Facial expressions are perfect...

HA!!! Good points, FIFA! I suppose it all depends on which side of the "develpoment" you're on, and whose palms are being greased.

I guess sometimes you have to spread some of the wealth around to the politicians!! Somehow the fiscal cliff got solved by NASCAR getting money out of the deal!

You would lose that wager...hands down..
The vast majority of homes built over the past 30 years have been built to the lowest standards allowable by law...(minimum code requirements), Plastic shacks are scattered over the Counties that were developed and marketed with one thing in mind...Profit for developers as well as participants that helped make it happen..
In the long run the consumer got..gets screwed by not recieving a fair dollar value home....profit from poorly built housing is the way of the developer....politicians always seem to fall in step...

Minimum code requirements?? A standard is set and you have to meet the standard so now the minimum is bad? Homes now have to be built with 2x6 framing on outside walls. Did you know that Buck? I bet you didn't.

How do i lose my wager Buck. For the very few that built their home on a lot they purchased from a farmer? Builder built it probably and a developer recorded the plat that allowed it. Give me the money.

Buck, the home built today is built to much stricter standards than the shack you live in. Go read the building code, you might learn something.

FIFA: An interesting point about developers. I live in Towson, in a home that is over 50 years old. I've seen photos of this area before the homes were built. It was, in some cases, dirt roads and single homes—possibly farms? And I've wondered how those people felt about the homes that were built here that I know live in.

Yes Bryan, NIMBY (Not In My BackYard) is a favorite amongst new people moving into a neighborhood. It is okay for them to move into, say Perry Hall, but they don't want a single soul following them.

Not approving of what Mr. Whalen did at all as it was illegal and he should be punished for same, developers are a necessary "evil" as long as people continuing to have children which seems to be a by-product of sex which is apparently what humans are designed to do. More children = more homes, that simple.

Once again Fifi, The vast majority of homes built over the last 30 years were built to the lowest standards by design. The design of building in efficient plastic shack style of housing catered to fast development as well as greed driven profit for all involved in making it happen...today thousand of families suffer with backward mortgages on homes that are falling apart, lack efficiencies and are not worth what was paid for them. And I don't live in a community built by a developer..You lose..

Bucky, go back to what you know. 9/11 conspiracy theories and your belief that income taxes are unconstitutional because you believe the 16th amendment was not properly ratified. That appears to be your expertise but you seem to fail to defend your positions lately, why is that Mr. 9/11?

Bryan, The home that you live in that is over 50 years old in Towson was most likely built by craftsmen that were required to serve an apprenticeship in order to learn the trade. There are no longer trade requirements for builders, or home improvement contractors for that matter...not one question on the MD Home Improvement exam that pertains to skills needed to perform home improvements..

I would like to think that you would know how to avoid making surrender statements by now Fifi...obviously a slow learner..

Bucky likes to talk about the "craftsmen" of 50 years ago. Guess what those guys did, they built to the building codes of the that time. The building codes of today are far more stringent than the good 'ole days Bucky likes to relive. Are there national builders still cutting corners to meet the minimum codes of today, of course there are. But the minimum codes of today far exceed the minimum codes of when Bucky was born. Used to get nickel candy bars too. Bucky probably only paid a penny.

Surrender statement #2 Fifi...sad..

Actually Frank ..some of the worst housing was built between 80 and now...thousands and thousands of plastic shacks to be exact....cheeper materials designed to increase profit for developers and builders..fact.

FIFA, in the development I live in, that developer Frank Scarfield had some real issues with the quality of work he did. Those of us that have a sloped front lawns are facing replacing all of our walkways and porches because of workmanship issues. There is not foundation under the concrete and it is crumbling. The price will run into the thousands to repair. You can't patch work this mess. It won't hold up.

Google his name and read for yourself of his reputation as a builder.

I already had to have my whole front lawn regraded because the rain water drained toward the front of the house and flooded the basement. Every heavy rain I see numerous residents pumping out their flooded basements and ripping up the carpet.

Who can afford that time and time again. You might also remember a while back the I-Team investigation into county building inspectors and the problems they caused by not doing their jobs.

Yes Paul....progressive is a double edged word...

Joe, formerly banned by the Patch now scamming his own little way to keep posting.

There is no "campaign finance fraud" alleged, that is your term because of your far right wing agenda. Your motives are clear, just let go of the banana. Your fraudster lost.

