Queen Anne's County adopts one-year moratorium on major residential and mixed-use projects

Queen Anne's County commissioners on Aug. 14 unanimously adopted a resolution imposing a moratorium on major residential and mixed‑use development that require more than 1,750 gallons per day of sewer allocation, Planning Director Amy Mordock told the county planning commission.

Mordock said the moratorium can last up to one year and includes discretionary language allowing the commissioners to shorten or lengthen the pause while they study how the county calculates adequate public facilities, including school capacity, and whether to revise the county's sewer allocation policy. She said the commissioners will form an internal task force to review those matters.

The moratorium applies to “major projects” as defined for sewer service — specifically residential projects that require over 1,750 gallons per day — and to mixed‑use projects with a residential component; purely commercial projects without residential uses are not covered, Mordock said. For projects that have not yet received sewer allocation under the county process, she said planning and other county departments will not accept, review or consider new submissions during the moratorium.

Mordock said the commissioners are also concerned about road infrastructure and the results of the Bay Crossing study, and that town halls will be held for public discussion. She said one town hall will be held Sept. 20 and another on Nov. 20 at the Kent Island Library to address the pedestrian overpass over Route 50 and to explain the development review process and each agency’s role. Planning staff will work with QAC TV to produce short public service announcements explaining the development process, she said.

Mordock also updated the commission on administrative changes: the Board of Appeals agenda materials are now posted in the county agenda center and, beginning in September, Board of Appeals meetings will be live streamed. She said ordinance 25‑08 (cluster buffer yard provision) held a public hearing this past week and that the commissioners voted to approve it; she said it will become effective on Sept. 27. Mordock said a public hearing on updated solar provisions (ordinance 25‑10) will be held Aug. 26 and, as emergency legislation, may be voted on after that hearing. She also said citizen‑sponsored text amendments 25‑03 and 25‑04 (suburban commercial height and airport district daycare use) were approved and became effective on Monday.

Next steps: the commissioners’ task force will study the items Mordock listed and the moratorium will remain in place for projects that have not received sewer allocations unless the commission amends the resolution. The planning commission was advised to expect more public outreach as the county refines its development‑review materials.