[{"_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",6589289,"mediaKeyId","5611859-9a38f158ffb34a4571be0a88da78ae61","parentId",5611859,"title","Planning staff present 2025 high-tide flood mitigation update; modeling and community-level planning cited as next steps","audioSeconds",841,"startMs",2647920,"endMs",3489194,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5611859-9a38f158ffb34a4571be0a88da78ae61&start=2647&end=3489","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5611859-9a38f158ffb34a4571be0a88da78ae61/thumbnail_2647920.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6589289/Calvert-County/Maryland/Planning-staff-present-2025-high-tide-flood-mitigation-update-modeling-and-community-level-planning-cited-as-next-steps","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589289-cc367e4c7c92ec100a45353caf586223/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570324&Signature=licgDvzRVz1xOwWqrkS6gVw0MXydzMewxfGLx8xT4EELzaZMHVsGde75S7DmJ4HWIvaoZl0cXjKnUBri-etQAfqc7-rmTFVIFqKYqF8Vty7RigRbvB~0ZumlHVwJzJXvQwnN8qfzBdPFxWvQJavewnHu94czm4pJyvwiq52ql-MfJTB58tmLFU97rtzsg9eBTFplzVb9pKcNBjFSKReO-0bwO~InkURWP1WioIWP339ehaLJSEWLQWE2CfzCVQDqjRjrOS1tYQsdDaBsjWdyBehC9M9x4VjkdP~i-ZXCf6Fe3mCU0vgvkoo-cLOeTLqMy0Spq~OXKd-85e~mM25Kjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Calvert County, MD","date","2025-08-21T02:33:22.693Z","article","Calvert County planning and emergency management staff presented the county's 2025 high tide flood mitigation plan update on July 30, describing rising incidences of high-tide flooding, local relative sea-level rise trends and a menu of mitigation measures to improve resiliency in waterfront and low-lying communities.

Molly Fleetham, environmental planner with Planning and Zoning, with Dr. Kara Buckmaster from Public Safety Emergency Management, said the update evaluates risks and vulnerabilities from high-tide flooding (the county is using the term \"high tide flooding\" in place of \"nuisance flooding\") and is required under state law. Staff noted they secured a state grant to help fund the update.

Staff described how local measurements show the rate of sea-level rise in the Solomons area increased from about 3.88 millimeters per year (reported in 2019) to 4.11 millimeters per year in recent tracking, and that 2024 saw more than double the frequency of high-tide flooding events compared with earlier years going back to 1980. The presentation noted that, regionally, the Chesapeake Bay area is seeing faster sea-level rise than the global average and that Southern Maryland is experiencing relatively faster land subsidence.

The plan identifies geographic and topical vulnerabilities, listing waterfront communities, critical infrastructure (transportation, wastewater treatment, electricity and communications), historic and cultural sites (for example Lower Oyster House and Cove Point Lighthouse), recreational resources, aquaculture and agriculture subject to saltwater intrusion, and natural features such as marshes that help absorb floodwaters. Staff said some infrastructure, for example the enhanced nutrient removal wastewater treatment plant in Chesapeake Beach, was compromised in the past during a tropical storm but that high-tide flooding alone was unlikely to have caused that event.

Chapter 6 of the draft summarizes mitigation actions and progress since 2020: the county developed a flooded-roadway tracking tool with Public Works and Technology Services; communications staff produced public-facing videos explaining floodplain regulations; staff encouraged community reporting via the state DNR MyCoast app; parks and recreation and DNR are pursuing site-specific shoreline restoration projects (for example at Breezy Point and Halloween Point); and improved floodplain regulations adopted earlier in 2025 helped the county improve its community rating score for insurance purposes.

Mitigation recommendations in the draft include expanding modeling to better identify parcel- and building-level impacts under sea-level rise scenarios; deploying sensors to track water levels; encouraging reporting of blocked shoreline stormwater infrastructure; studying frequently flooded roadways; tracking saltwater intrusion impacts to agriculture; seeking funding and partnerships for nature-based solutions; strengthening public education and preparedness; and developing methods to protect heritage sites.

Commissioners asked whether the county intends to develop community-level, property-specific flood mitigation plans similar to prior private-sector studies for some communities. Staff said the county plans to improve modeling and data layers to better reflect on-the-ground conditions but that community-specific planning resources would require additional funding and staff capacity and are not guaranteed at this time. Emergency management staff noted they can provide community outreach and preparedness support in the interim.

