[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6173994,"mediaKeyId","5376924-eac246a49b15605052731159ee64bc32","parentId",5376924,"title","Planning commission adopts 2024 annual report; staff outlines new zoning ordinance timeline and upcoming applications","audioSeconds",290,"startMs",1555000,"endMs",1845000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5376924-eac246a49b15605052731159ee64bc32&start=1555&end=1845","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5376924-eac246a49b15605052731159ee64bc32/thumbnail_1555000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6173994/Kent-County/Maryland/Planning-commission-adopts-2024-annual-report-staff-outlines-new-zoning-ordinance-timeline-and-upcoming-applications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173994-a8045b2d174fdef3c947034ce2ac66da/orig.mp4?Expires=1773640168&Signature=gQzM2jgro8fm0Pfvt4oebbVl99WlreJ8KDRF6t1a1P3c2uuRRdCz5DpgZGL4eog3BHIvOkAQkSZaLrXZ6Cw0TYuToAR0nMip0KSZvPDRFoIbgYJrvlCtE9TSJqSXIUq2Fon2bZvTky5g1c2d0tkCpNbeQZGYZuK~0taPnsaCoVi9PBOvVFp~3yz9N6EqeoSovjDAqE7rJob9avZLc33ZJlCP9TXE4EeFo1kVqkXPgPxU9CxKgXAE0v~FwabU-z7wofgPq3y2576vObymn~2kjHH47GH9S8SIDRSgNOWAu~BG6-~VZkicp5h4vgJVliZXOSXyIxf5Fppz6QeCXfTrJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Kent County, MD","date","2025-07-11T06:24:48Z","article","The Kent County Planning Commission adopted its 2024 annual report at a July 10 meeting and heard staff updates on the new land-use ordinance, upcoming applications, and a planned hire to fill an associate-planner position.

Carla Gerber (planning staff) told the commission the annual report, which the department files with the Maryland Department of Planning, shows 40 new house permits issued in 2024; 12 were in the county's priority funding area, 28 were outside that area, 11 fell in the priority preservation area, and three were replacement dwellings. \"As you can see, there were, 40, new house permits issued in 2024,\" Gerber said. The planning department submitted the annual report for the July 1 deadline and asked the commission to adopt the report so staff can file a copy with the county commissioners.

A commissioner moved to adopt the Kent County Department of Planning, Housing, and Zoning annual report for calendar year 2024; the motion was seconded and the commission voted in favor.

In a staff report, planning staff said the county commissioners will consider adoption of a new land-use ordinance and zoning map on July 15; the ordinance will become effective 10 days after adoption. Staff also said the county has secured penultimate approval from the Critical Area Commission and that the department will distribute copies of the new ordinance to the commission when it is final.

Staff previewed likely September agenda items, including a community solar application on industrially zoned land (a permitted use), and a special-exception application from a resident seeking to keep more than five chickens along with ducks and geese (an application that requires additional information). The department said another solar application has been under review and that future panels and decommissioning plans are subject to re-analysis every five years with rebonding if necessary.

Staff also announced it has made an offer to a new associate planner and expects the hire to join the department by the commission's next meeting in September.

Commissioners discussed the procedure for listing concept/preliminary/final site-plan items and staff noted the county code gives the planning director authority to list combined reviews but that the department typically defers that ability to the commission when applicants indicate they are seeking combined preliminary-and-final action. Legal counsel advised that commission members may review materials individually (one-on-one exchanges with staff) but must avoid group communications that could violate the Open Meetings Act.

The commission approved the annual report and asked staff to file it with the county commissioners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","7.10.25 Planning Commission","oneSentenceSummary","The Kent County Planning Commission on July 10 adopted its 2024 annual report and received staff updates on a pending land-use ordinance and upcoming permit applications, including community-scale solar and a special-exception for small animals.","taxTitle","Kent County, Maryland","taxId",69327,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6173998,"Planning commission grants preliminary approval for 60x100 Massey Aero hangar after debate over expedited final review",426,70000,496000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5376924-eac246a49b15605052731159ee64bc32&start=70&end=496","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5376924-eac246a49b15605052731159ee64bc32/thumbnail_70000.jpg","/articles/6173998/Kent-County/Maryland/Planning-commission-grants-preliminary-approval-for-60x100-Massey-Aero-hangar-after-debate-over-expedited-final-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173998-4ea3d7e8d9338cad92ad0fcae7b27fd5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773640168&Signature=bNkImPVQuFTr2S0Hfy1NVwTVO6rLPS2bDFFWdBnYeLSFM9Sdeg9VOCwb1hxyaIJxa8LXj0zHzDuz~h8Zq65IyWUxXQemrfALD7g5OlBUXSrf2wp~TK7~J87tD0p8t8Ke~Y~h-xTTntYLSDD8gUUoVpwLB2ncRdl3M62dOQUVC-hG1arlcDFp0biC8xdoSx3sg7Z4VltxPG3WeYI6FJDia~I4-WXgo1qlzyFd0khpXuuExKMu6gAkvJn3WaCeuUEUWTni~BGrPfFjpp0fDXoCHmexfp5Yr8ScMtTjFP-wczfZ174JtU4GvuHSd5VbnXK6Hbsv8TNacq-dPCvsrR0UmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Kent County Planning Commission on July 10 granted preliminary site-plan approval for a 60-by-100-foot airplane hangar at Massey Aero, finding the proposal meets applicable site and zoning standards, but commissioners and the county attorney warned against granting a final approval at the same meeting because the code requires advance public notice for preliminary-or-final actions.

The decision matters because the applicant, Massey Aero LLC, said an earlier final approval would allow its contractor to lock material prices and reduce the risk of winter construction delays. Planning staff and the county attorney said state and county advertising rules limit the commission's ability to finalize the plan without following the prescribed notice procedures.

