Planning commission approves conceptual site plan for Ward Farm Park maintenance buildings

The Calvert County Planning Commission approved a conceptual site plan for maintenance buildings at Ward Farm Park on March 19, voting to approve CSPR 143263 with the conditions recommended in the staff report.

Staff said the buildings are intended to support facilities already built at the 209-acre Ward Farm Park and planned future construction. Christine Fenimore, principal planner for the Department of Planning and Zoning, told commissioners the conceptual plan had been reviewed by the technical evaluation group (TEG) in January 2025 and found generally consistent with the Calvert County comprehensive plan and the Calvert County zoning ordinance. "At this time, staff recommends approval of CSPR 143263, conceptual site plan for Ward Farm Park maintenance buildings, with the conditions listed in the staff report," Fenimore said.

The application covers tax map 6, parcels 504 and 70 (totaling 209 acres) and locates the maintenance buildings just off the park's main entrance from Ward Road. The submitted drawings show an equipment shed and an area for outdoor storage surrounded by security fencing. Parking calculations in the plan call for 12 spaces; a traffic impact analysis has been submitted to the Department of Public Works and was described in the meeting packet as under review.

Parks and Recreation staff were present to answer questions. Bob Brenham, director of Parks and Recreation, said the department has applied for Calvert County Youth Recreation Opportunities funds and that project work at Ward Farm Park will proceed in phases as funding becomes available. He told commissioners the department had "just submitted a new application," and that the project would depend on future state funding disbursements.

An unnamed engineer with COA Barrett and Parks and Recreation staff were listed in the packet as available to respond to technical questions. The planning commission motioned to approve the conceptual site plan application with the staff-recommended conditions; the chair called for the vote and commissioners responded in the affirmative. The commission did not specify a roll-call vote in the record; the chair announced, "Aye. Motion carries."

Next steps identified in the staff presentation included: finalizing any conditions in the staff report, completion of the Department of Public Works review of the traffic impact analysis, and subsequent steps needed to move from conceptual site plan approval toward site plan review and permitting. The packet provided to the commission included the staff report, agency comments, the full conceptual site plan, the site plan application, and the park master plan developed in 2014–2015.

The commission took no additional action beyond approving CSPR 143263; staff and Parks and Recreation will continue follow-up work and return with any required revisions or further items if necessary.