Planners propose stronger design standards, workforce actions and environmental partnerships in draft St. Mary’s plan
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Summary
Staff recommended exploring stronger design requirements for big-box retail and gas stations, adding a workforce/education action under policy 2.1, and formalizing partnerships with local environmental organizations; the commission signaled support to move these recommendations forward.
Leanne, the project presenter, outlined several recommended additions to the draft comprehensive plan intended to address aesthetics, workforce training and environmental stewardship.
Design standards: Presenters described open-ended comments calling for stronger design requirements for large retailers and gas stations. Leanne recommended adding a new action to explore strengthening design requirements in the county’s CCO during future updates; commissioners indicated support to move that recommendation forward.
Workforce and education: In response to comments urging support for trades and education, the presenter recommended adding a new action under policy 2.1 to support education and trade programs and to collaborate with local schools and the tech center to improve learning and workforce outcomes.
Environment and mineral resources: Leanne also recommended explicitly recognizing outside organizations that work on environmental issues, creating formal partnerships for stewardship and education, and adding actions to support wildlife habitat (for example, understory planting) and consider dark-sky lighting policies. On mineral resources, the presenter said state comprehensive-plan guidance requires a mineral-resources element and recommended maintaining language and oversight for extraction activities while tightening water-quality protections and trucking impacts where needed.
Next steps: Commission members generally agreed the design and workforce recommendations were appropriate to carry into the plan update; staff will incorporate the actions to be considered in subsequent drafts.