I n the grand scheme these fines are merely chump change...

Joe/Sanchez/joey, I understand. It is okay for you to break the rules of the Patch, get your account suspended, and then come back as the great "Sanchez". You are no better than a pickpocket or shoplifter Joe. Just a common everyday thief let loose to do it again.

Fifi, totally incapable of civil adult debate. TOTALLY incapable.

My home address is my home office. I rent a commercial kitchen in Columbia where I am regularly inspected by the health department. The only time food comes home is when we have left overs that are donated the next day to our area homeless shelter or to share with my neighbors. If that is a problem, I will just have to start throwing it away. I also have a garden and use some of the veggies I grow. Feel free to stop by next summer, I'd be glad to give you some. It's true some of our vendors donated. We are a good clients, easy to work with, and we pay our bills on time. I don't see anything wrong with that, just like there was nothing wrong with the Jolles of Jolles Insurance making a donation to then candidate Quirk. I am sure his financial planning business refers business to them. Gift in kind donations from vendors and/or friends for copy writing, photography, and graphic design were all reported in Rebecca's reports. Perhaps when you bring up vendors and glass houses you should realize that Councilperson's finance records show him taking cash from companies like: Spindler Refuse, Ruppert Sanitation, Hartey's Trash Management, and Parks Refuse, Pollard Towing, two individuals associated with ACS (the Speed Camera Company), and one from the President of the firm that built Hillcrest Elem's addition. Do any of these people do business with the County? Enough of this foolishness, however, I have to vacuum my house...lol!

My wife and I are not anti-development, we are opposed to poorly planned unnecessary development driven by greed that causes our current commercial corridors to erode. If Whalen Properties had proposed to redevelop Wilkins Plaza or Security Square Mall, I would applaud him. There are many great and exciting adaptive use and Transit Oriented Development (TOD) projects around the state: Union Mill, http://theunionmill.com/about/ The Oella Mill http://www.oellamill.com/,Camden Yards, and what is happening in North Bethesda, http://www.montgomeryplanning.org/community/whiteflint/ . The PUD on Kenwood Ave claims to be a TOD. It is not. Why are we upzoning land and issuing PUD's on land that hasn't been built on when there are many existing brown fields in need of redevelopment? Could it be that developers make more money when these parcels are purchased and then upzoned and/or a PUD issued? Because when this happens, it's almost like spinning straw into gold. Could it be that developers and their attorney's give and/or raise lots of money for our council to continue this alchemy of land use decisions?

I think you nailed it here Paul D. ..

Really, hey Buck what is the current zoning of the land for the proposed office building? How long has that zoning been in place?
When you have those answers then try and make an informed post. Until then stay out of issues you have no clue about.
I will agree on the principle of size, agreed, a subject worthy debate and it is being debated where it should be, the zoning commissioner. Whether the land and the owner has THE RIGHT to build an office is not in question.

Really ..Hey Kelly Blue...based on the style of your attack posting, I believe that you are more bark than bite with facts..I'll jump into any issue that I choose to with information that I choose to share...you don't have a say, sit on a tack.

Let me help the uninformed. It's been zoned for office over 20 years. Any more questions Bucky boy. And no comment about WHO the Hategarras supported when they lost? And no comment about the great zoning protector abusing the zoning laws in his own neighborhood? Jump in Bucky the waters warm, or hot depending who you are?

"My wife and I are not anti-development". Mr. Dongarra, with all due respect, yes you are anti-development. Those are code words that the dog whistles are blowing. It is an easy target to be "anti-development", however, you fail to recognize what those "greedy" developers do. They bring jobs and tax revenue to Baltimore County. Don't do development and watch communities die a slow death.

Wow Kelly Blew, You did sit on that tack..I could care less about the zoning, I believe that Paul Dongarra was right on the money with this question."Could it be that developers and their attorney's give and/or raise lots of money for our council to continue this alchemy of land use decisions?" key words...alchemy of land use decisions..

I believe you read it wrong. Mr. Dongarra DONATES/Gives food to the HOMELESS shelter instead of throwing it away. He paid for the food. Growing veggies in ones backyard and giving to the neighbors tells me something about Mr. Dongarra. Yes, he's a kind, generous person for even thinking about those less fortunate and his neighbors. Catonsville need more people like the Dongarra's... maybe you should follow suit?
Justice