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Calvert planning staff directed to amend comprehensive plan; architectural review committees to be eliminated
Summary
The board directed staff to start amendments to the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan and three town‑center master plans to align with the zoning ordinance update and approved removing seven town‑center Architectural Review Committees, citing persistent lack of citizen participation.
Mary Beth Kolk, director of Planning and Zoning, and Tay Harris, long‑range planner, asked the board to authorize amendments to the county Comprehensive Plan and to Huntingtown, St. Leonard and Solomons town‑center master plans to align with the current zoning‑ordinance update.
Kolk and Harris said state law requires consistency between zoning and the comprehensive plan and that the master‑plan amendments can proceed in tandem with the zoning update. Staff also recommended reclassifying eight parcels to Heavy Industrial (I‑2) near existing infrastructure and allowing administrative review in town centers after eliminating seven Architectural Review Committees.
The President explained the rationale for removing the review committees: chronic vacancies and missed quorums delay permitting. He said, “The reason we're doing that is because we can't get citizen participation,” and added staff will continue to provide architectural review work in house to avoid project delays.
A commissioner moved and the board voted to direct staff to initiate the amendment process and to schedule a Planning Commission work session; the motion carried by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
Next steps: Planning staff will initiate the plan and town‑center master plan amendments and coordinate a Planning Commission work session and the required 60‑day state review period.
