County staff outlines six‑year comprehensive plan review and summer charrette schedule

County planning staff presented the six‑year review and update process for the St. Mary's County Comprehensive Plan at the May 27 meeting, outlining a schedule of interdepartmental and public engagement to meet state requirements.

Staff said the update is mandated by state law at six‑year intervals and must incorporate recent state legislation that adds or modifies required plan elements. Staff flagged several pieces of 2006 legislation that must be addressed in the update: the Agricultural Stewardship Act (identified in the presentation as House Bill 2 of 2006, requiring a priority preservation element), House Bill 1141 of 2006 (requiring a water resources element), and House Bill 1160 of 2006 (requiring a workforce housing element). The presentation also referenced the state’s smart growth principles that must be reflected in the plan.

Planned schedule and process highlights presented by staff (summary): a staff‑facilitated interdepartmental charrette on June 11; preparation and distribution of an existing‑conditions/background packet (staff cited a 292‑page compilation to be provided in advance of the charrette); a series of community meetings across the county in July (Charlotte Hall, Leonardtown, Lexington Park, Ridge and Avenue) to gather public input; drafting of a public‑hearing draft in August; a 60‑day required circulation period and Planning Commission public hearings beginning in October and continuing into early 2009; and transmission of the Planning Commission’s recommended draft to the Board of County Commissioners with a target effective date of July 1, 2009.

Staff said they have contracted a facilitator, Hilton Hurd of Herb Planning and Design, and will invite county department heads and state agencies (State Highway Administration, Maryland Department of Planning, METCOM, public schools representatives) to the charrette. Staff emphasized multiple opportunities for the public to review emerging drafts online and at libraries and said they will hold a public forum on July 10 (presentation referenced June 10 as a forum on the Critical Area law and state coordination) to inform waterfront property owners about imminent state changes.

Commissioners discussed the need to pair plan updates with timely implementing zoning code changes and noted past lessons where delay between plan adoption and zoning updates produced development that did not conform to newly adopted policies. Staff said rezoning would be a separate, subsequent initiative expected to follow the plan update.