Berlage Will Not Seek Reappointment

Montgomery County to Seek New Planning Chairman

Montgomery's beleaguered planning board chairman, who has been accused of lax oversight of the development industry, said today he will not seek reappointment.

Derick P. Berlage, 49, a former County Council member who submitted a lengthy application a few weeks ago outlining his accomplishments and lobbying the council for a second, four-year term, issued a statement this morning saying he had changed his mind.

"I have withdrawn my name from consideration," he wrote. "I have reached this conclusion after long and careful thought, and after consulting with many community leaders, friends and family members.

"While I could make a very persuasive case for reappointment to a second term, there are other factors to consider -- and those factors have persuaded me to withdraw my application for reappointment."

He said a new chairman could give the Park and Planning Commission "a fresh start" and said withdrawing his candidacy would allow him to focus on "reforming our development review process."

In the past year, Berlage's management has come under scrutiny with the discovery of height and setback violations in the Clarksburg Town Center development. Many of the homes were built too tall or too close to the street. Staff morale is described by many inside the agency as low.

Berlage, in his statement, pointed to what he said were a series of changes he instituted in recent months to make the agency more accountable.

Among possible replacements are former planning board chairman Royce Hanson, a nationally known land-use specialist who has been advising the County Council on ways to improve the agency's performance. He has not formally applied for the job but has privately told associates he would be interested.

Among those who already have applied are Wendell Holloway, a member of the Montgomery County Board of Appeals, which reviews some land-use and permitting decisions issued by the county's Department of Permitting Services.