Listened to the Rockville City Council meeting tonight and the Council voted to stop the annexation knowing that Gaithersburg was planning to annex the property.

You're right, Brigitta.
The Rockville City Council opted not to pursue its bid to annex part of Shady Grove Road.
"Let's forget the Gaithersburg event, as I would call it," Mayor Phyllis Marcuccio said, "and let's move on with what we'd like to do."
It seems that the Rockville council's bid to annex portions of the roadway in order to establish a border between the cities was a bluff. On Monday, the Gaithersburg City Council called their bluff.

Is Councilmember Moore the official spokesperson for Rockville? Did the rest of the council, including the Mayor, endorse Moore's tirade against Gaithersburg and their intent to annex the Sears property? His rhetoric was that of a bully, and not representative of what Rockville citizens expect from our elected body.

So is there a plan for what Gaithersburg will do with the property?
After all it is right next to the transfer station. It is zoned industrial. Previously it was suggested that if the land were rezoned it would be worth more to Sears to sell. To who? For what? If Gaithersburg wants to be above board they should open their plan for the site. If it is progress the people will back it, if it is less than honorable it will be fought. Law is law, right is right, both is best.

I expected the rezone, the questions remains what gears are in motion. Why would Gaithersburg want to annex a property that is defunct? Sears closed it's store so it would seem they are not interested in operating retail in that location. There has to be a motivating factor for this change. We are talking about politicians, it is either money or power. Is Gaithersburg flexing political power or is there a financial gain to be made?

Chris, the problem is that Sears closed the entire Great Indoors chain, not just that location. The County gave them just a few months to set up another building materials store or lose the retail use altogether. Even the County realized this was stupid, but there was nothing they could do to fix the problem quickly. The annexation will allow sears to continue the retail use without the building materials restriction. There doesn't have to be anything to this beyond giving the property owner the flexibility to continue using the property in an economically productive manner.

Tax revenue....small at first ($10K), but must have potential for more and also attract new businesses.

So it is about Gaithersburg doing for Sears what the county was not willing to do?
Sounds like go as ask Dad after Mom said no. Wait, if there is tax revenue involved that makes is a proposition. Sounds like G-burg is looking to score some easy revenue then. That might explain the "straight law" talk out of the council. Why the need run for cover? If it is progress just say it, if it needs a veil there must be more to it.

No, it's more like getting dad to give you a ride to the swim meet because mom had to go to work that night. The County didn't say no so much as say there was nothing they could do. The County could have locked up the zoning for five years after annexation but they didn't. Watch the County PHED committee and Council sessions on the topic, they're online. I fail to see any "veil", i think the "law" comments out of the Council were more in response to Rockville claiming there was something improper going on.

I think there is something improper going on as the G-burg council is not saysing why they are doing this, merely that they can legally.
Without the background of why a decision is made you lose the ability to judge the decisions that a lawmaker/politicians makes. Does what they suggest and accomplish bare fruit down the road. Without the what and why they are keeping the public in the dark. If there is anyplace for transparency it is local government.

But they did say why: Because Sears asked. Certainly the tax revenue makes it worth the effort in the long term, but why does it have to be more complicated than this?

Please leave Derwood and Mill Creek Towne alone as you sprawl toward Shady Grove Road. If I wanted to live in Gaithersburg, I would have bought a home there.