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Planning commission schedules May 4 public hearings on Maryland Airport plan amendment and retail ZTA
Summary
Commission scheduled public hearings for May 4, 2026 on (1) a proposed comprehensive plan amendment reverting 351 acres near Maryland Airport to Watershed Conservation District, and (2) ZTA‑26‑190 addressing retail sales over 100,000 sq ft and a proposed 20% reduction in retail parking minimums.
At the April 20 meeting the Charles County Planning Commission scheduled two items for public hearings on May 4, 2026.
First, staff proposed a comprehensive plan amendment to change land‑use designations for approximately 351 acres near Maryland Airport from Employment/Industrial Park back to Watershed Conservation District to align the land‑use plan with current zoning after a partial rezone. Devin Parker (Planner I) and Tony Phelps (Assistant Chief of Planning) said the amendment does not change current zoning but restores consistency between the land‑use map and the county zoning map.
Second, the commission scheduled a hearing on ZTA‑26‑190, a zoning text amendment to resolve a code inconsistency about where retail sales over 100,000 square feet are allowed, to add the Acton Urban Center district as an allowable district for such uses and to remove a two‑story building requirement. Tony Phelps also said staff is studying a 20% reduction in retail parking minimums countywide as part of this effort; the reduction aligns with broader zoning rewrite directions and reflects changes in shopping behavior.
Both items received unanimous or near‑unanimous support to be noticed for May 4, and staff confirmed public notice was posted and the public comment portal is open.
