Charles County Board of Appeals Meeting - August 11, 2026

The Charles County Board of Appeals convened on August 11, 2026. The board addressed a special exception for a boarding house (Docket #1488) and a motion to reconsider the River's Edge case (Docket #1450). The meeting also covered scheduling updates, discussions on procedural rules, and an advisory opinion on the Open Meetings Act.

Consent Calendar

• The board unanimously accepted the meeting agenda.
• Minutes from the July 14, 2026 hearing regarding the boarding house were approved via a roll call vote.

Discussion Items

Docket #1488: Boarding House Special Exception (Applicant: John Pedro)

• Vice Chair Watkins moved to deny the application, expressing concern about the use’s compatibility with the neighborhood and the precedent of approving it.
• Member Trainer seconded the motion. While he stated boarding houses can be a solution for affordable housing, he argued the applicant failed to meet the H3 criteria because of concerns over shared facilities (driveway and kitchen) and a lack of demonstrated experience handling the conflicts inherent in a rooming house.
• Member Grendel dissented from the reasoning, stating the board should not micromanage a proposal that met the planning commission’s recommendations and that the board’s concerns about parking and the driveway were outside its scope of review.
• Outcome: The motion to deny carried. Vice Chair Watkins and Members Walker, Tesada, Trainer, and Chairperson Humbert voted in favor.

Docket #1450: River’s Edge Reconsideration

• The County Attorney, on behalf of the Zoning Officer, filed a motion requesting the board reconsider its April 14, 2026 approval of a nonconforming use for River’s Edge.
• Attorney Brown advised the board to wait until the 15-day opposition period ends on August 18, 2026 before deciding whether to hear the motion.
• Outcome: The board deferred its decision and scheduled a special meeting for August 25, 2026 to decide if it will grant a hearing on the reconsideration motion.

Falcon Ridge Hearing

• The Falcon Ridge hearing was originally scheduled for August 22, 2026, but the courtroom will not be available that date.
• The board expressed concern about the high public interest and the need for an in-person venue so the public can attend and be heard.
• Outcome: The hearing was rescheduled from August 22 to October 13, 2026.

Rules of Procedure and Open Meetings Act

• Member Trainer asked Attorney Brown for clarification about the Maryland Open Meetings Act and discussions among board members about procedural rules.
• Brown clarified that any discussion among a quorum (three or more members) must be open to the public, and that sequential private conversations among individual members to circumvent the act are prohibited.
• Staff noted a revised draft of the Rules of Procedure is being prepared for discussion.
• Outcome: The board agreed to begin the discussion on the Rules of Procedure on August 25, 2026, with a continuation planned for September 8, 2026.

Proposed Zoning Ordinance Changes

• Staff confirmed that proposed changes to the zoning ordinance had been submitted to the county commissioners and zoning supervisors for consideration during the ongoing rewrite.
• Attorney Brown noted the board does not have discretion over the ordinance itself but can make recommendations.

Key Outcomes

• Boarding House Denied: Docket #1488 was denied. The board concluded the applicant did not demonstrate the special exception would be adequately managed to ensure the peaceful enjoyment of the neighborhood.
• River’s Edge Reconsideration Deferred: A decision on whether to reconsider the River’s Edge approval was deferred to a special meeting on August 25, 2026, pending any opposition filings by the August 18 deadline.
• Falcon Ridge Rescheduled: The public hearing for Falcon Ridge was moved from August 22, 2026 to October 13, 2026 to allow for in-person attendance.