Planning commission backs rezoning to let Owings gas station modernize, recommends approval 6-1

The Calvert County Planning Commission recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve zoning map amendment MA 25-01, a proposal to rezone 136 and 150 East Chesapeake Beach Road to the Owings Town Center core district. The commission voted 6–1 after staff and the applicant argued the change would align the parcels with the comprehensive plan's town-center expansion and allow redevelopment of an aging automobile filling station.

Planner Will Hager told commissioners the two subject parcels include an existing gas station and an adjacent single-family dwelling and said the proposed town-center core classification would allow the site’s redevelopment as a conditional use. "Maryland State Highway Administration traffic counts from 2023 indicate an average daily traffic volume of 7,045 vehicles per day along MD 260," Hager said while outlining the site context and the comprehensive-plan maps.

Applicant attorney Matthew Tedesco said the existing station (he cited the primary structure as built in 1970) is "handcuffed" by current zoning and that approval would enable modern septic, stormwater, landscaping, lighting and safer on-site circulation. Mark Ferguson, the project planner, argued the redevelopment could catalyze reinvestment in Owings Town Center.

Commissioners probed whether approving a single rezoning would prejudice a parallel town-center update; staff and the applicant said it would not necessarily foreclose later comprehensive-plan decisions. After no public comments were offered, a commissioner moved to close the record and recommend adoption; roll-call voting produced six ayes and one no. The commission’s recommendation advances to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.