Bicycling and community activist Casey Anderson will join developer Norman Dreyfuss on Montgomery County’s five-member Planning Board. The County Council approved the two members Tuesday.

Seven of the council’s nine members voted Anderson to a majority party seat held by developer Joseph Alfandre, who decided not to seek a second term.

Two council members Philip M. Andrews (D-Dist. 3) of Gaithersburg and Marc Elrich (D-At large) of Takoma Park voted for Alan Steele Bowser, who like Anderson is a Democrat, lawyer and community activist from Silver Spring.

Bowser drew support from community and neighborhood activists who are concerned that new mixed, commercial-residential zones that the council is considering for approval might overwhelm nearby communities of single-family homes.

Anderson said such zones can be used even outside urban areas to provide jobs, shopping and amenities and reduce the need to drive.

In nominating Anderson, Councilman Roger Berliner (D-Dist. 1) of Potomac praised him as “a man who listens.” Council President Valerie Ervin (D-Dist. 5) of Silver Spring said Anderson is a “fearless fighter” for what he believes in.

“What you represent for me is a diversity in thought,” Ervin said, addressing Anderson at Tuesday’s council session.

Council members voted 9-0 to reappoint Dreyfuss, a Republican, to one of two nonmajority party Planning Board seats.

Dreyfuss is chief operating officer of IDI, which developed the Leisure World retirement community in Silver Spring, and has law and mechanical engineering degrees.

Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee chairman Nancy Floreen (D-At large) of Garrett Park praised him for applying his experience with “common sense.”

Planning Board members serve four year terms.

mhyslop@gazette.net