get active. Your priorities
are important. We are under considerable pressure to grow.
Farmland preservation is important...the goal is 100,000 acres
in the county. State funding has been eliminated for farmland
preservation programs."
Frederick County Commissioner John 'Lennie'
Thompson spoke next, saying, "Your voice makes a difference.
If half this number of people showed up and attended our land
use forums, things would be different."
"We are subsidizing developers." he
continued. "Not one drop of the water project is for current
residents. The county will go into debt by $75 Million
dollars if this project goes through.”
Delegate Patrick Hogan represented his views on Maryland
state matters such as the budget cuts in Program Open Space
funding and ‘intelligent development.’.
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Advocacy & Outreach Manager,
Terry Cummings, discussed the efforts of environmental
organizations state-wide to work for restoration of funding
for Program Open Space.
Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin
Associate Director of Water
Resources, Julie Kiang spoke about the recent signing by
Frederick City and County of the Potomac River Basin
Drinking Water Source Protection Partnership agreement.
“Friends developed to speak out for the issues that have
too long been left by the wayside, public matters that are
supported by the majority of residents, like managing how our
development impacts the environment. We ask, what will
Frederick County look like in twenty five more years when
forecasts are for a 60% increase in municipal growth? Friends
is about public advocacy. We will stand for the public good,
which is both growth and a focus on better stewardship of our
natural resources.”, said Friends Vice Chairman, Jack Lynch.
Friends of
Frederick County is a non-profit, non-partisan network of
individuals, communities and organizations committed to
maintaining and improving the quality of life in Frederick
County, Maryland.
For more information online:
http://www.friendsoffrederickcounty.org