St. Mary’s County holds public hearing on revised zoning ordinance; residents and business owners raise concerns

St. Mary’s County and its Planning Commission held a joint public hearing May 19 at Margaret Brent Middle School in Leonardtown on a proposed zoning ordinance update tied to a recent update of the county’s comprehensive land use plan.

The hearing, led by President Russell of the Board of County Commissioners, included a 10-minute presentation by Derek Berlage, director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management, who told the hearing that “the County Commissioners, a little over a month ago, approved an update to the St. Mary’s County comprehensive land use plan,” and that the ordinance draft flows from that decision. President Russell said the public record would remain open for written comments until June 15.

Why it matters: The ordinance would change procedures and standards used in land development across the county — including rules on open space, architectural controls, permitted uses and site-plan disclosures — and speakers at the hearing said those changes could affect property values, sewer and water service, and the affordability and character of neighborhoods.

Speakers at the hearing raised recurring concerns about four broad topics: (1) the administrative process for variances under the new forest conservation rules; (2) workforce-housing…