Carla Gerber, a planning staff member who presented the application, told the commission the project is proposed for a 93-acre airport property at 33541 Maryland Line Road in the First Election District and that, under the land-use code, the plan meets bulk, setback, landscaping, stormwater and forest conservation thresholds. \"The application meets all setback and height requirements,\" Gerber said, and staff concluded that \"the site plan objectives have been met.\" She also said no new employees, no new exterior lighting, and no additional parking are proposed and that the property is served by private well and on-site septic.

Nicholas Morales, representing Massey Aero LLC, described the project as a straightforward addition of a common hangar near existing buildings and said he had surveyed five surrounding neighbors, receiving supportive responses from four. \"The sooner we have a decision, the sooner our contractor can give us final cost to order materials, and we will know where this project is actually gonna come out,\" Morales said, arguing a prompt final decision would reduce cost and scheduling risk.

County legal counsel cautioned that advertising and appeal rights constrain the commission's ability to convert a concept review into an appealable final decision at the same meeting. \"If you were to do something that wasn't properly advertised and put before the public here, that would be problematic if somebody's aggrieved by your decision,\" counsel said, explaining that an improperly-noticed final approval could be overturned on procedural grounds and remanded, delaying the project further.

Commission members discussed options. One commissioner urged consistency in applying notice rules so future applicants could not claim unequal treatment. Another suggested staff could schedule a combined preliminary-and-final item at the next meeting if the required notices were run in advance.

After discussion, a commissioner moved the standard findings for preliminary approval, reciting conformance with the comprehensive plan and applicable county regulations and noting that the proposed building \"is in conformance with the comprehensive plan\" and poses no significant new demands on infrastructure. The motion carried; commissioners recorded an affirmative vote with one member opposed. The commission approved preliminary site-plan review for Massey Aero LLC to construct a 60-by-100-foot airplane hangar adjacent to existing hangars at 33541 Maryland Line Road.

The commission and staff agreed to explore whether a special August meeting could be scheduled or whether the applicant should be listed as preliminary-and-final with proper advertising for the September meeting. Staff noted stormwater and sediment/erosion controls will be reviewed with the building permit, and that forest conservation was not required because the hangar would be sited over an existing lot coverage.

The applicant said he would provide the neighbor-survey forms for the record and expressed appreciation for the commission's constructive approach.

The commission's preliminary approval does not become final until any required appeal period expires; staff advised that a properly advertised preliminary-and-final listing at a future meeting would be a cleaner procedural path for any expedited approval.","At its July 10 meeting the Kent County Planning Commission granted preliminary site-plan approval for a 60-by-100-foot hangar at Massey Aero but declined to grant an immediate final approval without required public advertising; the applicant pressed for an expedited decision to avoid material-price and scheduling risks.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6173989,"County attorney says he accepted state attorney general post; will leave after August 20",53,2630000,2683000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5376924-eac246a49b15605052731159ee64bc32&start=2630&end=2683","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5376924-eac246a49b15605052731159ee64bc32/thumbnail_2630000.jpg","/articles/6173989/Kent-County/Maryland/County-attorney-says-he-accepted-state-attorney-general-post-will-leave-after-August-20","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6173989-ef6f8427df85e511ae3e9ff67fb4ade5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773640168&Signature=KqcJe8nkg65-vp48LSr-Vyx9Q~sn59HFvMgVzyTZzkDwLsa4xNjZFB-bJ~0IIMNriGyS52oQCjjXV~mruoNH0cRIHMQpxY5LrtQQoGmkDetHgbdqivwEgJQW-DddgfVCgRd0BHxVd4yfzHOm8HkxG3k~snl1Bo78tKYkb7umXmJnGr68zbpLiRrHgutSXMg2AjlJOCrAcJkmYGCsGZQOpv9TUJzfIhmKgYf3fbW~7qKMz2QMplDuH5kchFrx6vVEeVgcUsGYPLu7VlvmM6DvK4jlrZgiznMMMF3jRAYcT66~QlqzxjNw4TlcnEnzejhHRxV95rVk4osMIDC-3dLbnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At the end of the July 10 meeting, the commission's legal counsel told members he has accepted a full‑time position with the Maryland Attorney General's Office and will no longer be able to serve as the county attorney or as attorney for boards, commissions, municipalities and other clients after August 20.

\"I have accepted a position with the Attorney General's Office, State of Maryland,\" the attorney told the commission, and he said the new role \"does not allow for the private practice of law. So as such, I have to wind down and shut down my law practice, and I will no longer be able to serve as the county attorney or the attorney for any boards, commissions, municipalities, etcetera.\" He said he will start the new position on Aug. 20 and that, if the commission holds an August meeting, he would attend that meeting; otherwise July 10 would be his last meeting.

The attorney asked commissioners to coordinate privately on any pending casework and said he would provide updates outside the public meeting. He described taking the state position as an opportunity to focus on the practice of law without running a private business, and said his new assignment will be to serve as counsel to a county Department of Social Services under the Attorney General's Office. Commissioners thanked him for his service and wished him well.

No formal action was taken at the meeting; commissioners were advised they and other local entities that use his services will need to identify replacement counsel.","The county's attorney told the Planning Commission on July 10 that he has accepted a full‑time position with the Maryland Attorney General's Office and will resign as county attorney and as counsel to local boards and commissions effective August 20; commissioners thanked him and were advised to arrange successor counsel.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning commission adopts 2024 annual report; staff outlines new zoning ordinance timeline and upcoming applications

Planning commission grants preliminary approval for 60x100 Massey Aero hangar after debate over expedited final review

County attorney says he accepted state attorney general post; will leave after August 20