Commissioners set new Sept. 9 public hearing on zoning change to allow nonmedical daycare in Critical Area overlay

The St. Mary's County Department of Land Use and Growth Management asked commissioners on Aug. 19 to reschedule a public hearing to consider a zoning text amendment that would permit nonmedical daycare (use type 28) in the county’s Resource Conservation Area (RCA) critical‑area overlay district.

Jessica, director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management, told the board the request was a repeat of a July 29 proposal; the content of the text amendment has not changed. The July 29 public notice was not generated in time, so the department requested a new hearing date and time. Commissioners agreed to set the public hearing for Sept. 9, 2025 at 9:15 a.m. and authorized staff to proceed with public notice and hearing logistics.

The amendment under consideration is identified in staff materials as text 25‑0112 and would change the county’s comprehensive zoning ordinance to allow “use type 28, daycare nonmedical” within the RCA overlay district if adopted after public hearing and subsequent decision steps. No additional ordinance language or specifics about operational standards were changed at the Aug. 19 appearance; the board’s action was limited to scheduling the hearing. Staff said the notice delay, not the substance, required the rescheduling.

Commissioners voted to authorize the Department of Land Use and Growth Management to postpone the hearing previously scheduled for Aug. 26 to Sept. 9, 2025 and to place the item on the Sept. 9 agenda at 9:15 a.m.

Ending

The hearing will proceed at the stated time; county staff will publish required public notice and accept public comment at the Sept. 9 session. Any changes to the text amendment or additional materials produced before the hearing must be submitted through the department’s normal docketing and public‑notice procedures.