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Planning staff present Huntingtown, Owings and St. Leonard survey results; residents favor preserving rural character
Summary
Planning staff briefed commissioners on surveys for three town centers showing residents prioritized preserving rural character, addressing traffic and infrastructure, and being split on whether to retain 'town center' zoning — staff scheduled town halls and will seek public feedback for zoning/district options.
Planning and Zoning presented online-survey results for Huntingtown, Owings and St. Leonard town centers and said the input will guide upcoming master-plan updates and public outreach.
Jason Brinkley, planning director, and Tay Harris, long-range planner, said the surveys (Huntingtown: 389 participants; Owings: 214; St. Leonard: 488) flagged common concerns: traffic and unsafe intersections (notably along MD 24 and MD 260), lack of sidewalks and pedestrian safety, vacant storefronts, and a strong preference among many respondents to maintain rural and small‑town character. Harris summarized the public response: “The elements that participants would like to see retained or enhanced include rural small town feel, limiting growth that encourages local discourages chain stores, big boxes, and large housing developments.”
Responses diverged on zoning labels: in Huntingtown and Owings roughly 39% favored remaining a town center while 61% preferred converting to a rural commercial designation in some cases; St. Leonard respondents split the opposite way with a majority preferring to remain a town center. Planning staff emphasized these are early-stage results (step 1A) and announced a series of public information meetings in October to solicit detailed community feedback and to explore intermediate zoning options such as village or small-town-style districts.
Commissioners raised concerns about infrastructure constraints (water/sewer, septic failure risk), the importance of clear public messaging to avoid the perception of a done deal, and the need to craft zoning language that preserves existing businesses. Staff said they will post full results online, present to the Planning Commission, and return with recommendations shaped by the town-hall input.