Staff closed the presentation with practical guidance for residents: report flooded roadways to highway maintenance, document flood incidences via MyCoast, and follow safety guidance such as \"turn around, don't drown.\" No formal board action was taken on the plan update at the meeting; the presentation was informational.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Planning Commission Regular Meeting - Calvert County, MD - Aug. 20, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Calvert County planning and emergency management staff presented the county's 2025 high-tide flood mitigation plan update on July 30, describing rising incidences of tidal flooding, local sea-level trends, and mitigation steps including improved modeling, sensors and nature-based solutions.","taxTitle","Calvert County, Maryland","taxId",61673,"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},6589294,"County staff outline repeal and replacement of agricultural preservation rules with public comment set for August",1821,512750,2334291,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5611859-9a38f158ffb34a4571be0a88da78ae61&start=512&end=2334","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5611859-9a38f158ffb34a4571be0a88da78ae61/thumbnail_512750.jpg","/articles/6589294/Calvert-County/Maryland/County-staff-outline-repeal-and-replacement-of-agricultural-preservation-rules-with-public-comment-set-for-August","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589294-baf46927b3850a30083c1f73cae6f98f/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570324&Signature=EKzTxFiUVU98UroZeRn73dPJ1VtUdJ6u2iv40pxLizThCquTYBdudGcRG~qctfeZW9TlFfh35sFo-A-jx5SDn-7S-8Tx6I8DMSoKrU8e-7XhR3JY63jL2asBN--qneXrIoLuj1laAxDKE7kidXwkuLdT0~Jd~xRGupIfwizk5jTBlikMmCfMMei5CPfGmclS5FhU6EyUv7oOPFlSUmiFc~TLiau-sGpzsTv7h1dbP9TJPRQFPP6BraBmASnO2iq0zdvfjYTI9JViRxMGLkBD396JruOXyf0SGOF5UlNKDdy7BNd0lxt46m7HTTpvTj2pBT83Sob9sqAms~BjqZVKog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Jennifer David, rural planner for Calvert County Planning and Zoning, presented a draft repeal and replacement of the county's agricultural preservation rules and regulations on July 30 and said the rewrite is intended to consolidate past policies, clarify administration of the transferable development rights (TDR) program, and ready the county to lift the long-standing moratorium on new Agricultural Preservation District (APD) applications.

The draft incorporates several substantive changes and clarifications, including: use of net acreage (excluding wetlands based on best available data) to compute TDRs; updated minimum acreage criteria for APD designation that vary by whether a parcel is in a priority preservation area or contiguous to preserved APDs; application of density by APD rather than by parcel; counting primary residences, buildable residential lots and tenant houses toward density; formal incorporation of a TDR reserve program (a county-run TDR bank established in 2021); and explicit rules for agritourism, including a maximum of 12 public events per year on APDs with APAB approval.

David said the rewrite would supersede previous versions, codify past board policy decisions into a single document, and strengthen eligibility and administration rules. She described minimum acreage thresholds that differ by location: in priority preservation areas or contiguous to preserved APDs an APD may be approved with fewer than 50 acres with Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board (APAB) approval; noncontiguous parcels generally require a 50-acre minimum; contiguous parcels outside priority areas generally require 25 acres or more with APAB approval; base density remains tied to a 25-acre unit. David also described existing practice that deducts five TDRs for each existing residence on a property and said field surveys will be required to determine net buildable acreage.

The draft clarifies that an APD is permanently preserved when all owners and parties with proprietary interest have signed a restrictive covenant and that covenants are coordinated for conveyances and allocations of TDRs. David said the update expands eligibility for the county's PAR fund (which removes TDRs from the market using county funds) to include all TDR owners of record and adds ranking criteria for funding. The TDR reserve program, created in 2021, would be fully incorporated and made available to all TDR owners of record under the draft.

On agritourism, David told the board agritourism activities and related uses are secondary to agriculture and are addressed in the Calvert County zoning ordinance; the draft sets criteria for approving private and public events and limits public events to 12 per year on APDs with APAB approval.

Commissioners and staff discussed points of interpretation and administration, including whether certain recordation language that governs withdrawal of a property from the program should be modified; the county attorney will review recordation documents and covenants. Jason Brinkley and other staff explained that updates to recordation documents aim to make permanent entitlements and permissible density clearer to landowners.

