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Record of Proceedings

Calvert County Planning Commission Regular Meeting - March 6, 2025

County Commissioners & Boards — Thursday, March 6, 2025
BodyCalvert County, Maryland
SessionCounty Commissioners & Boards
DateThursday, March 6, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 42:12

Original source
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0:07

Good evening.

0:08

Welcome to the Calvert County Planning Commission regular meeting agenda of regular meeting of Thursday, February 27th, 2025.

0:17

I'm going to take attendance to establish the quorum.

0:20

Commissioner Freeland.

0:21

Here.

0:22

Commissioner Gadway.

0:24

Present.

0:24

Commissioner Holler.

0:26

Here.

0:26

Commissioner Kernan.

0:28

Here.

0:28

Commissioner McQueen.

0:29

Here.

0:30

And Commissioner Weems.

0:31

Here.

0:32

We have everybody attended.

0:33

So we have a quorum.

0:34

We are now called to order.

0:36

If you'd all please stand and join me the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:43

My pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:48

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

1:04

We have the agenda in front of us.

1:06

I, if somebody would be interested to make the motion, I'd be willing to accept to move that executive session down to oh, maybe down around 11 D so that some of these folks could go out.

1:20

If we put that at the end, I think some people could leave and wouldn't have to stay so long.

1:25

I'd make that motion to amend the agenda to move executive session to last item before adjournment.

1:37

Second.

1:39

I have a uh motion and a second.

1:43

All those in favor?

1:45

Aye.

1:46

Thank you so much.

1:47

We also have the action on the proposed um summary of actions for January 15th.

1:56

I move that we approve and adopt the summary of actions for the January 15th, 2025 regular meeting.

2:02

Thank you, sir.

2:03

And a second.

2:04

Second.

2:04

And we have a second from Commissioner Kernan.

2:06

All those in favor?

2:07

Aye.

2:08

Thank you so much.

2:10

Now we have where are we?

2:12

Oh, recognition of persons attending the meeting.

2:14

I'm going to turn that over to our brand new.

2:17

Good morning.

2:18

Good afternoon, everyone.

2:20

Um, my name is Amalia Pleak Tam.

2:22

I'm the acting planning commission administrator from planning and zoning.

2:26

Uh recognition of persons attending the meeting from planning and zoning.

2:29

We have Jason Brinkley, Director, Tamara Blake Wallace, Acting Deputy Director of Planning.

2:35

Kay Harris, long range planner, Jessica Tano, Planner 3, Kat Lockwood Planner 2.

2:43

Uh Jay Cusino is joining us virtually, planner three, Becky Parkinson, Planning Commission Clerk, Katie Strauss, Permit Tech One.

2:52

From Public Works, we have J.R.

2:54

Cosgrove, Director of Public Works.

2:56

James Ritter, Deputy Director.

2:58

From Parks and Recreation, we have Bob Branham, Director, Stephanie Sperling, Park Planner.

3:03

And from County Attorney's Office, we have John Mattingley, legal counsel for the Planning Commission.

3:16

Moving on to item seven.

3:19

Major subdivisions for final review and action.

3:21

We have none.

3:22

Applications for site plan review and action.

3:24

We have none.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Zoning And Land Use████████████████████████24%
Procedural█████████████████████21%
Public Engagement████████████████████20%
Planning And Development███████████████15%
Parks and Recreation██████████10%
Water And Wastewater Management██████6%
Public Announcements████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Calvert County Planning Commission Regular Meeting - March 6, 2025

The Calvert County Planning Commission held a regular meeting on March 6, 2025, at 7:30 p.m. at the Harriet E. Brown Community Center in Prince Frederick, with virtual participation available. All seven commissioners were present, establishing a quorum. The agenda was amended to move the executive session to the end of the meeting, and the summary of actions from the January 15, 2025 regular meeting was approved unanimously.

