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Caroline County planning commission reviews public outreach schedule for comprehensive plan update
Summary
Staff laid out a public outreach schedule and timeline for Caroline County's 10-year comprehensive plan update, including a public meeting on April 30 and a target for a draft plan review by late 2025 or early 2026.
Planning staff on March 12 outlined a public outreach plan and draft schedule for updating Caroline County's comprehensive plan, telling the Planning Commission the document will guide future zoning-code updates and is intended to be updated every 10 years.
Olivia Vedado, a planning staff member, told the commission the county's last comprehensive plan was completed in February 2010 and that the state's Land Use Article now calls for a 10-year update cycle (changed from six years in 2013). Vedado said staffing shortages and COVID-related delays have pushed the county behind schedule but that the Maryland Department of Planning is aware and the county will not be penalized for the delay.
Vedado described a public-outreach program that includes an April 30 public meeting, periodic social-media updates, attendance at county events, informational flyers and a designated e-mail address for public inquiries. Staff plan to review results from a countywide survey launched about two years ago and may reissue or supplement it depending on what staff see in public discussion. Vedado said staff aim to post initial outreach material by March 28.
The schedule presented to the commission lays out Planning Commission meeting topics through 2025 and into 2026, with staff assigned to present different plan chapters. Vedado said staff are prioritizing chapters that are less likely to change if pending state legislation affecting land use is adopted. Commission discussion touched on solar and farming issues that have appeared in public comment and social media; commissioners agreed staff may issue a narrower follow-up survey if public conversation shows concentrated concerns.
Commissioners and staff discussed the plan's role in addressing housing and infrastructure, including whether zoning changes could facilitate accessory dwelling units, duplexes or fourplexes as part of housing strategy. Vedado said those policy issues will be addressed in the relevant chapters as the commission reviews draft text.
Staff described an aspirational timeline to reach a full draft for Planning Commission review by December 2025 or early 2026, while acknowledging the schedule must remain flexible. Vedado said staff will update the posted schedule every two to three weeks or as needed.
The commission did not take a formal vote on the outreach plan at the March 12 meeting; commissioners offered general support and asked staff to proceed with outreach and surveys as described.
