Public Meetings - Calvert County, Maryland

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held its regular meeting on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the Chesapeake Hearing Room at 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, Maryland. Internet outages initially prevented the meeting from streaming on YouTube, Comcast 99, and Channel 1070; the meeting was recorded internally for later posting, and livestreaming was restored during the session. The board approved its amended agenda and the closed-session summary for the July 28, 2026 closed meeting, presented three citations and a proclamation, reappointed two Planning Commission members, and approved all six consent-calendar items. Major actions included approval of a Calvert County Public Schools budget reallocation, the Prince Frederick Main Street Maryland application, an approval-in-concept for Upper Mill Creek restoration, adoption of Master Plan of Town Centers chapters, establishment of the Neeld Estate Citizens' Association Shore Erosion Control District, and continuation of the Student Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee. Public comment focused heavily on the upcoming data center moratorium vote. The board announced that Amazon Data Services, Inc. (AWS) formally withdrew its conceptual site development plan application on the evening of August 3, 2026, and that public hearings on a proposed six-month data center moratorium and on consolidated public improvement bonds are scheduled for August 18, 2026. Consent Calendar - Department of Economic Development: Community Legacy Grant application under state revitalization programs. - Office of the County Administrator / Calvert Marine Museum: Glascock Family Parking Field License Agreement. - Department of Public Works: Intergovernmental Agreement for chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) refrigerant recovery services. - Department of Public Works: Letter of support for the Calvert County Watermen's Association Docking Contest. - Department of Community Resources: Child Advocacy Center Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Social Services. - Department of Economic Development: Opportunity Zone eligibility map changes. All six items were approved in a single unanimous motion. Discussion Items Citations & Proclamation - Huntingtown High School softball team: honored as 2026 Maryland Class 2A state champions after a 24–2 season, securing the school's second consecutive state title, fourth consecutive South Regional championship, and seventh softball state championship in the program's 22-year history. - North Beach Volunteer Fire Department: recognized for its 100th anniversary (founded February 1926; first chartered volunteer fire department in Calvert County on August 4, 1926). The department introduced the county's first aerial truck and first firefighting boat, helped establish the county's six other volunteer fire departments, and has responded to an estimated 100,000 emergencies. Chief Stephen Stanton accepted the citation. - Landen Vercoe: Huntingtown High School junior honored as 2026 MPSSAA state wrestling champion in the 144-pound weight class, with a 52–1 season record (24 pins, 17 technical falls) and a 131–19 varsity career record. Athletic Director Vashaun Gross noted Vercoe wrestled with a tumor in his arm and also works with special-needs students in the unified class. - National Farmers Market Week (August 2–8, 2026; 27th year): proclaimed in a presentation with Agricultural Development Specialist Caroline Trosback and market vendors/hosts. The county's three markets operate at Calvert Health (Tuesday afternoons), Dunkirk District Park (Thursday afternoons), and North Beach (Saturday mornings). Appointments - Victor W. Freeland reappointed to the Planning Commission as chair; Gregory Kernan reappointed as member. Staff initially stated a three-year term, then corrected the record to five-year terms with a three-term limit. Following the appointments, no Planning Commission vacancies remain. Both reappointments approved unanimously. New Business - Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund: Designated the sitting board president as authorized official and the county administrator as alternate authorized signatory for Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund (CCIF) awards for FY 2026–27, and authorized submission of the designation letter to the Governor's Office for Children. Approved unanimously. - Calvert County Public Schools FY 2026 year-end budget amendment: Approved reallocation of $1,000,000 from student services and $100,000 from instructional salaries and wages to student transportation and operational plant to cover higher-than-anticipated energy and facilities costs. The Board of Education approved the transfer on June 11, 2026; the amendment does not increase the overall operating budget and requests no additional county funding. - Main Street Maryland Connected Communities application: Approved submission of Prince Frederick's application (due August 7, 2026) for the entry-level Connected Community designation for the historic Main Street corridor (Duke Street to Church Street, approximately 40 businesses), plus execution of the required letter of support. Existing county staff and previously budgeted resources will administer the program initially; no additional funds are required to apply. - Upper Mill Creek restoration (Friends of Hunting Creek and American Chestnut Land Trust): The groups presented a plan to restore a 1,750-foot degraded section of Upper Mill Creek on county property using a low-tech, all-wood approach (engineered log structures) modeled on the 2019 Bacon Ridge Branch project in Anne Arundel County. Ron Clauder described the watershed as more than 19,000 acres with about 9% impervious cover (2023), near a 10% threshold for stream-health decline; the stream channel is eroded 5.5 to 7.5 feet deep with base-flow water depths of only 3 to 6 inches, attributed largely to Calvert Village Shopping Center (built 1971) and Walmart (1991) adding about 25 acres of impervious surfaces. They stated no county funds are requested; the American Chestnut Land Trust will seek a Chesapeake Bay Trust grant for design and permitting. The board approved the project in concept, contingent on outside funding and all necessary approvals, permits, property access, maintenance responsibilities, and applicable agreements. Old Business - Master Plan of Town Centers, Chapters 1–3: Following the July 21, 2026 public hearing and the 10-day deferral required by Local Government Article § 9-105, the board closed the record. One written comment was received, from a former resident (Mr. O'Connor): “please no more houses, stores. We've had enough traffic, light pollution, crime and congestion. This is why my family has moved.” The board split the original combined motion. Chapters 1 (Town Centers) and 2 (Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan) were adopted with one commissioner voting no; that commissioner stated he was “for Dunkirk” but opposed “any expansion in Calvert County” because the Prince Frederick plan expands the town center. Chapter 3 (Dunkirk Town Center Master Plan) was adopted unanimously; commissioners noted Dunkirk's boundary is expanded to include Dunkirk District Park and its parking lot, which cannot be developed and is included solely to bring the district in line for priority-funding eligibility, with no growth potential. - Neeld Estate Citizens' Association (NECA) Shore Erosion Control District: The board closed the public record and enacted the ordinance establishing the SECD to fund a third headland breakwater. Total estimated project cost is $791,713 ($768,653 in construction costs plus a $23,060 DNR administrative services fee), to be funded through a 20-year, 0% interest DNR loan to the county, with repayments supported by an annual levy of $335.47 per assessed residence on 118 dwellings within the district. The county will serve as borrower and fiscal administrator. Nine written comments had been received by July 29, 2026, with one additional comment received by the July 31 deadline. - Student Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee draft final report: The committee (established by Resolution 9-24 on May 29, 2024; 20 public meetings from October 2024 through February 2026; roughly 1,000 community survey responses) presented 14 consensus recommendations across five topics: mental health and well-being; student behavior and school climate; staff preparedness and capacity; communication and community engagement; and facilities, technology, and security. Key findings cited included 63% of surveyed students reporting bullying as an issue, inconsistent implementation of the student code of conduct across schools, staffing gaps in school-based mental health, and parental and community accountability concerns raised by Chair Pastor Dana Jones and Vice Chair Leslie Irvin. The