Calvert County Planning Commission Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026
Calvert County Planning Commission Regular Meeting - January 21, 2026
The Calvert County Planning Commission held its regular meeting on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, at 7:00 PM in the Chesapeake Room at 150 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD. All seven commissioners were present (Commissioners Bury, Freeland, Gadway, Kernan, McQueen, Toohey, Weems), establishing a quorum. The meeting included routine approvals, a work session on the Water & Sewer Comprehensive Plan 2025 Update, scheduling updates, and a public comment period.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the proposed agenda for the evening.
- Approved the Summary of Actions from the December 17, 2025 Regular Meeting.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Bob Estus, speaking on behalf of the Friends of Hunting Creek, expressed concern about the inadequacy of current rainfall models used for stormwater management design. He noted that a 2024 report from CBL provided recommendations that have not been implemented, and that updates to the Calvert County Construction Standards book or a temporary rainfall requirement could serve as a stopgap. He urged the Planning Commission to encourage faster action to prevent inadequate stormwater facilities.
Discussion Items
Work Session: Water & Sewer Comprehensive Plan 2025 Update
- The Department of Public Works (DPW) presented the draft update to the Water and Sewer Comprehensive Plan. Cheyenne Nader (Project Engineer) and Francis Monkowski (WRA consultant) outlined the plan's purpose, key updates, and approval schedule. Major changes include updates to groundwater supply tables, removal of decommissioned wells, addition of new wells, revised CIP projects, and updated maps.
- Commissioners raised questions:
- Commissioner Kernan asked about data center impact on aquifers. Director J.R. Cosgrove replied that data centers may use gray water (treated effluent) rather than groundwater, and the county would prefer that approach.
- Commissioner Bury asked about naturally occurring arsenic in wells. James Ritter (Deputy Director of Enterprise Funds) clarified that only the Marley Run water system requires arsenic removal filters; other systems are monitored and remain below the 10 mg/L average.
- Commissioner Freeland inquired whether the Northern High School sewer system redesign accounts for the school's ongoing addition. Director Cosgrove stated the design would need to be reviewed, but agreed it should be considered.
- Commissioner Kernan noted that he had submitted written comments on outdated data in the plan and suggested updating those sections before agency review.
Key Outcomes
- Motion made and seconded to direct staff to send the Calvert County Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan 2025 Update to agencies for a 60-day review. Approved unanimously (7-0).
- The public hearing for the plan is scheduled for April 15, 2026.
- The February 18, 2026 Public Hearing was scheduled for the Draft Dunkirk Town Center Master Plan and the Solid Waste Plan.
- A discussion on the Prince Frederick employment center zones will be brought back to the Planning Commission for consideration, with a potential public hearing in March.
Adjournment
- The meeting adjourned after public comment. No additional items were discussed.
Meeting Transcript
Welcome to the Calvert County Planning Commissioner regular meeting of Wednesday, January 21st, 2026. I will take a attendance to determine the quorum. Commissioner Burry. Commissioner Freeland. Here. Commissioner Gadway. Here. Commissioner Kernan. Here. Commissioner McQueen. Here. And Commissioner Ween. Here. With everyone here, we have a quorum, and we are now called to order. If you'd all please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. We've got the agenda in front of us. Any opinions. I move that we adopt and approve the agenda for the night. Thanks, sir. Second. Speaking to your mic, we can't hear you. And we have a second. All those in favor? Aye. I did. Commissioner Freeland. Thank you. All right. And we also have our uh proposed summary of actions concerning December 17th meeting. I move that we approve and adopt the summary of actions for the December 17th, 2025 meeting. Thank you, sir. Second it. And we have a second. All those in favor? Aye. Thank you so much. Maury, want to take over the recognition? Yes, that brings us to item five, recognition of persons attending the meeting. Tonight with us, we have Jason Brickley, Director from Planning and Zoning. We also have online with us Tay Harris, long range planner. With us tonight, we have our new planning commission administrator, Ruth Davis Rogers. She will be with you in the future running these meetings for you. We also have Gerald Cousineau, Planner 3 with us from Planning and Zoning. We have Becky Parkinson, which is our planning commission clerk, and John Mattingley is our leading legal counsel for tonight. From Public Works, we have the Director J.R. Cosgrove. We have James Ritter, the Enterprise Fund Operations Deputy Director. We have Joey McKinney, the division chief of water and sewer. Also we have Emily Matthews, Project Engineer 2, Cheyenne Nader, Project Engineer 2 from Public Works.
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