Calvert County staff propose Rural Legacy expansion that could redesignate 13,948 acres

County planning staff on Feb. 24 outlined a proposed expansion of the state Rural Legacy program that would cover roughly 1,800 parcels and 13,948 acres in central and eastern Calvert County.

Jennifer David, the county’s rural planner, told the Board of County Commissioners the Rural Legacy program is a state-run tool to preserve large contiguous tracts of land and that landowner participation is voluntary. David said staff had received a Dec. 18, 2025 confirmation from the Maryland Department of Planning that any tier 3 parcels included in a Rural Legacy area must be redesignated to tier 4, which would prevent major subdivisions in those parcels. "Participation in the program itself is completely voluntary," David said, but she added the redesignation could "change the potential development for the properties" most directly affected.

Staff described a planned three-meeting outreach schedule (northern, central and southern county) in May–July to present the maximum proposed boundary and gauge landowner interest before preparing a state application due the following February. When commissioners asked for scale, David said the largest individual tract in the proposed boundary is about 616 acres and that the maximum proposal encompasses about 13,948 acres across approximately 1,800 parcels. She said existing preserved properties would be credited in applications and that preserving contiguous areas scores well in program evaluations.

Board members pressed on process and consequences: commissioners and staff emphasized that inclusion in the proposed boundary would not force a landowner into an easement and that the county would document outreach and public interest as part of the application. The board directed staff to continue outreach and return with public feedback; no formal motion was required at the Feb. 24 meeting.