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Caroline County to fast‑track zoning and Comprehensive Plan amendments for solar and energy storage after new state law
Summary
Staff will prepare zoning and Comprehensive Plan amendments in response to new state law effective July 1, 2026; the Planning Commission is expected to initiate amendments May 28 with Board public hearing targeted for June 23, 2026. The Board authorized staff to advertise the hearing and accepted the expedited schedule.
Staff informed the Board that new State legislation governing solar energy and energy storage facilities takes effect July 1, 2026 and requires Caroline County to amend its Zoning Ordinance and Comprehensive Plan. Planning staff will prepare ordinance language and related Comprehensive Plan updates to comply with the new statute.
The Planning Commission is expected to formally initiate the amendments at its May 28 meeting and schedule a public hearing for June 18, 2026; the Board set a target public hearing date of June 23, 2026 to allow the county to consider amendments before the state law’s effective date. Vice‑Chair Jeffery M. Sili moved to accept the recommended meeting and publication schedule and authorized staff to advertise the June 23 public hearing; the motion passed unanimously. The Board acknowledged the compressed timeline created by the recent General Assembly action and directed staff to proceed with outreach and required notices.
What happens next: the Planning Commission is scheduled to act on May 28 and staff will publish public hearing notices; proposed ordinance text and Comprehensive Plan amendments will be available prior to the public hearings.
