Planning commission directs staff to send draft Water and Sewer Comprehensive Plan 2025 to agencies for review

The Calvert County Planning Commission on Wednesday reviewed proposed updates to the county’s Water and Sewer Comprehensive Plan 2025 and voted to direct staff to submit the draft to state and regional agencies for a 60‑day review period, with a public hearing proposed for April 15, 2026.

The presentation was led by Cheyenne Nader, a DPW project engineer, who told commissioners the update “evaluates existing system capacities, revises service area designations, and incorporates approved and proposed development projects,” and is intended to ensure compliance with the Maryland Department of the Environment and consistency with the county comprehensive plan.

Consultant Francis Mankowski of WRA outlined the approval schedule and key changes. He said the draft aligns allocations with resolution 19‑24, documents that the Dares Beach well was decommissioned and a new well was installed at Chesapeake Heights, updates EDU tables and projections to match the 2019 county comprehensive plan, and reports infrastructure changes including a decommissioned treatment plant at Calvert County Industrial Park that now operates as a pump station. Mankowski also noted an arsenic filter installed at Marley Run, updated CIP project lists and funding tables, and revised water and sewer maps and rates sections.

Commissioners asked staff how the draft treats potential high‑demand uses such as data centers. Jay Arcosco, director of public works, said the draft does not assume new data centers and that the county will manage water allocations granted by MDE. “We have allocations for our water systems that have been granted from MDE,” Arcosco said. He added that reuse of treated effluent or gray water is preferable where feasible to reduce stress on aquifers.

A commissioner pressed staff about arsenic treatment. James Ritter, deputy director for enterprise fund operations, said, “Marley Run is our only water system that requires arsenic removal filters.” Ritter added that other systems are regularly monitored and must remain under a three‑year running average of 10 (units stated in the transcript) per liter to avoid treatment.

During discussion a commissioner noted portions of the draft appeared to rely on older data and urged staff to consider updating those sections before agency review. Arcosco said staff would review design details—for example, whether the Northern High School sewer design accounts for a planned site addition.

Before the commission acted, the consultant summarized options for next steps: send the amendment to agencies for a 60‑day comment period, schedule an April 15 public hearing and notify adjoining jurisdictions and agencies at least 60 days in advance; or direct staff to revise the draft and return it to the Planning Commission.

A commissioner moved “that we direct staff to 4 copies of the Calvert County comprehensive water and sewer plan 2025 for agency review.” The motion was seconded and adopted by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

Public comment during the meeting highlighted related concerns about stormwater management. Bob Estes, speaking for Friends of Hunting Creek, urged the county to revise rainfall models used for stormwater design, saying “the so called 10 year, rain fall, in the model happens every 2 or 3 years,” and asked the commission to press for ordinance or standards changes to prevent repeated failures and environmental damage. He offered to provide written comments for distribution to the commission.

Next steps: staff will prepare the copies and submit the draft to agencies for the 60‑day review period and staff and the consultant expect to hold a public hearing on April 15, 2026, pending the agency notification schedule.