Planning Commission finds Prince Frederick Town Center chapter consistent, advances plan to county with one dissent

The Calvert County Planning Commission voted on March 18, 2026 to close the public record on the Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan (March 2026 draft, chapter 2) and find the draft consistent with the county comprehensive plan, forwarding a recommendation for adoption to the Board of County Commissioners. The motion carried with one commissioner dissenting.

Tay Harris, the county’s long range planner, said the chapter recommends rezoning some employment-centered parcels to an edge commercial district that "minimize[s] impacts to infrastructure and environment" and added language to protect Huntingtown Creek headwaters and the Mill Creek subwatershed. Harris told the commission that "in 2023, developed land in the Upper Mill Creek watershed accounted for 38.8% of the area, including 14.6% impervious surface," and emphasized the need to limit new impervious surface and enforce sediment- and stormwater-control measures during construction.

Commissioner Freeland requested a wording change to correct the description of watershed direction: "it really should read that Prince Frederick Town Center drains into Mill Creek, not Mill Creek draining into Prince Frederick," Freeland said; Harris agreed to make the change.

During public comment, Bob Estes, who identified himself on the record, thanked staff for the added Mill Creek language and urged active restoration: "We're hoping to get some grant money to actually take care of that creek because right now it's heavily damaged," Estes said, describing erosion and plans among local volunteers to restore wetlands to reduce pollutants and stabilize banks.

The commission discussed procedural options for closing the record and continuing written comments; the chosen motion closed the record and recommended the draft for adoption. The matter will next be considered by the Board of County Commissioners.