During public comment, two residents raised concerns. Jerry Pitcher, speaking for himself, warned that changing rules after landowners have entered binding contracts could prompt legal challenges and said changes to density and tenant-house treatment could affect long-term family plans and property value. Jay Seager, a resident, urged the county to consider legacy issues and the affordability challenges facing younger residents when drafting the rules.

Next steps: Planning staff will hold a public information session on August 28, 2025, and Planning and Zoning will accept written public comment beginning August 21, 2025. No adoption vote was taken at the July 30 meeting; the draft is an informational presentation and will return for formal action after the public-comment process and any legal review.","Jennifer David, the county's rural planner, presented a comprehensive draft repeal and replacement of Calvert County's agricultural preservation rules and regulations on July 30 to consolidate past policies, clarify TDR administration and prepare the county to reopen its Agricultural Preservation District (APD) program.",{"_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},6589298,"County to circulate proposed solid-waste text amendment after Sun Companies plans C&D transfer station",184,291860,476019,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5611859-9a38f158ffb34a4571be0a88da78ae61&start=291&end=476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5611859-9a38f158ffb34a4571be0a88da78ae61/thumbnail_291860.jpg","/articles/6589298/Calvert-County/Maryland/County-to-circulate-proposed-solid-waste-text-amendment-after-Sun-Companies-plans-CD-transfer-station","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6589298-7298c97ebe71f9ce84eeb5c40e83e0cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773570324&Signature=TgSI4CUkuasdknbaaHB~NF22H27Hu55KxzEgKOjVWk9T1ycQfdpFktgiQ9ossmqXJI8vWfMKu8K4qGZm-043CbyUHrtGNu2ocGGeHX1gWCLIRxYQpjlEoFOG-ytTZoDuGGn6r2vS0O1j9uqJ-JSexnVpKdrD7OFMwfSL-nsyxw~8CpogHttGu8vLsoxMgu~7DsAgxJm50ypFtqjWGzqCiKy024m5s-snR-MVQpxfcW5-9sOcCwldxnSmtlp-NVbEVWB4AOUV2dKvggDIyxarSSMzbclz-LTjiKo6lO686N4i4mh3Z~RcXS4mG6QMktyJFujUUSc9FYDYtgOYpzUh-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Calvert County officials on July 30 agreed to circulate a proposed text amendment to the county's 2019'028 comprehensive solid waste management plan to allow a new culvert recycling and transfer station proposed by Sun Companies LLC in Prince Frederick to proceed through permitting and agency review.

A Public Works staff member said the proposed facility would require a Maryland Department of the Environment refuse disposal permit and that the company proposes a permitted capacity of about 750 tons per day of nonhazardous construction and demolition (C&D) waste, which would be separated on-site for permitted processing, recycling and disposal. The staff member said the fiscal impact of the facility is currently unknown.

The Board of County Commissioners voted to direct staff to forward copies of the proposed text amendment to the appropriate county departments, state agencies and adjoining jurisdictions for the statutorily required 60-day comment period under Maryland law. The motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The text amendment is a prerequisite to issuing the MDE refuse disposal permit and to allowing the facility to accept and process C&D waste in Calvert County. The county's review will solicit technical comments from departments and neighboring jurisdictions before any final county action.

Details: The staff summary presented to commissioners said the facility would accept nonhazardous C&D, separate recyclable material from waste, and provide service to Calvert and neighboring Southern Maryland counties. The county will follow the public-notice and interagency review procedures required by the Maryland Annotated Code (Land Use). The motion adopted by the commissioners directs staff to begin the 60-day review; no final county approval of the amendment was taken at the meeting.

What commissioners decided: A motion to forward the proposed text amendment for review carried unanimously. The board did not take a final vote to adopt the amendment at this meeting.

What comes next: Staff will transmit the draft amendment to the listed agencies and return any comments to the board for consideration. Any subsequent change that would adopt the amendment or authorize the facility would be a separate action requiring additional notice and, where applicable, permitting by MDE.","Calvert County planning staff presented a proposed text amendment to the county's 10-year comprehensive solid waste management plan to accommodate a proposed culvert recycling and transfer station by Sun Companies LLC in Prince Frederick. Commissioners voted to send the amendment to state and local agencies for the required 60-day review period.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Planning staff present 2025 high-tide flood mitigation update; modeling and community-level planning cited as next steps

County staff outline repeal and replacement of agricultural preservation rules with public comment set for August

County to circulate proposed solid-waste text amendment after Sun Companies plans C&D transfer station