Calvert County Planning Commission Public Hearing - February 18, 2026
Calvert County Planning Commission Public Hearing - February 18, 2026
This public hearing, held both in-person and virtually on Wednesday, February 18, 2026 at 7:00 PM at the County Administration Building in Prince Frederick, MD, addressed two agenda items: a text amendment to the Ten-Year Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan and a draft update to the Dunkirk Town Center Master Plan. The Planning Commission took action on the first item and deferred a decision on the second pending further research.
Text Amendment #26-01 – Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan
Staff from the Department of Public Works presented a proposal to amend the 2019-2028 Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan to include a privately owned and financed recycling and transfer station to be located at 5340 Catch Road, Prince Frederick, with a permitted capacity of 750 tons per day of non-hazardous construction and demolition (C&D) waste. The facility would separate and process recyclable materials, serving Calvert County and neighboring Southern Maryland counties. The amendment is required by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) before a permit can be issued.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Andrew Springer, a partner in the applicant company (Sun), stated the majority of waste is expected to come from Calvert County, with small amounts from neighboring jurisdictions. He confirmed the material currently goes to the county’s transfer station and then to Virginia, but the new facility would allow direct hauling by contractors and construction companies, eliminating the intermediate step.
- No other public comments or agency remarks were received.
Discussion Items
- Commissioners questioned the necessity of the amendment and the current disposal path. Staff clarified the facility cannot operate without being listed in the county’s plan.
- The applicant described the waste stream as mixed C&D (wood, concrete, drywall, metal, dirt, brick, block, plastics) and noted the facility would sort materials, not produce finished products. The county would report the recycled tonnage in its annual recycling rate.
- Commissioner McQueen asked about the fiscal impact; staff replied it is unknown until operations begin.
Key Outcomes
- Motion: Commissioner Freeland moved to find the text amendment consistent with the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan and recommend adoption by the Board of County Commissioners. Commissioner Gadway seconded.
- Vote: 5 in favor, 1 against (Commissioner McQueen). The motion carried.
Chapter 1: Town Centers & Chapter 3: Dunkirk Town Center Master Plan (December 2025 Draft)
Tay Harris, Long Range Planner, presented the draft update. The plan reflects revisions from a 60-day comment period (June–August 2025) and subsequent direction from the Planning Commission (December 2025). Key revisions include updates to housing affordability assessments, census data, impervious surface percentages, broadband status, and a recommendation to coordinate with the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) for commuter bus services to Annapolis, New Carrollton, College Park, and Greenbelt. The plan also proposes realigning town center boundaries to include the Dunkirk District Park (county-owned, purchased with Program Open Space funds) and the Dunkirk Park & Ride (state-owned).
Public Comments & Testimony
- John Kaiser (speaking for himself, lives in Dunkirk) questioned the benefit of expanding the town center to include the park and park & ride, and expressed concern about increased impervious surfaces.
- Sarah Rothhouse (speaking for herself, lives in Applegreen, Dunkirk) opposed a proposed restriction making Apple Way onto Route 4 right-turn-only, citing safety and potential congestion at the Ward Road intersection. She supported the proposed Shops Way connection between Apple Way and Dunkirk Way.
Discussion Items
- Staff responded that including the park and park & ride aligns with the town center’s mixed-use intent (including civic uses). The boundary change does not transfer ownership or increase impervious surface; any future development would require separate review.
- Regarding the right-turn-only proposal, staff noted the State Highway Administration (SHA) identified accident risks and sight-distance limitations at that location; the recommendation is based on an SHA study, but no funding or plans exist.
- Commissioner McQueen expressed opposition to any town center expansions that include undeveloped land, referring to similar expansions in Prince Frederick and Owings.
- Questions were raised about the current zoning of the park (Rural Neighborhood) and the potential for residential development within town centers (only assisted housing is permitted in Dunkirk Town Center, with a max density of 4 units/acre via TDRs). Parks Director Bob Brennan confirmed the park is restricted from sale or development due to Program Open Space funding.
- A commissioner requested an asterisk or footnote in the plan regarding population estimates derived from different Census methodologies (2020 actual vs. 2023 estimate) to avoid implying a precise population increase.
Key Outcomes
- Motion: Commissioner Freeland moved to direct staff to provide further research as requested during testimony on or before the next Planning Commission meeting, and to keep the record open until that meeting. Commissioner Gadway seconded.
- Vote: Unanimous in favor.
- The draft plan remains open for additional comment; no final action was taken on the proposed amendments.
Meeting Transcript
I will uh take attendance in order to establish a quorum. Commissioner Burry. Commissioner Freeland. Here. Commissioner Gadway. Here. Commissioner Kernan. Here. Commissioner McQueen. Here. And Commissioner Weems. Here. We have a quorum, and we are hereby call to order. If you'd all stand and join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. My pledge 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. Ladies. Do we make this okay? So tonight we have two public hearings scheduled. All hearings were duly advertised, and the certificate of the publication is part of the record for each hearing. This meeting will be conducted as a hybrid meeting, allowing for both virtual and in-person participation. Citizens are invited to provide comments on any or all of the hearings after each presentation has concluded. Each of the two hearings will have a separate comment period, followed by a brief presentation. Anyone here in person who wishes to speak must sign in on the sheet located on the table as you enter through the back door. This meeting is being recorded on both audio and video for record keeping purposes. Recognition of the people attending the meeting tonight. We have representing the Calvert County Planning and Zoning. We have Jason Brinkley, the Director, Tamara Blake Wallace, the Deputy Director and Board of Appeals Administrator. We have Tay Harris, the Director of Long Range Planning, Ruth Davis Rogers, myself, the Planning Commission Administrator, Becky Parkinson, the Planning Commission Clerk, Kat Lockwood, Planner 2, Katie Strauss, Planner One. Representing the Department of Public Works, we have Maria Labruska, who is the Chief of the Solid Waste Division. We have J.R. Cosgrove, the Director of Public Works. We have James Ritter, the Deputy Director of the Enterprise Fund operations. And let's see, who has economic development? We have Julie O'Burg, the director. And at this point in time, I guess we'll hand this meeting over to Mr. Twee. Oh, no, wait, the first thing on the agenda, right? I'm sorry. And so the first item on the agenda is the text amendment, uh, case number 2601, the amendment to the 10-year comprehensive solid waste management plan uh for 2019 to 2028. Good evening, Commissioners. So I have with me Maria who I'm going to turn her to the Division Chief of Solid Waste. I'll read the memo for you. Good evening. If everybody could speak into their mics loudly. Good evening, Commissioners. Um for this text amendment uh background. The Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Division received the information from some companies, LLC, that they are going to open Color County Recycling Facility and Transfer Station in Prince Frederick, Maryland. The facility will require an MDE refused disposal permit and a text amendment to the 10-year comprehensive solid waste management plan 2019-2028. Discussion.
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