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St. Mary's 2050 outreach enters second survey window; consultants and staff to attend summer events
Summary
County planning consultant LUGGAM and county staff said community engagement window two for the St. Mary's 2050 comprehensive-plan update is open through June 30 and reported more than 500 responses in the first two weeks. The team will attend local festivals, farmers markets and events to boost participation.
The St. Mary's County comprehensive-plan update, branded "St. Mary's 2050: Charting Our Tomorrow," entered its second community engagement window on May 20, and county staff and the consulting team said the follow-up survey and in-person outreach will continue through June.
Courtney Jenkins, planner with the consultant team LUGGAM, told the joint meeting the second engagement window contains an 11-question follow-up survey arranged by topic and is available online via the project website; paper copies and laptops are also being offered at outreach events. Jenkins said the team tracks responses daily and had more than 500 participants in the first two weeks of the second window.
Why this matters: county officials and commissioners said the comprehensive plan will try to elevate areas with existing water and sewer problems and reflect public priorities for growth, density and rural preservation. Several commissioners expressed constituent concern that outside consultants sometimes drive plans, and Jenkins and county staff stressed that no draft plan has been written and that the next engagement window will present proposed language informed by outreach for public review.
Staff described a schedule of outreach events: farmers markets, the crab festival, Juneteenth celebrations and other local festivals in May and June. Jenkins said the project team will also use children's activities at family events to help engage parents; she said paper surveys and QR codes were provided at the Heritage Festival and that event participation increased survey responses by roughly 60 to 70.
Commissioner Dale Antosh urged targeted outreach to northern-county residents and said residents want evidence that input will shape the final plan. Jenkins said the project remains on schedule for completion in late winter 2025/early 2026 and that community engagement window two closes June 30.
Ending: staff asked commissioners to continue promoting the survey and public events and to encourage residents to check the project website for dates and materials.
