Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Planning commission approves zoning text amendments to allow small accessory apartments in the Chesapeake Bay critical area; two commissioners oppose
Summary
The commission approved zoning changes to allow accessory apartments in the county's critical area subject to state-designated limits: apartments must be 900 square feet or less, within 100 feet of the principal dwelling and served by the same septic reserve area. The vote passed with opposition from two commissioners.
The St. Mary's County Planning Commission on May 12 voted to forward zoning text amendments that allow accessory apartments in the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area's Resource Conservation Area (RCA), subject to state-prescribed limits on size and siting.
Why it matters: The change brings local zoning into alignment with state law that recognizes accessory apartments as allowable uses in the critical area but imposes safeguards to limit impacts on water quality and sensitive buffers.
What the amendments do: The approved package amends Chapter 41 (Chesapeake Bay Critical Area provisions), Chapter 51 (use regulations and standards), Chapter 64 (off-street parking and loading standards) and…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
