Commissioner urges protection of St. Mary's County rural character, warns proposed marijuana facility may cost more than it brings

An unnamed commissioner speaking at the start of a meeting urged residents to attend public hearings and press county leaders to protect St. Mary's County's rural character, expressing skepticism that a proposed marijuana facility would deliver significant local benefits.

The commissioner said the county may receive only "one half of 1%" of related tax revenue and argued that "the juice does outweigh the squeeze" when considering added demands on the sheriff's department and emergency management. The speaker said conversations with the sheriff and community members informed that view and asked the public to attend the evening hearing and two additional public hearings (dates not specified) to voice concerns.

The commissioner tied the concern to broader land-use policy, saying the county's soon-to-be-completed comprehensive-plan study (referred to in the transcript as the "2,050 comp plan") will be followed by a multi-year push to amend zoning ordinances in 2027–2028. "If we want to really protect our rural character, we need to really take a hard look... at what our zoning allows and doesn't allow," the commissioner said, noting that current zoning can make it difficult for the commission to deny uses such as gas stations or dollar stores when they are allowed by code.

On economic development, the commissioner said many residents want employers that offer career-oriented jobs for local youth rather than additional low-wage retail outlets. The speaker urged citizens to participate in the upcoming hearings and reminded them, "if you don't tell us and we don't know what's broken, we can't fix it."

The meeting transcript does not include specific dates for the hearings, details of the proposed marijuana facility, or a formal vote; the commissioner encouraged public engagement rather than announcing any commission action during this session.