Planning commission keeps public record open 30 days for Maryland Airport land‑use correction

The Charles County Planning Commission voted to keep the public record open for 30 days on a proposed comprehensive‑plan amendment affecting land around Maryland Airport.

Staff presenters Joel Binkley and Devin Parker said the amendment would revert roughly 351 acres from an Employment/Industrial Park land‑use designation back to Watershed Conservation District (WCD) to align the county’s land‑use map with existing zoning. Parker said the change would not alter zoning or authorize new development, but would update Chapter 3 of the 2016 comprehensive plan to correct a mismatch between the land‑use map and zoning.

Resident Bonnie Bick told the commission she has followed the airport for nearly three decades and urged the county to disclose what infrastructure obligations (water, sewer, access road, terminal) the county has assumed and the fiscal implications before further change. Nancy Schurter, a former planning commissioner, said she had only recently had time to review the state clearinghouse comments and noted that the Maryland Department of Natural Resources raised concerns about impervious cover and cumulative impacts on Mattawoman Creek’s fisheries, rare species, forests and water quality.

Commissioner Jeffrey Bossert moved to keep the record open for an additional 30 days to allow more time for the public and staff to review DNR’s technical comments; the motion passed by voice vote. Staff set the comment deadline to June 4, 2026, at 4:30 p.m.

The decision preserves the commission’s ability to accept further written or oral comments while staff prepares any follow‑up analysis. The amendment will later proceed to the Board of County Commissioners for additional hearings and final action.