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Kent County closes public hearings on new land-use ordinance and several agricultural preservation districts
Summary
The Kent County commissioners closed two back-to-back public hearings on June 10 on a comprehensive Unified Development Ordinance and on the voluntary creation of agricultural preservation districts for several farms; no public speakers signed up and planning staff said the Critical Area Commission’s technical changes are nearly resolved.
Kent County commissioners on Tuesday closed public hearings on a proposed Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) that would replace the county’s zoning code and on applications to create several agricultural preservation districts.
Tom Mackey of the county planning office presented the UDO update and told commissioners the Maryland Critical Area Commission had suggested five technical, non-substantive edits; planning staff will incorporate those edits before an adoption hearing planned in July. The county clerk read the formal notice establishing the hearing schedule: the public hearing took place June 10, 2025, at 10 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Hearing Room at 400 High Street in Chestertown, and written comments were accepted through noon on June 6, 2025.
No members of the public signed up to speak for or against the UDO, and the board closed the hearing by motion and unanimous voice vote. Planning staff said a complete copy of the proposed ordinance was available in the commissioners’ office and online.
The board then held a hearing on voluntary agricultural preservation districts for properties including Lester C. Jones and Sons (several parcels on Massey Road) and Fairfield I, LLC on Locust Grove Road. Planning staff said the farms lie within the county’s priority preservation area; the Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board and the Planning Commission had both recommended approval. Commissioners closed that hearing as well after no one from the public came forward to testify.
Commissioners and staff noted the UDO process has taken several years of drafting and negotiation and emphasized that the adoption hearing will include any remaining minor edits requested by the Critical Area Commission.
The hearings were procedural steps under Code Home Rule Bill 4-2025, which rescinds and replaces Chapter 222 (zoning) of the Kent County public local laws and rescinds and replaces the official zoning map to incorporate Critical Area Commission recommendations under the Maryland Annotated Code, Natural Resources Article §8-1809.
The board voted to close both public hearings by unanimous vote.
