Planning commission recommends change to proposed county ordinance on non‑accessory wastewater facilities

The Caroline County Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed proposed county legislation (Bill 25‑007) that would permit certain non‑accessory wastewater treatment facilities in rural districts under specific conditions and voted to recommend enactment with one substantive change.

Staff explained the draft ordinance would allow a non‑accessory wastewater treatment facility where the facility’s operation is substantially similar to the prior permitted operation, and where the facility had held an active Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) state discharge permit within the prior three years. Staff and commissioners discussed the three‑year lookback and agreed that, because MDE permitting processes can be lengthy, a five‑year window would be more practical.

Commissioners also reviewed the county’s Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan policy language, which says, in part: "Shared facilities do not conform to the goals of the comprehensive development plan and will not be approved. A management entity for shared facilities will not be established." Planning staff read that policy into the record while explaining that the proposed ordinance is not intended to create shared facilities and requires that the generator and operator of any facility be the same individual or entity.

Motion and vote: A commissioner moved that the Planning and Zoning Commission recommend to the county commissioners the enactment of emergency legislation Bill 25‑007 as drafted, with the commission’s recommendation that the permitting lookback period be increased from three years to five years. The motion passed by voice vote.

Next steps: staff said the bill will move to the county commissioners for their readings and public hearing; the commission’s recommendation will be forwarded for their consideration.