Calvert County Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting - July 28, 2026

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.