board approved the final report, authorized its publication through county communication channels, directed staff to coordinate with the chair and vice chair to present the report to the Calvert County Board of Education, and—amending the original motion—kept the committee active rather than disbanding it. Presentation: Tidal Water Quality Monitoring Annual Update - Dr. Laura Harris (Chesapeake Biological Laboratory), with Cindy Ross and Julia Smeltzer, presented the annual tidal water quality monitoring update (program operating since 1987 in the Solomon's Harbor/Mill Creek system, expanded in 2009; sampling from May through September every other week; measuring dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a, Secchi depth, temperature, and salinity). - Long-term bottom dissolved oxygen in Solomon's Harbor is trending downward, but the last three dry or average-rainfall years showed higher oxygen levels. Chlorophyll concentrations remain above 15 µg/L on average (approaching 20 µg/L), with somewhat lower averages in recent years. Water quality in the Mill Creek complex worsens further into the back creeks because of limited flushing. - Island Creek and St. Leonard Creek show low dissolved-oxygen concerns; Plum Point Creek was highlighted for high algal concentrations and is slated for dredging. - A public-health advisory on Vibrio was issued: the presenter advised waiting three days after rainfall of more than one inch before entering tidal waters. Maryland probable Vibrio cases were high last year; the bacteria can cause serious wounds, amputations, and death in the county. Fecal coliform levels were not bad last year, consistent with a dry year. - Water temperatures have warmed roughly 2–2.5°C over the record, reducing oxygen-holding capacity and contributing to species shifts (for example, blue catfish). - New recommendations: conserve, preserve, and restore tidal wetlands; target stream best-management practices in watersheds with higher agricultural land use; and focus advanced septic-system upgrade grants on the Mill, Plum, and Hungerford Creek watersheds. Presenters noted septic-system records remain largely on paper and recommended digitizing parcel-level septic data (type and installation year) to guide investments. - A new Patuxent shallow-water water-quality model and a public web dashboard for exploring creek monitoring data are now available to the county. Public Comments & Testimony - Carl L. Wine (individual, Camp Kanoi Road): Said the data center process was driven by the data center industry and Constellation, stated mega data centers pose real risks and harms, and urged a yes vote on the August 18 moratorium. - Nancy Elwine (individual, Camp Kanoi Road): Thanked the board for moving forward on a moratorium and for AWS's withdrawal, but argued a moratorium is still needed; claimed 800 acres of forest and farmland were rezoned to heavy industrial use and “quietly slipped into the comprehensive plan without due notice”; urged a unanimous moratorium vote, noting three commissioners will leave office in December. - Kyle Russell (representing the U.S. Vintage Model Yacht Group): Alleged Calvert Marine Museum leadership is preparing to eliminate the Solomon's Island Model Boat Club, coordinating statements before any investigation, sharing a volunteer's medical information in internal emails, blocking an ADA access ramp, and “waiting out” elderly volunteers. He called on the board to act. - Sylvia Batong (Citizens for Calvert): Supported the moratorium as an important first step but urged strengthening it—defining what the county intends to study; evaluating impacts on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, forests, wetlands, stormwater, setbacks from schools and homes, noise, water and wastewater, electrical infrastructure and ratepayer costs, emergency response, greenhouse gas emissions, and community benefit agreements; learning from Northern Virginia; preventing other approval pathways from advancing data centers during the review; and allowing extension after public notice and hearing. - Bob Estus (Friends of Hunting Creek): Thanked the board for attention to Upper Mill Creek, stressed the need for robust specifications in stormwater management including a new rainfall table, and offered site tours. - Johnny Gott (speaking as employees of the GOT Company): Defended the 2004 memorandum of understanding (MOU), stating it memorialized his donation of nearly five acres (valued at the time at $600,000–$800,000, now $1.5–2 million) for the Lusby village green and his construction of Lusby Parkway, and that it retained 26 residential density units later applied to Lusby Villas. He said the MOU “has absolutely nothing to do with the actual development of the Lusby villas,” that eliminating it would only reduce Lusby Villas from 276 to 250 units and return the village green to him, and that a prior public commenter intentionally misrepresented the MOU. - Jeff Dixon (individual): Said spot zoning is illegal in Maryland when arbitrary, done solely for a private owner's benefit, and contrary to the comprehensive plan; called changing zoning for Amazon “immoral”; asked that both data center locations be reset to the original comprehensive plan; and urged a moratorium vote. - Jeanette Waisaki (individual): Praised the student safety committee and water quality presentations, asked why the county cannot take one to two years to study data center impacts as the student committee did, and urged a strengthened and longer moratorium plus a public advisory committee. - Stu Johnson (online; individual, St. Leonard): Praised the presentations, said Chesapeake Bay water quality trends move slowly and require working jointly with other Bay communities, and supported the moratorium. Commissioner Reports - Commissioner Grasso: Reported Calvert County received a 2026 AI award in the project category for its responsible approach to artificial intelligence; attended the Cove Point Park playground ribbon cutting and the North Beach VFD centennial gala; thanked staff for quickly clearing a pipe issue and downed tree at Breezy Point. - Commissioner Hart: Highlighted the new Cove Point Park playground, designed for children of all abilities at a cost of $1.3 million; praised the North Beach VFD centennial; declared he will support a moratorium “if it's two years, three years, five years, don't care”; and asked that the board place on a future agenda a process to remove data centers as an allowed use anywhere in Calvert County. - Commissioner Ireland: Attended the Cove Point Park ribbon cutting and the North Beach VFD centennial; promoted National Night Out. - Commissioner Cox: Asked for prayers for the Miller and Rawlings families; promoted National Night Out and the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department carnival. - Commissioner Hance: Praised Parks and Recreation staff and Bob Branham for their wide-ranging portfolio; said the student safety committee's work is “nowhere near done”; confirmed the meeting recording began at the invocation. Key Outcomes - Amended open agenda approved unanimously. - Closed-session summary for the July 28, 2026 closed meeting approved unanimously. - Planning Commission reappointments (Freeland as chair, Kernan as member) approved unanimously. - Six-item consent calendar approved unanimously. - Children's Cabinet Interagency Fund authorized-official designation approved unanimously. - Calvert County Public Schools FY 2026 year-end budget amendment approved unanimously ($1,000,000 from student services and $100,000 from instructional salaries/wages reallocated to student transportation and operational plant). - Main Street Maryland Connected Communities application for Prince Frederick approved unanimously. - Upper Mill Creek restoration approved in concept, contingent on outside funding and all approvals. - Master Plan of Town Centers Chapters 1 and 2 adopted with one dissenting vote; Chapter 3 (Dunkirk) adopted unanimously. - NECA Shore Erosion Control District ordinance enacted and public record closed. - Student Safety and Well-Being Advisory Committee final report approved; the committee was continued rather than disbanded, and the report will be published and presented to the Calvert County Board of Education. - Upcoming: public hearing on the proposed six-month data center moratorium and the consolidated public improvement bond resolution on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. (no vote was taken at this meeting). Amazon Data Services, Inc. formally withdrew its conceptual site development plan application on the evening of Monday, August 3, 2026. - The board adjourned following commissioner reports. Note: The raw transcript contains apparent transcription errors in several proper names (for example, “Commissioner Barrasso” for a commissioner and “Mr. Turner” for an unidentified participant). Where speaker attribution is unreliable, this summary uses generic descriptions.

