Charles County Planning Commission Meeting - March 23, 2026

The Charles County Planning Commission convened on March 23, 2026, to address a variety of land use and zoning items. Key actions included advancing a zoning text amendment for Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), approving multiple site development plans, and a highly contested decision on an extension for the Falcon Ridge subdivision, which was ultimately denied.

Consent Calendar

• The meeting agenda was approved as written.
• The minutes from the March 2, 2026 meeting were approved.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Brian Piaquidio spoke in support of the ADU regulations, sharing a personal story about wanting to provide an independent living space for his elderly mother on his property.
• George Haley, Russell Yates, Ayana Moore, and Niama Simmons, all connected to the Falcon Ridge/Huntersbrook community, testified in favor of granting the developer a six-month extension. They highlighted the financial burden on the local HOA, which is struggling to maintain amenities built for a much larger community, and the broader benefits of completing the subdivision.

Discussion Items

Item 6A: ZTA 25-189 – Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) Staff presented a zoning text amendment to expand ADU regulations to comply with Maryland House Bill 1466. The proposal eliminates the equivalent storage space requirement, aligns with the state's 75% size cap, and does not impose additional off-street parking mandates. A new provision allows for ADUs within planned townhomes. A public survey indicated 64% positive feedback. Following a public hearing and work session, the commission voted unanimously to forward the ZTA to the County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation.

Item 7A: SDP 250073 – Medstar Shaw Medical Building A site development plan for the demolition of a bank and construction of a 10,500 sq ft medical building was presented. The project includes pedestrian and vehicular connections to an adjacent medical facility. The commission approved the plan subject to three staff conditions.

Item 7B: SDP 250063 – Horizon Neighborhood Center The commission approved a site development plan for a community center featuring a pool, playground, and tennis/pickleball courts. A key condition ties the center's construction to the recordation of the 500th lot in the Horizon subdivision.

Item 7C: PLREV 250010 – Shepherd's Creek Manor A revision to the preliminary subdivision plan was approved 4-1. The revision included lot line adjustments and the establishment of a forest conservation mitigation bank.

Item 7D: SDP 250039 – Parklands Farm Stand A site development plan for a farm stand amenity in the Village of Wooded Glen was approved unanimously.

Items 9A & 7E: Falcon Ridge – Status Update & Modification Request The applicant provided an update on the Falcon Ridge subdivision and formally requested a six-month extension under Section 278-104, citing hardships including the WCD downzone, the pandemic, and extreme complexity in stormwater management design. Staff offered no formal recommendation. After extensive debate and testimony from residents, a motion to grant the extension failed 2-3, meaning the project's preliminary plan will expire.

Item 10A: ZTA 25-188 – Regulatory Enforcement of Encroachments Staff returned with a revised ZTA for encroachments on county-owned land, incorporating previous feedback. Key changes include a cap on civil penalties at three times the total cost incurred by the county. The commission forwarded the item for a public hearing scheduled for April 20, 2026, with a suggestion to add a mechanism for citizen recourse if the county is found to be in error.

Key Outcomes

• ZTA 25-189 (ADUs): Forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation.
• SDP 250073 (Medstar Shaw): Approved.
• SDP 250063 (Horizon Neighborhood Center): Approved.
• PLREV 250010 (Shepherd's Creek Manor): Approved (4-1).
• SDP 250039 (Parklands Farm Stand): Approved.
• Falcon Ridge Extension: Denied (2 in favor, 3 opposed). No further extensions.
• ZTA 25-188 (Encroachments): Work session concluded; public hearing scheduled for April 20, 2026.
• Future Agenda: Director announced a comprehensive plan outreach meeting for March 26. A commission member requested staff invite representatives from NSF Indian Head to brief the board on their planned expansion.