Calvert County Planning Commission Regular Meeting – May 21, 2025
Calvert County Planning Commission Regular Meeting – May 21, 2025
The Calvert County Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Harriet E. Brown Community Center in Prince Frederick, MD, with a virtual option via Zoom. The meeting included approval of a final subdivision plat, a discussion of the Dunkirk Town Center Master Plan update, adoption of the FY2026 Program Open Space Annual Program, the annual meeting reviewing 2024 activities, and election of officers.
Consent Calendar
- Action on proposed agenda and summary of actions from the April 16, 2025 regular meeting were approved.
- Final subdivision plat for SDFP-143163 Armory Towns, Lots 1-9: Approved with a vote of 6 in favor and 1 against (Commissioner Gadway dissented). The preliminary approval was granted on August 30, 2023, and staff certified all conditions were met.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No public comments were made during the public comment period; no attendees online or in person spoke.
Discussion Items
- Dunkirk Town Center Master Plan Update: Presented by Planner Kat Lockwood. The draft 2025 May Chapter 3 was reviewed. Commissioners questioned population data showing 2,000 residents (from the census-designated place, not the town center boundary) and a 32.7% unemployment rate per the American Community Survey. Staff agreed to explore alternative data from the Maryland Department of Labor and Statistics to provide context, while maintaining consistency across the master plan documents. No action taken; further discussion scheduled for June 2025.
- Program Open Space (POS) FY2026 Annual Program: Presented by Bob Branham, Director of Parks & Recreation. The program includes acquisition projects (Calvert Marine Museum waterfront addition, Chesapeake Beach canoe/kayak launch, land preservation near Randle Cliff) and development projects (Halloween Point District Park pathway/bleacher pads, Cove Point Park playground replacement, Chesapeake Beach trail connectivity). Commissioner raised concern about the Solomon's Island playground, which is under Buildings & Grounds, not Parks & Rec; staff agreed to discuss with Deputy Director Jones. Commissioner asked about loss of POS funding due to state budget cuts; Director Branham noted impacts on the Green Space Equity Advisory Board fund but no direct loss to the county's POS balances.
Key Outcomes
- Final Subdivision Plat Armory Towns: Approved 6-1 (Commissioner Gadway dissenting).
- Program Open Space FY2026 Annual Program: Approved unanimously (7-0) as consistent with the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan, and recommended to the Board of County Commissioners for submission to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources by July 1, 2025.
- 2024 Planning Commission Annual Report: Approved unanimously (7-0) to be sent to the Board of County Commissioners.
- Review of Operating Documents:
- Bylaws: Approved as presented (7-0). No changes were proposed.
- Rules of Procedure: Discussed. The only substantive change was to Section 5.201 paragraph 5 (announcement of county directors attendance). Commissioner McQueen expressed desire to include public awareness of staff attendance. No motion was made; therefore the existing rules remain in effect without amendment.
- Election of Officers:
- Chair: John Toohey elected (6-0, no other nominations).
- Vice Chair: Wilson Freeland elected (7-0).
Meeting Transcript
Thank you so much, Ms. Pagan. Good evening. We are reconvening, reconvening for the Planning Commission regular meeting. Um at this time, I will turn the meeting over to the chairman to call the meeting to order. Thank you, ma'am. We've already determined the quorum, so I will call the meeting to order. We have completed the pledge of allegiance already this evening. So we are on action on a proposed agenda. Can I have a motion? Motion to approve. We have a motion to approve. Second. And we have a second. I'm sorry, who's second to that? Mr. Weems. Commissioner Weams got that for us. Thank you, sir. That brings us to item four, action on the proposed summary of actions. Item A, April 16th, 2025 regular meeting. Thank you, ma'am. We have a motion on the summary of actions. Motion to approve. We have a motion and a second second. Second. We have a second from Commissioner Weams again. That works. Sorry. I know more case seconds came up. Therefore, recognition. Okay. Person recognition of persons attending the meeting tonight. From planning and zoning, we have Jason Brinkley, Director. We have Tay Harris, long range planner. We have online with us tonight, Rachel O'Shea, which is our deputy director of zoning. We have Jay Cusineau, planner three. Amaya Pleak Tan, Planner 3. Kat Lockwood, planner two. And new to the development review group is Charlene Johnson, planner one. And we also have from inspections of Parmits Katie Strauss, Permit Tech One with us tonight. We have from Parkinson Rec, Bob Brandon, Director. Lydia Wells, Deputy Director. We have Amanda Stillwagging, Stillwagon, Park and Rec Safety Division Chief. And from emergency management tonight, we have Kara Buckmaster. And serving as our clerk tonight is Becky Parkinson and John Maddenley is our legal counsel. That brings us on to item number six. Major divisions for I'm sorry. Tonight we have item A, SDFP 143-163, Armory Towns, lots one through nine. So tonight, Planning Commission members, I have before you this plan that you all have reviewed prior.
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