The Calvert County Board of Commissioners met on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting included an invocation, pledge of allegiance, approval of the agenda, public service announcements, a ceremony for new deputies, two proclamations, a public hearing on 21 zoning text amendments, a consent agenda, old business, public comment, commissioner reports, and an executive session followed by a recess to a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Public Service Announcements - The Calvert County Health Department identified two cases of measles in Southern Maryland; vaccines are available. - National Night Out is scheduled for Tuesday, August 4, 2026; neighborhoods can still register. - The animal shelter is waiving adoption fees during the National Night Out campaign. - Property tax bills are expected to be mailed in the coming weeks. - Regarding the AWS project, the county has not received an official update; information will be shared when available. Ceremony - Sheriff Mark Cox introduced two new deputies: Ian Thurdy (transferred from St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, a Calvert County native) and Chris Blackenstone (retired PG firefighter, to serve as a School Resource Officer). Both took the oath of office. Proclamations 1. National Black Business Month – Julie Oberg, Director of Economic Development, presented the proclamation. Multiple Black-owned business owners introduced themselves and their businesses. The proclamation declared August 2025 (the text read August 2025, though the meeting date is July 28, 2026) as National Black Business Month in Calvert County, encouraging support for Black-owned businesses. 2. National Night Out – Candy Diagostino, coordinator of the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse, presented the proclamation. Representatives from participating neighborhoods, law enforcement, fire/EMS, and community agencies spoke. The proclamation declared August 4, 2026, as National Night Out in Calvert County, emphasizing police-community partnerships and crime prevention. Public Hearing on Zoning Text Amendments Jason Brinkley, Director of Planning & Zoning, presented 21 text amendments (TA 26-01 through 26-06, 26-08 through 26-19, 26-21, 26-22, and 26-24). Each amendment was introduced, and public comment was invited. Key amendments and actions: - TA 26-01 (Forest conservation – state mandate): Adopted as presented. Staff noted Maryland’s Senate Bill 526 requires one acre of reforestation for every acre cleared. Commissioner Hart expressed intent to explore additional local protections with DNR. Public comment: Patrick Flaherty criticized the board for not addressing data center rules; Megan Farringer requested clarity on reforestation location. - TA 26-02 (Exempt county and Board of Education lands from zoning unless state/federal law requires): Adopted as presented. Discussion centered on fairness to private developers. - TA 26-03 (Tenant houses reclassified as accessory dwellings): Adopted. - TA 26-04 (Accessory dwelling parking waiver per state law): Adopted. - TA 26-05 (Retail accessory use in light industrial/mixed-use districts): Adopted. Staff noted it replaces the removed “flex space” use with a 25% cap and adequate parking requirements. - TA 26-06 (Remove harbor line provisions from county ordinance): Adopted. Harbor lines are under federal/state jurisdiction. - TA 26-08 (Sign regulations – home occupation signs and electronic message center setbacks): Adopted. Setback measured from residential dwelling instead of property line. - TA 26-09 (Sidewalk exemptions in I-1/I-2 districts): Adopted. - TA 26-10 (Bike rack requirements only in town centers): Adopted. - TA 26-11 (Setback reductions for non-residential development in commercial/industrial districts): Adopted with amendment to strike I-2 (heavy industrial) from the list of eligible districts. - TA 26-12 (Remove additional setback requirements for auto filling stations and repair shops): Adopted. Staff said current setbacks were overly restrictive compared to other counties. - TA 26-13 (Buffer requirements – 40-foot buffer limited to solar and commercial power facilities): Adopted with amendment to exclude heavy industrial districts (I-2). Public comment: One online caller attempted to speak but did not unmute. - TA 26-14 (Replace “gross floor area” with “includes space” for residential accessory structures): Not adopted (motion to disapprove passed). Concern that counting garages as living space could limit housing options. - TA 26-15 (Manufactured home conditions – alignment with state ADU law, remove wall appearance requirement): Adopted. - TA 26-16 (Food trucks prohibited in public rights-of-way, except at events): Adopted. - TA 26-17 (Definition of personal services – replace “health club” with “personal fitness training services”): Adopted. - TA 26-18 (Restore 5,000 sq ft limit for offices in St. Leonard Town Center): Adopted. - TA 26-19 (Plat signature requirements): Adopted. - TA 26-21 (Agritourism/ecotourism structures – site plan threshold raised from 5,000 to 10,000 sq ft, unless directed otherwise by Planning & Zoning): Adopted with amendment. Discussion noted that 5,000 sq ft triggers state stormwater management, but raising the threshold reduces the burden of a full site plan. - TA 26-22 (Dispensary setback – 100 feet from residential, rural, waterfront, and farm/forest districts): Adopted. Staff stated this is the maximum allowed by state law. - TA 26-24 (Family conveyance lots – up to two per eligible parcel for a limited time): Adopted with amendment extending the sunset from two years to five years after adoption. The record was closed for each amendment voted on. Adopted amendments become effective 10 days after this meeting. Consent Calendar All four items were approved unanimously: 1. Department of Public Works: USGS Joint Funding Agreement. 2. Department of Community Resources: ADA Personal Care Attendant Policy. 3. Department of Economic Development: Small Business Development Center MOU for FY2027. 4. Department of Finance & Budget: Certificate of Manual Signature for Board President 2026 Bond Sale. Old Business - Marley Run Recreation Area Buffer: Staff requested administrative clarification after a July 21, 2026, vote. The board voted to reconsider that vote and then affirmed that Resolution 3-9-2 remains in effect without amendments, meaning no changes to the park buffer. Public Comments & Testimony - Patrick Flaherty (speaking for The Silent Majority) criticized board dysfunction, personal attacks, and unprofessional conduct; thanked Commissioner Hance for his dignified presence at past ceremonies. - Judy Peterson (individual, at-large Democratic candidate) urged the board to pass a data center moratorium and restore public trust, citing a Gallup poll showing 70% of Americans oppose data centers. - Kyle Russell (Commodore, Solomon’s Island Model Boat Club) alleged discrimination and retaliation by county employees, including false statements and a trespass order; requested investigation and accountability. - Jeff Dixon (individual) referenced Loudoun County, Virginia’s 6-1 vote on July 22, 2026, to explore a data center moratorium, urging Calvert County to follow suit. - Leela Sheeline (individual) criticized Commissioners Hart and Grasso for not providing moratorium language, and requested the board use language proposed by Patrick Flaherty for a six-month moratorium on all data center applications. - Johnny Guy (speaking for employees of Guy Company) corrected misinformation about the Lusby Villas project, stating it is market-rate housing, not low-income or Section 8, and is consistent with the Lusby Town Center Master Plan. - Bob Estus (Friends of Hunting Creek) commented on text amendments, expressing concern about solar farms and stormwater, forest conservation enforcement, and noise from auto repair shops; praised the board’s overall work. - Online speaker (last four digits 4164, speaking for The Silent Majority) defended the “good old boy system” for building Calvert County, criticized the push against data centers, and questioned future tax revenue sources. Commissioner Reports - Commissioner Hart asked about the date for the data center moratorium vote; County Administrator Linda Turner confirmed it is scheduled for August 18, 2026. He then attempted to ask about the AWS permit status but was advised that commissioner reports are not for Q&A. - Commissioner Grasso announced a new collision business (Thompson Collision) in Sunderland and the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department’s 100-year gala. - Commissioner Cox offered condolences to the Brady family and noted the celebration of life for Smokey Ward. - Commissioner Ireland had no further comments. Key Outcomes - 21 text amendments were considered; 20 were adopted (with amendments on TA 26-11, 26-13, 26-21, 26-24), and TA 26-14 was not adopted. - Consent agenda approved unanimously. - Marley Run buffer: Resolution 3-9-2 reaffirmed without amendments. - Data center moratorium: Public hearing scheduled for August 18, 2026. - Executive session: The board voted to close the meeting to discuss personnel matters, then recess to the 3:00 p.m. ribbon cutting at Cove Point Park Playground, after which the meeting would adjourn.

