Commission finds Neal Estate shoreline protection project consistent with plan; approves recommendation to proceed

The commission voted to find the Neal Estate shoreline protection project consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and to support the project moving forward as a capital improvement project that will enable receipt of a Maryland DNR loan.

Jason Leavitt of the Calvert Soil Conservation District described the project as the construction of a third headland breakwater plus sand fill and vegetative planting to mitigate coastal erosion and protect community infrastructure. Leavitt told the commission the petition to create a shore erosion control district had been approved by the Board of County Commissioners and that required permits were in hand.

Staff said the total project cost is $791,000 and that, under the proposed financing (a 20‑year, 0% DNR loan), the levy on the 118 residential dwellings in the district would be about $335.47 per year per assessed household; the county would act as the local government borrower and fiscal administrator with no anticipated direct general‑fund repayment. John Norris, president of the Neal Estate Citizens Association, spoke in support of completing the originally designed three‑breakwater configuration and said community petitioning exceeded required support thresholds.

After questions about downstream impacts and engineering design, a commissioner moved that the project is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan; the motion carried by voice vote.