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Commission recommends BOCC reduce Marley Run park buffer to enable parking, drainage and ADA upgrades
Summary
Parks staff requested removing a 100-foot buffer at Marley Run Recreation Area to allow paving, curb-and-gutter, stormwater work and ADA improvements; the Planning Commission recommended the BOCC eliminate the 100-foot buffer while retaining a 35-foot setback and asked staff to pursue the abbreviated BOCC amendment process.
Amanda Stilwagen, park and safety division chief for Calvert County Parks & Recreation, presented a work session on proposed improvements at Marley Run Recreation Area and requested guidance on amending the park's buffer to allow schematic design and construction documentation to proceed.
Stilwagen said Marley Run currently contains three baseball fields, a gravel parking lot, an out-of-service concession/restroom building, and two maintenance sheds. She described steep site topography and a heavily rutted berm between the parking area and Cox Road, and said current parking "is not to code." Staff presented a proposed site plan calling for paving the gravel lot, installing curb and gutter, improving stormwater controls and ADA access, and regrading and softening the berm. To accomplish grading and parking improvements staff said roughly 10,000 square feet would impinge on the existing 100-foot buffer; Parks requested removal of the 100-foot buffer while retaining the 35-foot setback.
Stilwagen warned that the park is at risk of losing its lower field without drainage work and said engineering is at a standstill until the buffer question is resolved. She noted project funding status: "a little over $1,000,000" currently in the account and staff are "requesting 2.5 more in FY27" to complete construction (staff did not specify units when referring to the additional 2.5 in the meeting record).
County staff and legal counsel advised that the 100-foot buffer was established by county regulation and that the commission may make a recommendation to the BOCC; any change requires a BOCC public hearing under the code amendment process (an abbreviated notice period was described). Several commissioners questioned how much of the berm would be removed, visual impacts from Cox Road and how on-site material would be used for grading; Parks staff said they would soften the berm with vegetation and use on-site soils where feasible.
A commissioner moved that the Planning Commission recommend the BOCC amend the resolution to eliminate the 100-foot buffer while maintaining the 35-foot setback; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote. Staff said the amendment is necessary for schematic design to proceed and that final engineered site plans addressing stormwater and ADA will follow BOCC action and typical site‑plan review processes.
Next steps: staff will prepare the recommendation for the BOCC and proceed with design and budgeting once the BOCC acts; the BOCC will hold the required public hearing on the proposed buffer amendment.