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners met on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, for its regular meeting, with agenda times scheduled from 10:00 a.m. to about 2:00 p.m. The board approved routine items, heard two public hearings, directed staff to draft a six-month data center moratorium, and received extensive public comment on data centers and other county issues. Opening & Announcements - Pastor William Patton of Calvert Lighthouse Church gave the invocation. - The board approved the open agenda and the closed-session summary for the July 7, 2026 closed session. - The county recognized recent deaths of Kevin Wells, Dorothy Du Bois Swan, William C. “Smokey” Ward Jr., and Michael Seneco, and announced the Thomas Johnson Bridge remains safe for travel after SHA inspection. - Commissioner Hance apologized for responding inappropriately when asked about a 2025 event, stating that after reflection he was in fact at the event. - A shelter employee presented Coco, an 11-year-old dog available for adoption. Proclamation - The board proclaimed July 16–27, 2026 as Buy Local Week in Calvert County, encouraging residents to consume one Maryland-grown product daily. County officials, farmers, and producers spoke in support of local agriculture, watermen, and agritourism. Consent Calendar - The board approved all five consent agenda items with no opposition: 1. Governor’s Office for Children FY2027 Children’s Cabinet Interagency Fund and ENOUGH Capacity Building Grant application. 2. Public Works Waterman’s Wharf slip agreements. 3. Planning & Zoning 2026 Calvert County Annual Report to the Maryland Department of Planning. 4. Community Resources Calvert County Health Department Core Funding Agreement. 5. Public Safety Federal FY2026 Emergency Management Performance Grant application. New Business - Planning & Zoning staff presented a proposed twinning relationship between Brooms Island, Calvert County, and Broome Island, Leicestershire, England, focused on cultural and educational exchange. Staff reported positive community interest from the Brooms Island Civic League. The board approved a motion to acknowledge the proposal, transmit the letter, evaluate further, and report back. Old Business - The board closed the record and repealed/re-enacted Resolution 03-92 as it applies to the Marley Run Recreation Area buffer change in condition number nine. Staff explained the action reverts the buffer to the prior condition; no new changes were made. The motion carried. Public Hearing: Master Plan of Town Centers - Planning & Zoning presented three draft chapters: Chapter 1 (Town Centers), Chapter 2 (Prince Frederick Town Center), and Chapter 3 (Dunkirk Town Center). The Prince Frederick plan had earlier been remanded to the Planning Commission, which found the proposed edge commercial subdistrict consistent with the Comprehensive Plan on March 18, 2026. - Dunkirk highlights included proposed expansion areas limited to county-owned parcels (Maryland Transit Administration Dunkirk Park and Ride and Dunkirk District Park), 48% impervious surface, 24% tree canopy, 10 historic sites, about seven vacant parcels mostly smaller than 10 acres, and limited sewer capacity. Census data for the Dunkirk area showed 99% homeownership, median home value about $560,000, median monthly mortgage about $2,800, and rents from $1,700 to $3,200, with affordability pressures at 30%, 50%, and 80% of area median income. - Commissioners discussed the Prince Frederick employment center transition of roughly 150 acres, about 50 usable, with one commissioner saying he was still not for the expansion and had traffic concerns. Staff said detailed zoning would follow the plan and could be shaped later. No written comments had been received for the hearing. - One speaker, Jennifer Davidson, asked the county to consider a county-funded adult daycare center in one of the parcels. - The board voted 4-1 to keep the record open and return the matter on August 4, 2026, consistent with the required 10-day deferral period. Public Hearing: Neeld Estate Shore Erosion Control District - The Calvert Soil Conservation District reported that the Neeld Estate Citizens’ Association petitioned to create a shore erosion control district for a third headland breakwater. The county would be the borrower on a 20-year, 0% interest DNR loan, repaid by a levy on 118 residential dwellings at $335.47 per assessed residence, with no direct general fund repayment cost. About 83% of residents signed the petition. Nine emails had been received: seven in favor and two against. No public speakers signed up. - The board directed staff to leave the record open until July 31, 2026, and placed the approval/denial decision on the August 4, 2026 agenda. The motion carried. Work Session: Data Center Moratorium and AWS Status - Planning & Zoning Director Jason Brinkley explained the legal process for a moratorium: an ordinance stating justification, duration, and scope; two weekly newspaper notices with the first at least 14 days before a public hearing; and effectiveness no earlier than 10 days after approval. - The board directed staff to draft a moratorium ordinance, set a public hearing at the earliest convenience, and temporarily suspend approval of data center site plans for six months while the county reviews data center and heavy industrial regulations and performs needed studies. - Director Brinkley provided an AWS concept plan update: the county issued about 20 pages of comments the prior Monday; the plan did not meet basic stormwater management requirements, so a full concept review could not be completed. AWS may resubmit immediately or within two years, and no resubmission had been received. He also said Natalie had submitted nothing. Public Comments & Testimony - Patrick Flaherty urged an immediate six-month moratorium, read draft moratorium language, accused the board of betraying public trust, and cited other Maryland counties that have slowed or stopped data centers. - Michael Block, a St. Leonard resident, raised infrasound health concerns and argued the industry standard cited does not cover infrasound; he recommended at least a one-year moratorium. - Nancy Alwine said Constellation “bent the rules” to get forest/farmland rezoned heavy industrial and requested a moratorium, citing over 10,000 petition signatures. - Carl Elwine, speaking for the Camp Conoy neighborhood, blamed Constellation corporate leadership, not local plant officials, for the comprehensive plan change and opposed heavy industrial zoning. - William Goodman supported the moratorium as a way to reduce “unknown unknowns” and called for accounting for environmental losses. - Lynn Zouza, with Concerned Citizens of Calvert, compared the board to King George, said three commissioners lost their elections over the issue, and raised the possibility of lawsuits. - Roger Shipley, a Lusby resident, expressed disappointment that the board was still discussing process rather than acting, and said he expected further disappointment in August. - Patty Steckler, a North Beach resident and commissioner-at-large candidate, thanked the board for the moratorium direction, predicted the August 18 vote would pass, and thanked Commissioner Hance for his apology. - David Huther, a county resident, quoted an AWS representative’s tax revenue comparison and asked the board to disclose expected revenue and whether it would offset existing residents’ taxes; he said he personally considers data centers efficient revenue generators but wants details. - Myra Gowan, with Calvert Citizens United, criticized a proposed 276-unit apartment project on Johnny Gott’s property, alleging an altered memorandum of understanding and questioning Commissioner Ireland’s participation. - Sherry Verden thanked the board for the Marley Run decision and Commissioner Hance’s apology, linked water/sewer rate history to the AWS timeline, and asked the board to release an alleged email to Mr. Natalie. - Kyle Russell, Commodore of the Solomon’s Island Model Boat Club, alleged ADA violations, retaliation, and discriminatory statements by museum leadership, and asked for immediate suspension pending termination of the director and deputy director plus restoration of his access. - Jeff Dixon celebrated 10,000 petition signatures, cited pollution from Canadian wildfire smoke, and proposed a five-mile sound-barrier radius, Tier 4 generators, a 70-foot sound wall, and a moratorium. - Kat Decker said data center infrastructure is already moving forward with modular trailers and a tenant substation at Calvert Cliffs, called it a “foot-in-the-door” strategy, and urged impact studies before permits. - Vivek Ravi, with the Center for Engagement, Environmental Justice and Health Impact Communities, cited CDC environmental justice data showing 9,785 Calvert residents (10.5% of the county) live in the most burdened zones and asked that the moratorium include environmental justice assessments. - Joe Young, a virtual speaker from Owings, supported the moratorium and said the board represents voters, not wealthy investors. - Andrew Furman, with White Sands Community Action Organization, urged the board to evaluate and formally decertify emergency evacuation scenario/model 14, arguing it could route south-county residents near the nuclear plant during an emergency if the Thomas Johnson Bridge is closed; he also opposed adding industrial load without a replacement bridge. Commissioners Reports - Commissioner Hart called the moratorium direction “a good start,” favored moving to a two-year study period, thanked petition organizers for more than 10,000 signatures, and offered condolences. - Commissioner Hance encouraged residents to support local farmers markets and watermen throughout the summer. - Commissioner Grasso announced North Beach Volunteer Fire Department’s 100th anniversary in August, reported on local events, and thanked constituents. - The board adjourned by voice vote. Key Outcomes - Approved the agenda and July 7, 2026 closed-session summary. - Proclaimed Buy Local Week July 16–27, 2026. - Approved five consent agenda items. - Approved the Brooms Island/Broome Island twinning proposal and directed further evaluation. - Closed the record and approved the Marley Run buffer amendment resolution reverting condition nine. - Continued the Town Center Master Plan public hearing to August 4, 2026 with the record open, by a 4-1 vote. - Directed the Neeld Estate SECD record to remain open through July 31, 2026, with a decision set for August 4, 2026. - Directed staff to draft a data center moratorium ordinance for a public hearing and to temporarily suspend data center site-plan approvals for six months. - Acknowledged AWS’s concept plan was returned for stormwater deficiencies and noted no resubmission or Natalie submission was pending.

