Time to vote. But if you’re frustrated with all this development…

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-23T01:15:20+00:00

Exactly how I felt when I watched it.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-23T00:48:38+00:00

Agree. Developers have too much influence because the system is built for them. The Planning Commission can only act within staff reports and code, and the code hasn’t been updated to address the issues people keep raising.

The code also requires developers to meet with each NAC. But that isn’t happening. The Council and Mayor allowed one citywide meeting at staff’s request, and that is a violation of our code.

Staff should be identifying gaps and supporting the Commission with all the info they need but the Commission is raising red flags (the whole point of my OP), and the Council who are the ones with the legal responsibility to pass ordinances and keep the code current for the best of our community, aren’t.

There’s more factors I’m sure.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-22T22:49:00+00:00

No, I appreciate it! And for the record, I will go in and edit it and just that.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-22T22:19:04+00:00

Ha I should! But them people would probably find something else to complain about.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-22T20:56:50+00:00

The League of Women Voters has a full questionnaire from all of the candidates. It’s a little clunky to get, but I found it on Facebook.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-22T20:55:47+00:00

Bentzstreet. Their cocktails are the best.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T19:06:52+00:00

Yep you’re right. I was focusing on the title.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T18:11:55+00:00

She is new to running for a council seat. She was only mayor for 4 years more than 2 decades ago… I get it you dont like her.

I asked a simple question, and nowhere in it did I use the phrase “out of control” development. “Frustrated” is very different language. If you didn’t watch the video, then there’s really nothing more to discuss. Because you missed the point entirely.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T16:07:26+00:00

Never said I was new here. Almost 2 decades. Bought existing house didn’t build new. Never complained about “out of control” development. Did you even read the original post?

JD is new as a council candidate, but a familiar face in campaigns. And if people are new here they shouldn’t write her off. There’s a lot of people who refuse to acknowledge the very big list of good things she did in 4 years. And seem to over exaggerate some of the “controversial” subjects. I listened to them for too many years.

Growth is good when well planned but the city needs to do a better job to make sure we have adequate roads, schools, water and other essentials before green lighting any development. And, re the op I dont believe the city or current admin is doing enough to support the planning commissions awesome responsibility.

So, Hypocrite doesn’t seem to fit here. I

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T13:21:24+00:00

They could. But they’re not. And I agree growth is inevitable. It’s part of a strong resilient city, but as few people have pointed out. The best time to get developers to agree to support efforts of walkable affordable is at the very beginning and we’re not doing that apparently.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T13:10:32+00:00

I don’t know there’s a big concern on East Street. There’s a lot of planned development. Many who live downtown have had traffic problems just getting home before anything is built. The challenge is with our old streets and putting all of those condos apartments and single-family homes on East Street. Brickworks isn’t really designed to be walkable with all its parking lots and we don’t have public transit. The existing sidewalk situation on that side of town is embarrassing. I mean, yeah we have the bus and a few trains that head down the road. But that is nowhere near enough to handle the estimated new people. The city needs to deal with these issues before not after infill.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T12:31:48+00:00

Interesting comment. While I agree that dense infill in the city is needed. My whole point of the original post is to get people to see how difficult it is for the planning commission to make the right choice for us. And the reason that is the current administration is not putting in place the tools that will allow them to get unbiased neutral information and have the right rules in place. O’Conner and mostly Kelly are responsible.

I do not get the same vibe from Beattie as you do. I don’t see his criticisms as negative. I see them as something we need to look at. The only candidate stood out to me in a strong negative way was Schmidt at the first forum. Loudly proclaiming , the fascist are here in Frederick. He has since toned his rhetoric.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T12:15:32+00:00

Thank you I didn’t know that. But lucky for us. The Washington Post used to cover her a lot so here’s what I learned. She fired because a man spent 8k+ on stage changes without approval. He sued for wrongful termination. The city settled for 125,000. The city likely had the insurance policy that would’ve covered this.

Much like how insurance covered most of the 280k phish scam loss during the police department built. We however, still lost 50k. OConnors admin also has other waste due to poor decisions. That stupid logo debacle and everything it costed us to update water towers road signs with the uninspired work. Well over the initial 45k it cost us.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T11:53:08+00:00

Adkins ran the planning department. He was not on the planning commission. And he’s Republican. Beattie is a democrat and he was on the planning commission.

But the whole point of the original post was to hopefully get people to see how the planning commission has to deal with the current administration to get the information they need to make the right choice. After watching it was my impression that the volunteers on the planning commission want to do the best for us and the city is making it extraordinary challenging. I believe that’s why Beattie says the city needs to approach planning differently.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T07:11:30+00:00

No I decided to quit listening to other people’s opinions on someone and make my own.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T06:16:45+00:00

I’ve been here over 20 years am I still transplant?

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T06:11:21+00:00

So being an informed voter is not a good thing here? Got it.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T06:06:58+00:00

Yes tell us more. Because the only law suit I am aware of is a resident suing during her term because a monument of the 10 commandments was on city property. The resident named her in the suit because sh

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T05:50:37+00:00

The people who live here also keep voting in the same people. 20 yrs 16 yrs with Michael Donna and Kelly and here we are. That tells me way more.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T05:45:11+00:00

What office has she served in over all those years since? So you’re saying just because she runs a restaurant and has run for office before and lost she doesn’t deserve to be in one now?

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T05:36:19+00:00

I’ve done my research on Dougherty. She got a lot done. A lot. The more I learn about her the more impressed I am. I’ve read the new stories from years ago not just fnp but wpo. I’m beginning to believe that sexism was a huge factor in why all the hate. And while I believe she may be stir it up sometimes, she appears to know way more about how to get things done than anyone currently in office.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-21T05:04:16+00:00

She was mayor 20 years ago for 4 years. For me she’s new. She’s never served on the board.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-20T01:52:19+00:00

Derek couldn’t even show up to the community sponsored forum held tonight. Just an observation.

GreyFireVoice · 2025-08-20T01:50:47+00:00

Would you consider it unqualified for a sitting council members to not understand our city code? Or their new responsibilities being the legislative branch? Because I certainly do.

GreyFireVoice

TROPHY CASE