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Activist group alleges developer influence and 'backroom' meetings at county planning discussions
Summary
A representative of Calvert Citizens United accused staff and a builders' group (SPID) of 'backroom' coordination on land-use decisions, citing past litigation and local controversy; commissioners offered brief responses and pointed to past corrective steps.
During public comment, Ira Gowins of Calvert Citizens United raised ethics and land-use concerns, alleging undue influence by builders and staff in previous planning documents and citing the McConkie controversy as evidence of problematic practices.
"There's a 100 pages of backroom meeting minutes here, and they are full of the SPID group, the county's builders," Gowins told the board and asked why previously approved measures had created perceived conflicts. He said the county spent taxpayer funds on legal defenses in prior litigation and urged the current board to address lingering concerns.
Board members offered brief clarifications and pushed back on some historical characterizations. President Hance noted that the board has corrected some past matters and emphasized the current board's focus on transparency and future outreach. The remarks were recorded in the public-comment portion of the meeting but did not lead to immediate action; commissioners indicated counsel and staff follow-up could occur outside the public record.