The Calvert County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) held its regular meeting on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, at 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, Maryland, beginning at approximately 10:00 a.m. The agenda was amended at the start of the meeting to add an environmental concern (a sunken vessel in Back Creek, Solomons) under new business. The meeting included a citation for the Northern High School softball state champions, a proclamation for National Parks and Recreation Month, approval of a consent calendar, approval of the first-ever Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) collective bargaining agreement for the Sheriff's Office, a work session on updated Agricultural Preservation Rules and Regulations, extensive public comment on data centers, and a board consensus to place a data center discussion on the July 21 agenda. The board then moved into closed executive session. Opening & Public Service Announcements - The meeting opened with an invocation by Pastor Ron Curry of New Creation Bible Church in St. Leonard, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. - The agenda was approved as amended (with the addition of the Back Creek sunken vessel item under new business) by voice vote. - Commissioners thanked county DPW crews, Parks and Recreation staff, and SMECO for storm cleanup and restoration following the prior Saturday's extreme weather; tree cleanup costs from the county side were estimated at roughly $500,000, not including state efforts. - Kat Poff of Technology Services was congratulated on receiving the CISO Orby Award for leadership in cybersecurity. - The Grab and Go Summer Meals program was announced: meal kits distributed weekly on Wednesdays through August 5, each kit containing five breakfasts, five lunches, and milk, at Huntingtown High School and Southern Middle School (9:30–10:30 a.m.) and Calvert High School (12:30–1:30 p.m.), open to eligible children ages 2–18 (contact the Child Nutrition Office at 443-550-8680). - A 12-minute Parks and Recreation reaccreditation video was shown, highlighting the county's 213-square-mile footprint, population of nearly 95,000, and the department's $14.6 million annual operating budget, 189–190 full-time equivalents, 19 parks, six community centers, nine special-use facilities, and 22 school recreation locations totaling 2,293.53 acres. - Animal of the Week: "Coconut," a roughly 10-week-old kitten (spayed, vaccinated, microchipped); adoption fees are waived if adopted before the next meeting. Citation & Proclamation - A citation was presented to the Northern High School girls' softball team for winning the 2026 MPSSAA Class A state championship; head coach Vince Gregory, Coach Cliff Donaldson, and Athletic Activities Director Stacey Karseski introduced the team. Special recognition was extended to Shauna Dupins, Matty Jewett, and Natalie White. - Commissioner Hance read a proclamation declaring July as National Parks and Recreation Month in Calvert County, with the 2026 theme "The Power of Parks and Recreation." Parks and Recreation Director Bob Brandon and department staff accepted; the director noted the department had grown to 190 FTEs and roughly 542 employees at peak season. Consent Calendar - Item 3 (added by amendment on 7/6/2026): Department of Public Works resolution for tree debris disposal from the extreme weather event; approved by voice vote. - Items 1 and 2: Transferable Development Rights (TDR) Reserve conveyances to Mr. and Mrs. Halley and to Ms. Rothera, Ms. McCanless, and Ms. Yeats. Planning and Zoning Director Jason Brinkley explained that the first involves a single lot being split into two, where the second dwelling requires five TDRs, and the second is a two-lot subdivision with one existing dwelling and one planned single-family residence (so only one new residence total across both items). Commissioner Grasso's prior questions were resolved. Both items were approved unanimously by voice vote. New Business - Fiscal Year 2027 Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Collective Bargaining Agreement: County Administrator Linda Turner presented the first FOP agreement, made possible by Maryland Senate Bill 767 (effective October 1), which granted full-time deputy sheriffs and correctional deputies through the rank of major the right to collective bargaining. The negotiated agreement sets the starting deputy salary at $70,000, using Maryland State Police, Charles County, and St. Mary's County as comparables, bringing Calvert in line with surrounding jurisdictions. Sheriff Cox highlighted fixes for line-of-duty death benefits (families kept on COBRA insurance) and allowing injured deputies to remain in the retirement system; four items (retirement, one-call pay, Section 115 trust, and a property tax credit) will continue to be negotiated in FY27 for FY28. Current Sheriff's Office staffing is 171 deputies, with four vacancies and five recruits in the eight-month academy. One commissioner and the county attorney recused themselves from this item. The board approved the agreement and authorized the board president to execute all necessary documents; a ceremonial signing followed. - Back Creek Sunken Vessel Removal (added by amendment during the meeting): The board discussed a roughly 40-foot cruiser-style boat sunk in Back Creek in Solomons, adjacent to the Lower Oyster House, which remains full of fuel and oil, is still leaking, and has not been mitigated. A motion carried to work with the state and, if needed, locally to remove and dispose of the vessel, using up to $2,500 from the contingency fund and waiving landfill fees. Work Session: Agricultural Preservation Rules & Regulations - Planning and Zoning staff (Director Jason Brinkley and Planner Jennifer David) presented the 2026 draft update to the Agricultural Preservation Rules and Regulations, the first comprehensive update since the program began in 1978, in anticipation of lifting the moratorium on new Agricultural Preservation District (APD) creation. Three board members disclosed family interests in TDRs; they stated they would sit and vote because recusal of all three would eliminate the quorum. - Key proposed changes: removal of the sealed boundary survey requirement at application time (a boundary survey, recorded plat, or deed plot is now acceptable); a 10% reduction in certified TDRs for APDs initially recorded by deed plot without the benefit of a recorded plat or sealed boundary survey; an increased incentive of up to an additional $500 per TDR (up from $200) for first-time sellers who incurred the cost of a boundary survey at APD recording; clarification that TDRs cannot be certified on acreage encumbered by state or other restrictive easements; and revisions aligning tenant houses with state law (HB 1466) and proposed text amendment 26-03, treating tenant houses as accessory dwellings (maximum 1,500 square feet) that do not count against permitted APD density. - Staff proposed removing detailed agritourism criteria from the regulations in favor of a more flexible departmental policy for public and private events, developed with input from agritourism businesses. - On family conveyance, staff stated the current draft does not change treatment of family conveyance lots versus the prior draft; a separate zoning text amendment with a public hearing in about three weeks recommends increasing the limit from one to two family conveyance lots. - A motion to schedule a public hearing was made, but the county attorney advised that motions are not proper in a work session; the board instead gave consensus direction to schedule a public hearing (following legal review) on the revised rules and regulations. Public Comments & Testimony Roughly 20 speakers addressed the board, the overwhelming majority focused on data center development and calling for a moratorium. Speakers and positions included: - Joe Marie Coster (individual): cited other Maryland jurisdictions' actions against data centers (Charles County Planning Commission unanimously recommending denial of revised data center zoning; Baltimore County suspending permits; Carroll and Queen Anne's counties approving one-year moratoriums; Howard County adopting a temporary ban; measures in Prince George's, Montgomery, and Frederick counties) and warned of $70-per-month electric bill increases and rolling blackouts; demanded a complete stop to data center discussions and called the board's handling "unethical." - Andrew Furman (representing Calvert Citizens for Student Safety and Responsible Development): raised evacuation and public safety concerns regarding the Governor Johnson Bridge (rated "fair," 26-foot-wide, shoulderless, load-restricted, with scour and rust issues), which is mapped as the southern evacuation route in Maryland Emergency Operations Plan Annex Q; alleged defective evacuation time estimates and federal compliance violations, and urged the board not to issue permits in Lusby. - Roxanne Furman (Lusby resident): argued the board committed ultra vires (exceeding legal authority) in rezoning, referenced Maryland Public Safety Code Section 14-107 and land use code Section 4-201, and urged no building permits before a certified evacuation route exists. - Patrick Flaherty (Lusby citizen): cited the Declaration of Independence and said the June 23 primary's removal of three commissioners was the voters' message; asked the board to adopt a draft resolution pausing data centers for six months. - Jeanette Wisaki (individual): raised conflict-of-interest questions (Commissioner Cox's wife works for Constellation Energy) and read an internal Constellation email from Plant Manager Jeremy Searer postponing a presentation to the BOCC from July 7 to July 21. - Kathy Decker (representing Garden Way community residents in Lusby): called the halt of text amendment work "a calculated gift to industrial developers"; raised health concerns about diesel generator emissions (PM 2.5 and nitrogen oxides); and challenged a sole-source contract signed May 25, 2026, before its June 12, 2026 justification, asserting procurement integrity violations. - Pam Werner (representing Indivisible Calvert County): said the anti-data-center petition has about 10,000 signatures; noted that at the June 16 meeting the planning director said draft text amendments would be ready July 7; criticized the absence of data center items on the agenda and called it a "dereliction of your oath of office"; demanded a moratorium. - Patty Stuckler (individual, candidate for commissioner at large): appealed for a six-month moratorium so the new board can decide. - Nancy Elwine (representing Citizens for Calvert): cited the county Environmental Commission's recommendation for a moratorium and requested a two-year moratorium; quoted Commissioner Hance's June 9 statements that he would "never allow" a