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Draft Dunkirk Town Center master plan presented; commission sets Dec.17 review ahead of possible Jan.21 hearing
Summary
Planner Kat Lockwood presented the Dunkirk draft chapter covering land use, environmental constraints, housing affordability and transportation recommendations; the commission agreed to review the revised draft Dec.17, with staff planning to advertise a public hearing for Jan.21, 2026 pending that review.
Kat Lockwood, planner II in long-range planning, presented the Dunkirk Town Center chapter of the county's town-center master plan on Nov.19, summarizing maps of sensitive areas, impervious-surface and tree canopy, and a list of 10 historic sites the draft seeks to protect.
Lockwood highlighted housing and economic data for Dunkirk, including a reported 99% homeownership rate, a median home value cited as $557,700 and typical rental ranges from $1,700 to $3,200. The draft recommends revising the housing affordability assessment to align with broader county updates and to work with the Maryland Transit Administration on commuter bus services.
On transportation, staff recommended limiting Apple Way access to MD 4 to right turns only, completing Penwick Lane to connect MD 4 to Town Center Boulevard and adding a crosswalk at MD 4 and Town Center Boulevard. Commissioners noted these road projects are recommendations and are not funded in the county's current capital development plan.
The presentation referenced recent state planning and housing law updates included in the draft (presented in staff slides as House Bill 286, House Bill 1045, House Bill 90 and House Bill 830). Lockwood said those statutory updates informed draft changes but did not alter the county vision.
For next steps, staff asked the commission to review the revised draft on Dec.17, 2025 and, pending that review and legal-advertising timelines, to advertise a public hearing targeted for Jan.21, 2026. The commission reached consensus to use Dec.17 for formal review. No final rezoning or map amendments were adopted at the Nov.19 meeting.