Discussion Items

  • Master Plan of Town Centers (Long Range Planning): Tay Harris, Long Range Planner, presented a proposal to consolidate all individual town center master plans into a single document called the Master Plan of Town Centers. Chapter 1 would include county-wide background and goals, with subsequent chapters dedicated to each town center. A timeline was proposed for adopting the Prince Frederick and Dunkirk chapters, with a public hearing targeted for May 2025. Staff recommended prioritizing updates based on the oldest plans (Owings, Huntingtown, Lusby, Solomons, St. Leonard). The commission voted unanimously to adopt the staff's proposal to consolidate and follow the proposed timeline.
  • Lusby Architectural Review Committee (LARC) Case #2024-02 – Lusby AutoZone: Jessica Gaetano, Planner III, presented an application for a new AutoZone store in the Lusby Commons shopping center. The proposed building facade is 100 feet in length, exceeding the 50-foot limit, but staff recommended approval because the project meets conditions for an extension up to 150 feet. The architectural review committee lacked a quorum, so staff reviewed administratively. The commission voted 7–0 to approve the facade length and application as recommended by staff.
  • Hallowing Point Park Master Plan Update: Stephanie Sperling, Park Planner, presented a draft master plan update based on a survey with over 2,000 responses. Proposed improvements include synthetic turf fields, a paved walking path, improved baseball fields with dugouts, a new pavilion, tot lot, skate park, and expanded basketball court. The commission voted to direct staff to send the plan to agencies for review, schedule a public hearing for May 21, 2025, and notify agencies and adjoining jurisdictions at least 60 days in advance.
  • Department of Public Works Text Amendment #25-01: James Ritter, Deputy Director, proposed an amendment to require all county-owned facilities within 300 feet of public water and sewer lines to connect, improving efficiency and environmental sustainability. During discussion, it was noted that no existing facilities are affected, and irrigation wells would be exempted. The commission voted to direct staff to add language clarifying that agricultural irrigation wells are not affected, then send the amendment to agencies for review, schedule a public hearing for May 21, 2025, and notify agencies and adjoining jurisdictions at least 60 days in advance.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • David Beary (speaking for himself) expressed concern that the public would not have adequate time to review and comment on Chapter 1 of the Master Plan of Town Centers before the hearing. Staff responded that Chapter 1 mostly contains previously vetted material and will be available for public comment at the hearing.
  • Sean McGuire (speaking on behalf of Save Lusby Inc.) provided an update on the Lusby Villas project appeal, informing the public of ongoing litigation and urging community support to oppose the development. He did not direct comments to the commission due to legal advice against discussing the project.
  • Sarah Weems (Lusby resident, speaking virtually) questioned the addition of an AutoZone across from an existing auto parts store, arguing that Lusby needs different businesses such as a fitness center. She expressed frustration that projects like the AutoZone are approved while necessary facilities are overlooked.
  • Megan Farringer (Lusby resident) also criticized the AutoZone approval, urging the commission to consider unique businesses that improve quality of life, such as a gym, rec center, or library.

Key Outcomes

  • Unanimous approval (7-0) of the Master Plan of Town Centers consolidation and timeline.
  • Unanimous approval (7-0) of the Lusby AutoZone facade length and architectural review application.
  • Approval (unanimous) to proceed with Hallowing Point Park Master Plan public hearing process (schedule hearing for May 21, 2025).
  • Approval (unanimous) to proceed with Text Amendment #25-01 public hearing process, with an added amendment clarifying irrigation well exemptions.
  • The commission entered an executive session for legal consultation regarding pending litigation (public not present) and later adjourned.
  • The next regular planning commission meeting was announced for March 19, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome to the Calvert County Planning Commission regular meeting agenda of regular meeting of Thursday, February 27th, 2025. I'm going to take attendance to establish the quorum. Commissioner Freeland. Here. Commissioner Gadway. Present. Commissioner Holler. Here. Commissioner Kernan. Here. Commissioner McQueen. Here. And Commissioner Weems. Here. We have everybody attended. So we have a quorum. We are now called to order. If you'd all please stand and join me the Pledge of Allegiance. My pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We have the agenda in front of us. I, if somebody would be interested to make the motion, I'd be willing to accept to move that executive session down to oh, maybe down around 11 D so that some of these folks could go out. If we put that at the end, I think some people could leave and wouldn't have to stay so long. I'd make that motion to amend the agenda to move executive session to last item before adjournment. Second. I have a uh motion and a second. All those in favor? Aye. Thank you so much. We also have the action on the proposed um summary of actions for January 15th. I move that we approve and adopt the summary of actions for the January 15th, 2025 regular meeting. Thank you, sir. And a second. Second. And we have a second from Commissioner Kernan. All those in favor? Aye. Thank you so much. Now we have where are we? Oh, recognition of persons attending the meeting. I'm going to turn that over to our brand new. Good morning. Good afternoon, everyone. Um, my name is Amalia Pleak Tam. I'm the acting planning commission administrator from planning and zoning. Uh recognition of persons attending the meeting from planning and zoning. We have Jason Brinkley, Director, Tamara Blake Wallace, Acting Deputy Director of Planning. Kay Harris, long range planner, Jessica Tano, Planner 3, Kat Lockwood Planner 2. Uh Jay Cusino is joining us virtually, planner three, Becky Parkinson, Planning Commission Clerk, Katie Strauss, Permit Tech One.

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