Calvert County staff outline proposed 13,948‑acre Rural Legacy expansion, plan public outreach

Jennifer David, a Planning and Zoning staff member, told the Calvert County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 24 that county staff are preparing a substantial expansion of the state’s Rural Legacy program in the Central‑Eastern part of the county.

“The background for this is that Maryland’s Rural Legacy program is a state‑run program using Calvert County to preserve large contiguous tracts of land,” Jennifer David said, describing the proposal as centered on the Calvert Creek area between the Parkers Creek and Fishing Creek watersheds. Staff described a maximum proposed expansion of about 1,800 parcels totaling roughly 13,948 acres, with the largest individual tract in the area estimated near Cherry Hill Road at about 616 acres.

Staff explained a key regulatory consequence: properties mapped as tier 3 under the county’s growth tiers would need to be redesignated to tier 4 if included in a Rural Legacy area, which would limit major subdivision potential. “In the tier 3, major subdivisions are permitted with Planning Commission approval… In Tier 4, that is not permitted at all,” David said when answering a commissioner’s question.

Participation in the Rural Legacy easement program is voluntary, David added, and the county and its partners will seek landowner interest before submitting a state application. Staff said they plan three informational public sessions — northern, central and southern — tentatively scheduled for May, June and July, and that the county expects to prepare its state application following those meetings. David said staff coordinate with Southern Maryland Resource Conservation and Development and other partners, and noted that the state’s application process typically concludes with review by the Board of Public Works in late summer the following year.

Commissioners asked for mapping detail and outreach plans. Staff said a public land preservation map is available on the county’s myCalvert maps site showing existing Rural Legacy areas (purple) and a bright gold line marking the proposed maximum expansion. Commissioners and staff discussed how inclusion could affect development potential for property owners and emphasized that participating landowners are paid for easements and that the program aims to preserve contiguous areas.

The board offered no motion but provided direction to staff to include suggested data points in upcoming outreach materials. Staff will return with results after the outreach phase.