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Rising Sun OKs zoo zoning district, eases daycare rules as part of package of ordinances
Summary
The Board of Commissioners created a new zoological zoning district to enable a public‑private partnership with Plumpton Park Zoo and approved zoning changes to bring daycare rules into alignment with state standards. Both ordinances passed by voice vote during the Nov. 10 meeting.
RISING SUN, Md. — The Town of Rising Sun on Nov. 10 created a new zoning district intended to accommodate Plumpton Park Zoo and approved changes to daycare rules that town leaders said will reduce unnecessary variance requests.
Town Administrator Calvin told the board the new zoological district in Ordinance 2025‑05 lays out permitted zoo and visitor uses, accessory amenities such as playgrounds and renewable energy installations, and performance standards intended to limit noise and manage large events. The zoning is designed to let the town apply for park and recreation and community development grants and to offer residents discounted admission under a potential public‑private partnership with the zoo.
Calvin said the daycare ordinance, Ordinance 2025‑04, removes overly restrictive per‑child square footage requirements that exceeded state licensing standards and led to repeated variances. “We found some language in our zoning code that was incredibly restrictive against daycares…so what we’re doing is changing the language so that it matches what is in the state law,” he said.
Both ordinances passed by voice vote after brief discussion and no recorded roll‑call tallies. Officials noted the zoo zoning ordinance’s numbering was contingent on a separate renumbering amendment that the board adopted earlier in the meeting.
Supporters argued the zoo district could generate downstream spending at local businesses and boost grant eligibility, while commissioners said the daycare changes remove needless regulatory friction without eliminating planning commission review or board of zoning appeals oversight for site‑specific conditions.
Next steps include posting the adopted ordinance language on the town website and coordinating with the Plumpton Park Zoo on any annexation, permit or grant applications necessary to formalize the partnership. The town administrator said annexation would allow the town to supply water if the zoo requests it.