data center if it would do what the Environmental Commission described. - Carl Elwine (representing residents of Camp Kanoy Road): said Constellation has lost public trust by lobbying planning and zoning staff behind closed doors; asked Constellation to meet with neighbors and present zoning changes at public meetings. - Jeff Dixon (representing the Chess Peak Ranch Club neighborhood, Lusby): thanked SMECO and the Sheriff's Office; criticized bare-bones zoning maps that show no neighborhoods; noted Lusby's population is approximately 2,595 over 3.5 square miles; called for a moratorium or total ban, saying "our lives and future matter." - Leonard Zouza (Solomons, representing Concerned Citizens of Calvert): said the June 23 primary sent three messages (transparency, public forums, and slowing the process); cited a $3 billion, 450-megawatt data center example in Spartanburg, South Carolina; warned of lawsuits and legal costs. - Andrea Smith (Chesapeake Beach, individual): asked the Sheriff's Office to ensure de-escalation training for First Friday officers; noted Chesapeake Beach Town Council is reviewing O-26-14, an ordinance enacting a total ban on data centers (vote July 16, adoption late August); requested an immediate two-year moratorium as the "bare minimum." - Teresa Wheeler (Long Beach, St. Leonard, individual): cited the petition at over 9,700 signatures and expressed fear about what would be left for grandchildren if data centers are built. - Lily Sheeline (individual): questioned the public hearing process and the pause on data center text amendment work; the county administrator offered to follow up. - Alison Sigler (individual): said she came expecting proposed moratorium language that was not on the agenda and asked why. - Sherry Burden (representing the Marley Run HOA board of directors): described 7 hours 50 minutes of calls with Commissioner Grasso; raised water/sewer enterprise fund and tiered-rate concerns affecting roughly 4,600 residential consumers, including reported $2.5 million hospital and $800,000 car wash water EDU bills; asked the board to explain what is paused and what continues. - James McQueen (citizen, Lusby): said Lusby has about 23,000 people and noted Text Amendment 26-23 was discussed but never presented to Lusby residents; argued the board is not following policy. - Kenneth Lee (Huntingtown, individual, incoming board member): said he will be on the next board and asked for a six-month moratorium so the new board can take up the issue. Commissioner Reports & Moratorium Discussion - Commissioner Grasso congratulated Kat Poff on the 2026 Capital CISO Corporate Orby Award (nominated by Maryland CISO James Saunders), mentioned attendance at Solomons events, and said she hoped Commissioner Hart would make a moratorium motion. - Commissioner Hance said the election outcome is clear and that the data center projects are "dead"; he expressed skepticism about the Environmental Commission's claims of environmental harm, cited farms remaining viable in Loudoun County, Virginia, despite data centers, and criticized anonymous social media attacks on county staff, urging the incoming board to evaluate staff carefully. - Commissioner Hart said the situation was "self-inflicted," emphasized that safety comes first, and made a motion for a six-month moratorium on all data center applications to the fullest extent permitted by law, to preserve the status quo while the county drafts and considers adequate permanent regulations. Commissioner Grasso seconded. - Commissioner Ireland (per the transcript) noted Open Meetings Act concerns about a motion on an item not on the agenda, recalled that the moratorium and text amendments were voted down at the June 16, 2026 meeting, and said the item must be properly placed on the agenda. The consensus was to place a data center discussion (moratorium, ban, or text amendments) on the July 21, 2026 agenda, with a formal two-week advertising period required before any public hearing and vote. - Commissioner Cox discussed the comprehensive plan's "walkable, sustainable communities" framework that moved density from farms to town centers, offered condolences to families who lost loved ones, thanked storm and fireworks responders, and noted an estimated $1 million in combined fireworks and storm costs for the weekend. Key Outcomes - Agenda approved as amended (sunken vessel item added). - Consent calendar approved: two TDR Reserve conveyances and the tree debris disposal resolution. - FY2027 FOP collective bargaining agreement approved; board president authorized to execute; ceremonial signing held. - Removal and disposal of the Back Creek sunken vessel approved, using up to $2,500 from the contingency fund with landfill fees waived. - Consensus to schedule a public hearing (after legal review) on the updated Agricultural Preservation Rules and Regulations. - Consensus to place a data center discussion on the July 21, 2026 agenda, followed by the legally required two-week advertising period before a public hearing on a moratorium or related action. - The board voted to move into executive session (closed to the public) to discuss employment matters and acquisition of real property for a public purpose; the meeting adjourned directly from executive session with no return to open session.

The Calvert County Board of Appeals met on Thursday, July 2, 2026, to hear three cases: a special exception and variance for a proposed Wawa filling station (BOA2026-0007), a critical area and general variance for a detached garage (BOA2026-0013), and a critical area variance for a home addition (BOA2026-0015). The meeting was held in a hybrid format at the Chesapeake Hearing Room in Prince Frederick, beginning at 9:00 a.m. The board also addressed administrative updates and public comment. Public Comments & Testimony - Case BOA2026-0007: A letter from Don McDougall raised concerns about traffic congestion, pedestrian safety, and the impact of 2,000–2,500 daily vehicles on HG Trueman Road. Steve Oberg, representing neighboring property LPJ LLC, argued the applicant had not met the burden of proof for the special exception, particularly regarding congestion, and that the variance was self-imposed. Johnny Gott, owner of the existing Fastop station, testified that a Wawa would draw significant traffic off Route 4 onto the service road, increasing congestion and altering the character of Solomons. He also noted that neighboring parcels may be under common ownership, questioning the need for a variance. - Case BOA2026-0013: A letter of support from neighbor Matt King was submitted. Angela and William Stickle testified to the family need for space to care for Angela's mother, who has cognitive and physical disabilities. They described property constraints including an existing pool, septic drain fields, and critical area boundaries. - Case BOA2026-0015: No public comments were received. The applicant, John and Patricia Wahl, were represented by Jeff Toole, who noted the Scientist Cliffs Homeowners Association had approved the project. Discussion Items - Case BOA2026-0007 – Anthony Olekson of COA Barrett, LLC, for Handin Solomons LLC: The applicant sought a special exception for an automobile filling station and a general variance to reduce the front setback from 100 ft to 60 ft for the canopy. The property is in the Town Center District (D1 sub-area). Engineer Anthony Olekson explained that the lot has an irregular shape, an existing concrete pad, and a combined state right-of-way for MD 2/4 and HG Trueman Road. The canopy would be set back 142 ft from the edge of pavement of Route 4. A traffic study would be required at the detailed site plan stage. Board members expressed concern about traffic congestion, noting the criteria require evidence that the use "will not create congestion." Attorney Mark Davis argued the board could condition approval on future site plan and traffic study approvals. After deliberation, the board voted to reopen the record and table the case for at least 90 days pending the submission of a traffic study. - Case BOA2026-0013 – Angela Stickle: The applicant requested a critical area variance for 576 sq. ft. of steep slope impacts, a general variance to reduce the front setback from 35 ft to 10 ft, and a general variance to eliminate the 10 ft steep slope setback, to construct a 24 ft x 24 ft detached garage. The property is in the Waterfront Community District/Critical Area – Limited Development Area. The board found that the lot's slopes and existing septic and drain field locations created peculiar hardships. The variances were granted unanimously with conditions to complete the county permitting and inspection process and to provide required mitigation for steep slope impacts. - Case BOA2026-0015 – John and Patricia Wahl: The applicant requested a critical area variance for 1,590 sq. ft. of impacts to steep slopes and the expanded buffer for a 385 sq. ft. attached addition. The lot in Scientists Cliffs is entirely over 15% slopes. The board found that the small addition was the minimum adjustment needed, would not harm the environment (with sediment control and upgraded septic), and that the hardship was due to site topography, not applicant actions. The variance was granted unanimously, subject to successful completion of county permitting. Key Outcomes - Case BOA2026-0007: The record was reopened, and the case was tabled for 90 days pending the applicant's submission of a traffic study. The board will revisit the special exception and variance after the study is reviewed. - Case BOA2026-0013: All three variances (critical area and two general variances) were granted unanimously. The applicant must comply with mitigation requirements for steep slope disturbance. - Case BOA2026-0015: The critical area variance was granted unanimously. The applicant must complete the Calvert County permitting and inspection process and implement sediment controls. - Administrative Session: The board noted that the Lesby Villas case (C-04-CV-26-000112) is scheduled for an administrative hearing on September 8, 2026. The update on rules of procedure was postponed to July 21, 2026.

The Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County convened a special meeting on Monday, June 29, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. The sole purpose of the meeting was to hold an executive session pursuant to General Provisions Article Section 3-305(b)(1)(i) to discuss the appointment of a candidate for an unspecified position. However, before the session could begin, the board was informed that the candidate had withdrawn. Consequently, no executive session was held, and the board voted unanimously to adjourn without any further business. Key Outcomes - The board voted unanimously (4 ayes, 0 nays) to adjourn the special meeting immediately, with no discussion or action taken on any item.

