Planners present town‑center survey showing mixed resident views; commission directs staff to supply more information before changes

Long‑range planner Tay Harris presented the results of online surveys conducted July 23–Aug. 25 for the Huntingtown, Owings and Saint Leonard town‑center master plan updates and summarized what residents told staff about priorities, concerns and identity.

Harris said the surveys asked about length of residency, local draws, challenges and preferences for future zoning; she reported participants most often cited basic services, a sense of community and small‑town character as draws and identified traffic, infrastructure and opposition to growth as primary concerns. Harris noted options the county will explore based on feedback, including retaining a town‑center designation, distinguishing minor and major town centers, converting one or more centers to a rural commercial zoning district, or creating a small town‑center style (village/mixed‑use) district. "The Department of Planning and Zoning made an online survey available to the public from July 23 to August 25 for these town centers," she said.

Commission discussion focused on timing and the effect of moving forward before public outreach. County attorney John Mattingly and staff said the item is informational at this stage and that the commission retains authority to request additional information. Commissioner (speaker 4) moved to defer further action and "direct staff to provide information concerning the public hearings that are coming up in October, as well as a brief synopsis of the necessary steps to change town centers from town center to rural commercial," a motion that was seconded and approved. Staff announced initial outreach meetings in October in Saint Leonard (Oct. 6), Huntingtown (Oct. 14) and Owings (Oct. 20).