Charles County Planning Commission Meeting - July 13, 2026

The Charles County Planning Commission held its regular meeting on July 13, 2026, at 4:00 PM. The meeting included approval of the agenda and amended minutes, chairperson's comments on departing members, a public comment on the Falcon Ridge subdivision appeal, a public meeting on a critical area intrafamily transfer request, a briefing on the 2025 annual planning report, and updates from the planning director.

Consent Calendar

• The agenda was approved unanimously.
• The amended minutes from the May 4, 2026 meeting were approved unanimously. The amendment corrected a typo in the agenda item title for the Villages at Swan Point update.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Personal Appearance – Nancy Schertler: Ms. Schertler, a resident of Newburgh, Maryland, addressed the commission regarding the Falcon Ridge preliminary subdivision plan. She stated that the commission denied a modication request on March 23, 2026, to extend the preliminary plan for six months, and the plan expired on April 17, 2026. The developer filed an appeal (Docket 1489) with the Board of Appeals, and also requested that Planning Director Charles Rice continue to process and approve subdivision applications during the appeal, which she characterized as a "blatant attempt to circumvent the authority of this board." She noted that the appeal hearing is scheduled for July 14, 2026, with a requested continuance until after September 15, 2026, which would place the next hearing on September 22—one day before the six-month extension originally sought. She expressed concern that if the director granted the request and the developer reached the 25% threshold before the appeal was adjudicated, the appeal could become moot, undermining the commission's authority. She also thanked outgoing county attorney Liz Theoboltz for her service.

Discussion Items

• Chairperson's Comments: Chair Kevin Wetting announced two departures: County Attorney Representative Liz Theoboltz, who has been appointed a District Court Judge by Governor Moore, will serve through August 17; and Commission Secretary Dawood Abdur Rahman, whose last meeting will be July 23, 2026, after approximately five years of service. Both were recognized for their contributions, especially on affordable housing.
• Public Meeting – Critical Area Intrafamily Transfer Change in Circumstances for Port Tobacco Lakes Lots 3C and 3E: Planner Caitlin Clue presented the proposal. The lots, located off Carroll Road in the Rural Conservation (RC) zone, were created in a 1996 resubdivision with critical area intrafamily transfer restrictions, meaning they cannot be sold to non-family members without a change-in-circumstance finding. The applicant, Sonia Dolinger, as trustee for her late mother's special needs trust, explained that the trust was established to care for her disabled sister. Due to the death of her brother (who lived in the on-site residence), financial hardship, and the need for 24-hour care for her sister, the family cannot maintain the property. A potential buyer is interested and is aware of the critical area restrictions. The commission heard her testimony and then voted unanimously to approve the change-in-circumstance request, with the addition of the one staff-recommended condition requiring the critical area requirements to remain applicable.
• New Business – Planning Commission Annual Report Briefing: Planning Supervisor Joel Binkley presented the annual report for calendar year 2025, required by state law. Key statistics include:
  • 768 residential building permits issued, with zero apartment units.
  • 15 net new preliminary subdivision lots approved (all single-family detached).
  • 545 final plat lots recorded (511 inside the Priority Funding Area).
  • 874 net acres of protected land added, bringing the county total to 37% preserved (goal is 50%).
  • No affordable housing building permits issued in 2025, but the pipeline now holds over 1,200 units—enough to meet the estimated deficit.
  • Population growth rate of 1.2%, slightly above the comprehensive plan target of 1%.
  • School enrollment remained flat, while housing production fell below the state target of 1,103 units per year.
  • Majority of development continued to concentrate in the Priority Funding Area and Planned Unit Development (PUD). Commissioners discussed the need for clearer data on incorporated towns (Indian Head, La Plata), the static affordable housing deficit target, declining large subdivisions post-St. Charles Phase 5, and potential implications for growth. Binkley noted that future development would likely come from redevelopment and densification within the development district. The report will be brought back for formal approval at the commission's first meeting in August after incorporating feedback.

Key Outcomes

• Approved (unanimously): Critical area intrafamily transfer change-in-circumstance for Port Tobacco Lakes Lots 3C and 3E, subject to the condition that critical area requirements remain applicable to future owners.
• Received and Discussed: Planning Commission Annual Report for 2025. Staff will revise the report based on commissioner comments and return for approval at the next meeting (tentatively August 2026).
• Director's Report: Planning Director Charles Rice highlighted the recent approval of the Accessory Dwelling Unit zoning text amendment by the County Commissioners, which was held up as a model by Maryland Department of Planning. He also previewed upcoming items for the County Commissioners on July 21 (Maryland Airport comp plan amendment, retail sales over 100,000 sq ft zoning text amendment briefing, data center zoning text amendment recommendation) and for the Planning Commission on July 20 (mixed-use residential community zoning text amendment public hearing, another critical area change, South Park West preliminary subdivision plan continued work session, forest conservation ordinance update, and Naval Surface Warfare Center briefing).