The Calvert County Planning Commission held a hybrid regular meeting on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, convening at 7:00 p.m. in the Chesapeake Room of the County Administration Building in Prince Frederick and virtually via Teams. Chairman Wilson Freeland presided, and all seven commissioners were present, confirming a quorum. The commission waived the Pledge of Allegiance, unanimously adopted the proposed agenda, and unanimously approved the Summary of Actions from the May 20, 2026 regular meeting. No items were listed for final subdivision review, site plan review, or preliminary subdivision review. (Meeting minutes were not available in the source materials.) Consent Calendar - Proposed agenda adopted unanimously. - Summary of Actions for the May 20, 2026 Planning Commission regular meeting approved unanimously. - No major subdivision final reviews, site plan reviews, or preliminary subdivision applications were scheduled (agenda items 6–8). Discussion Items MSDFP-138189, Old Anchor Farm – Request to Remove Intra-Family Designation - Deferred from the May 20, 2026 meeting. Staff Planner Jay Cousineau presented a revised report confirming the two lots at issue as Lot 3 (1970 Old Anchor Road, developed with a house) and Lot 4 (1980 Old Anchor Road, undeveloped). - Staff explained that the intra-family designation provided bonus density permitted in the Critical Area; the five-lot subdivision was recorded in 2021; and, absent action, the intra-family covenants would expire automatically after seven years, in 2028. Approving the request would accelerate that removal by about two years, and the applicant would still be required to purchase five TDRs or pay the equivalent to the purchase-and-retire fund. Staff also confirmed there is no agricultural easement on the property. - Property owner Randy Williams stated he purchased the property in 2017 and spent three years completing the subdivision. He described changed family circumstances: his youngest daughter relocated to Western Maryland for work, his oldest daughter is separated and financially burdened by maintaining two households, and his son, who had prepared architectural drawings, no longer plans to build because his sisters have moved away. - One commissioner expressed the position that Lot 3 clearly meets the qualifying change-of-circumstances criteria (declining health, military or professional transfer, divorce, death, or other consistent circumstances), but Lot 4 does not qualify because it is unoccupied and has no structure. - Chairman Freeland asked hypothetically about recombining the five lots into the original parcel. Planning & Zoning Director Jason Brinkley responded that a replat would require agreement of all property owners and would be a months-long process. - A commissioner moved to approve removal of the intra-family designation for both Lots 3 and 4, subject to staff-recommended conditions. The motion carried; Commissioner Gadway voted no. Draft 2026 Maryland Department of Planning Annual Report - Long Range Planner Tay Harris presented the annual report required by Title 1-207 of the Land Use Article of the Maryland Annotated Code. The report must be filed with the Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) by July 1 and made available to the Board of County Commissioners; it covers calendar year 2025. - Residential permits: 118 issued, 66 inside the Priority Funding Area (PFA) and 52 outside. - Approved subdivisions: 15 total, 10 outside the PFA and 5 inside. Approved site plans: 16 total per the report’s summary; a slide break-out counts 12 inside and 5 outside the PFA, a 17-plan total that is not reconciled in the source materials. - Capital improvements: 49 projects; 24 appear on the map because they have specific addresses, with the rest countywide or located within town centers. - Development capacity: 7,265 residentially zoned acres with capacity (890 inside the PFA, 6,375 outside); potential for 1,151 lots/parcels (352 inside, 799 outside); and potential for 4,861 residential units (2,010 inside, 2,851 outside). - Agricultural preservation: no transactions in 2025. The county goal is 40,000 preserved acres, representing 28.6% of the county’s land mass; 32,807 acres are currently preserved, 82% of the goal. The Calvert County Agricultural Preservation District Program alone has preserved 24,274 acres. - Adequate public facilities deferments: none in 2025. - New this year, the report includes excise tax reporting (Section 7): total excise taxes collected were $528,156 for transportation, schools, residential solid waste, commercial solid waste, and recreation; the county budget allocates $4.7 million from excise taxes. - A commissioner moved to approve the report as presented and direct staff to forward it to MDP and the Board of County Commissioners, with draft letters to Todd Ireland, President of the Board of County Commissioners, and Rebecca Flora, Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning. The motion carried unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public spoke during the public comment period, in person, by phone, or virtually. Key Outcomes - Agenda and May 20, 2026 Summary of Actions approved unanimously. - MSDFP-138189 (Old Anchor Farm) approved: removal of the intra-family designation for Lots 3 and 4, subject to staff-recommended conditions; one dissenting vote (Commissioner Gadway). - 2026 Maryland Department of Planning Annual Report approved as presented; staff directed to transmit it to MDP and the Board of County Commissioners. - Meeting adjourned by unanimous consent with no further business.

The Calvert County Planning Commission held a public hearing on June 17, 2026, to consider a package of 20 text amendments (TA 26-01 through 26-06, 26-08 through 26-19, 26-21, 26-22, and 26-24) to the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance. The amendments addressed updates required by state law, clarifications, and policy adjustments. The commission voted to recommend adoption of 18 amendments, recommended non-adoption of one (TA 26-16), and adopted one with a modification (TA 26-13). Public comment was received at the end of the hearing regarding data center impacts. Public Comments & Testimony - Leonard Zouza, speaking on behalf of Concerned Citizens of Calvert, commended the commission for working with the Environmental Commission to assess environmental risks from data centers. He raised concerns about financial and reliability threats: increasing power demand from data centers exceeding supply, leading to higher electricity costs (citing 15-20% increases in Maryland and 22% in Virginia from PJM); potential grid reliability issues and blackouts as early as 2027; and the risk that Tier 4 generators could run more often under federal orders, increasing local air pollution. He urged the commission to continue supporting environmental assessments and to provide information to the Board of County Commissioners to negotiate terms that minimize threats. Discussion Items - TA 26-01 (Forest Conservation Update): Staff presented changes required by Senate Bill 526 (2023), including a new 1:1 reforestation ratio (with exceptions for priority funding areas and multifamily housing). County-offered policies include crediting monument trees and flexibility in town centers. No questions from commissioners; no public comment. - TA 26-02 (Exemption for County Projects): Would exempt land owned/leased by the county or Board of Education from zoning ordinance unless state/federal law requires compliance. No discussion. - TA 26-03 (Adding Tenant Homes to Definition of Dwelling): Removes tenant house as separate use, includes it under dwelling accessory to a residence; existing tenant homes exempt. No discussion. - TA 26-04 (Waiver for Off-Street Parking for ADUs): Adds exemption from parking requirements for ADUs if sufficient on-street parking exists, aligning with state law HB 1466. No discussion. - TA 26-05 (Add Accessory Retail Use): Allows retail accessory use in light industrial mixed-use district, up to 25% of net space, with parking requirements. No discussion. - TA 26-06 (Removing Provisions for Harbor Lines): Removes harbor line provisions since county lacks authority. No discussion. - TA 26-08 (Revisions to Sign Regulations): Includes clarifying changes and two substantive changes: allowing home occupations one free-standing sign (up to 4 sq ft, 6 ft height) without permit; and revising electronic message center (EMC) setback from 200 ft from residential property line to 200 ft from residential dwelling. Commissioner Gadway expressed concern that this could allow signs closer to houses; staff noted the change is more sensible for odd-shaped parcels. Vote: passed with one opposed (Commissioner Gadway). - TA 26-09 (Revising Sidewalk Requirements for Industrial Districts): Allows exemptions for I-1 and I-2 districts if justification provided, unless sidewalks are needed for thoroughfares or adjacent existing sidewalks. No discussion. - TA 26-10 (Revise Bike Rack Installation Requirements): Limits bike rack requirements to town centers only. No discussion. - TA 26-11 (Restore Setback Reduction Policy): Reinstates pre-2025 policy allowing zero-foot setbacks under certain conditions. No discussion. - TA 26-12 (Revise Conditions for Auto Filling Station & Auto Repair/Service Shop): Removes additional setback requirements (80 ft for filling stations, 150 ft for repair shops) from residential parcels, reverting to standard setbacks. Commissioner Burry raised concerns about rural commercial districts; staff noted that repair shops in rural commercial require special exception with Board of Appeals review, which can add conditions. Commissioner Gadway asked about nonconforming rebuilds. Vote: passed unanimously. - TA 26-13 (Revise Landscaping Requirements): Limits the 40-foot buffer requirement (from the zoning update) to solar energy generating systems, commercial