St. Mary's commissioners delegate water-and-sewer hearing authority to county land‑use director for development districts

The Commissioners of St. Mary's County on April 28 adopted a resolution delegating to the director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management the authority to hold public hearings and make decisions on amendments to the county’s Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan within development districts.

The move, proposed by County Attorney George Farling and Land Use Director Phil Shire, narrows an initial draft that would have covered all “growth areas” to the smaller category of “development districts.” Proponents said the delegation will streamline what they described as a narrowly technical process and reduce duplication of hearings while preserving public notice and a record of proceedings.

Farling told commissioners the Environment Article of the Maryland Code allows the board to delegate this second layer of hearings and that the…