Planning commission defers Wildlife Rescue League special exception after neighborhood concerns; site visit set

The Caroline County Planning Commission voted unanimously Feb. 27 to defer consideration of a special exception permit requested by the Wildlife Rescue League for a wildlife rehabilitation facility on Edge Hill Academy Road, and scheduled a site visit before the commission takes further action.

County planner Craig Pennington described the request (SPEX082025) as an application to allow an animal clinic and veterinary facility for wildlife rehabilitation on a largely rural parcel. The property is a donated 94.5‑acre parcel (tax map parcel 27‑2‑2); the applicant proposes to use an existing house and a roughly 13.5‑acre area for facility operations, with future plans for a larger Phase 2 building outside the flood plain for education and animal care.

Pennington said the parcel is mostly zoned rural preservation, lies partially within a FEMA flood plain and is bounded by large parcels; the nearest occupied dwelling to the proposed animal care structure is about 2,850 feet away. He summarized Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) requirements, noting DWR permits regulate which species can be…