power generating systems, and data centers; other uses revert to 20-foot buffer. Commissioner Gadway objected to including data centers, as a separate data center amendment (TA 26-23) is pending. Motion was made to recommend adoption with removal of data center language and deferral to TA 26-23. Vote: passed with one opposed. - TA 26-14 (Revise Gross Floor Area Language): Replaces "gross floor area" with "enclosed space" for residential/accessory structures to prevent garage conversion end-runs. Staff clarified basements with less than 6 ft ceiling don't count. No discussion. - TA 26-15 (Revise Manufactured Home Conditions): Permits manufactured homes as accessory dwellings to another manufactured home; removes requirement for wood/masonry exterior appearance. No discussion. - TA 26-16 (Food Truck Clarification): Proposed to prohibit food trucks in public rights-of-way. Commissioner Gadway opposed, citing examples where food trucks operate safely in rights-of-way (e.g., Liberty Lane) and noting existing restrictions on traffic interference. Motion to recommend non-adoption passed with one opposed. Staff suggested future revision with oversight by Department of Public Works. - TA 26-17 (Revise Personal Services Definition): Replaces "health club" with "personal training services" to clarify larger fitness centers are indoor commercial recreation. Commissioner Burry suggested amending to "personal fitness training" to avoid overbreadth. Staff agreed. Motion to recommend adoption with that amendment passed unanimously. - TA 26-18 (Restore Conditions for Office Use): Restores 5,000 sq ft gross floor area limit for offices/medical offices in St. Leonard Town Center. No discussion. - TA 26-19 (Revises Subdivision Article Statement): Clarifies plat signature and certification requirements. No discussion. - TA 26-21 (Revises Site Plan Applicability): Sets a 5,000 sq ft threshold for requiring a category two site plan for farm buildings and agritourism/ecotourism uses; below that, plot plan only. No discussion. - TA 26-22 (Adding Dispensaries Setback Requirement): Requires 100 ft setback from residential, rural community, and other districts for dispensaries, as allowed by state law. No discussion. - TA 26-24 (Revising Family Conveyance Requirements): Allows up to two family conveyance lots per eligible parcel for two years after adoption, then reverts to one. Commissioner Burry asked about outreach; staff noted they will work with Communications. Discussion about exception lot sunset (March 1, 2027) and potential extension due to lack of wet seasons. No opposition. Key Outcomes - TA 26-01: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-02: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-03: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-04: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-05: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-06: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-08: Recommended adoption (1 opposed – Commissioner Gadway). - TA 26-09: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-10: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-11: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-12: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-13: Recommended adoption with condition to remove data center language and defer to TA 26-23 (1 opposed). - TA 26-14: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-15: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-16: Recommended non-adoption (1 opposed). - TA 26-17: Recommended adoption with amendment to use "personal fitness training" (unanimous). - TA 26-18: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-19: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-21: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-22: Recommended adoption (unanimous). - TA 26-24: Recommended adoption (unanimous). The public hearing was then adjourned.

The Board of County Commissioners of Calvert County held its regular meeting on June 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. in Prince Frederick, Maryland. The meeting included an invocation, approval of the agenda (with amendments to defer items 9 and 10), a ceremony recognizing correctional academy graduates, a public hearing on Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) projects, three proclamations, a consent agenda with 16 items (two deferred), three new business items, a work session on a proposed data center moratorium, public comment, and commissioners' reports. The most significant discussion centered on the data center moratorium, where a motion to schedule a work session and public hearing failed on a tie vote (2-2), with no further action taken. Consent Calendar - The Board approved the consent agenda (items 1–8 and 11–16) after deferring items 9 and 10 (Apparatus Grants for North Beach Volunteer Fire Department Ambulance 19 and Calvert Advance Life Support Medic 103) to a later date. Items included historic preservation tax credits, parks and recreation grants, a tower lease agreement, several community resources MOUs and grant applications, the Calvert Marine Museum FY2027 budget, and sheriff's office grants. Public Comments & Testimony During the public comment period, 16 individuals spoke (in person and virtually), all but one opposing data centers and urging the Board to impose a moratorium. Speaker Patrick Flaherty criticized the Board's transparency and actions, noting a petition of over 8,000 signatures against data centers. Patty Stuckler referenced past votes against a moratorium and urged voters to reject incumbents at the June 23 primary. Pam Warner (Indivisible Calvert County) highlighted the Environmental Commission's analysis of heat islands and diesel emissions, arguing that current setbacks are insufficient. Jeff Dixon described noise impacts from the existing Dominion LNG plant and called for independent health studies. Dylan Johnson urged the Board to avoid partisanship and work together. Alison Ziggler noted the county's resident guide omitted heavy industrial uses like nuclear and LNG plants. Carmen Porello demanded cumulative impact analysis and inclusion of the Environmental Commission. Sherry Burden (Marley Run HOA board) detailed the county's long development planning and argued a moratorium is needed for public accountability. Kathy Decker (Calvert Citizens for Student Safety and Responsible Development) challenged the legal basis for an alleged “unlimited clause” and criticized the Board's transparency. Others echoed concerns about environmental health, wildlife, and the lack of independent studies. Discussion Items - Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Public Hearing: The Board received an update on three CDBG-funded projects (Ladies of Charity, Project Echo, and the homeless day program). The public hearing was closed after no additional comments were received. The Board accepted the closeout report. - Proclamations: Three proclamations were issued: (1) World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15, 2026), recognizing the Office on Aging and Adult Protective Services; (2) LGBTQ+ Pride Month (June 2026), acknowledging contributions to the community; and (3) Juneteenth (June 19), celebrating freedom and the role of United States Colored Troops from Calvert County. - New Business: - Financial Advisory Services (Davenport & Company): The Board approved a resolution authorizing a one-year contract (with four one-year renewal options) for municipal advisory services. - Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) Grant: The Board authorized the county administrator to sign a $1,076,242 grant agreement for energy modernization projects (feasibility study for solar panels at courthouse, cooling tower replacement, and solar-powered lighting at Phillips House, Broomes Island, and other locations). Staff will return for a public hearing in July to allocate funds. - Childcare Mini Grants Budget Adjustment: The Board approved a budget adjustment (BA2026-000900) reallocating $118,356.61 to distribute mini grants to childcare providers. The board president and county administrator were authorized to sign the budget modification with the Governor's Office for Children. Commissioner Grasso requested a future presentation on the program's criteria and impact. - Work Session – Data Center Moratorium: The Department of Planning & Zoning (Jason Brinkley) outlined the legal process for a moratorium (public hearing, 14-day newspaper notice, draft ordinance). Brinkley recommended a work session on July 7 to finalize language and discuss studies, with a public hearing on July 28 to vote on a moratorium. Commissioner Hart moved to direct staff to schedule an evening work session on July 7 and advertise a public hearing for July 28. After extensive debate (Commissioners Hart and Grasso supporting an immediate moratorium; Commissioners Cox and Ireland expressing process concerns), the motion failed on a 2-2 tie (Hart and Grasso in favor, Cox and Ireland opposed). No moratorium was imposed; no work session was scheduled. The Board took no further action on data centers. Key Outcomes - Consent Agenda Approved (items 1–8, 11–16; items 9 and 10 deferred). - CDBG Public Hearing Closed; closeout of grants accepted. - Resolution to Contract with Davenport & Company for financial advisory services approved (vote unanimous). - MEA Grant Agreement Authorized (vote unanimous). - Childcare Mini Grants Budget Adjustment Approved with delegation of signing authority (vote unanimous). - Data Center Moratorium Motion Failed on a 2-2 tie (Hart, Grasso – aye; Cox, Ireland – no; Commissioner Hance absent). No future work session or public hearing was scheduled. The matter remains unresolved. - Proclamations were read and presented. - Commissioners' Reports included attendance at community events (ribbon cutting, Patuxent River weighted, Marley Run meeting, data center forum) and recognition of recent deaths.