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Princess Anne moves critical-area ordinance amendment to second reading
Summary
Town staff presented a critical-area overlay amendment tied to Maryland House Bill 233 and planning staff recommended advancing to a second reading; commissioners agreed to forward the amendment to a work session with a target adoption date of Nov. 3.
Town staff presented proposed amendments to the town’s critical-area overlay code, citing Maryland House Bill 233 and a state-mandated periodic review of the Critical Area Program. Staff said the planning commission reviewed the package on Sept. 18 and recommended adoption; the town attorney had also reviewed the changes and found them acceptable.
Staff explained the update is required to maintain compliance with state requirements that local jurisdictions review and update their critical-area programs at least every 10 years. The most recent full update noted by staff occurred in April 2012, prompting the current revision cycle. Staff recommended advancing the ordinance (noted in the meeting as ordinance 2025/04) for a second reading; commissioners voted to forward the amendment to a work session for that second reading and possible adoption on Nov. 3.
Why it matters: The amendment is intended to bring the town’s code into compliance with state law and Critical Area Commission expectations. Staff emphasized that much of the content is driven by state requirements and that the town’s role is to adopt the required language and maps for compliance.
The meeting record indicates the planning consultant and state review were part of the package; the transcript includes staff recommendations but no substantive floor amendments to the proposed language.
