Charles County Government presents the Board of Commissioners.

Good evening, everyone.

We're going to begin this evening's session with a roll call.

Commissioner Bowling.

Commissioner Coates here.

Commissioner Stewart.

Here.

Commissioner Patterson.

Present.

Commissioner Collins.

Here.

Thank you.

Commissioners, the next item on your agenda is a public hearing on zoning text amendment 26-19.

The purpose of this evening session is to hold a public hearing in person and virtually on proposed Bill 2026 10 zoning text amendment 26191.

Mixed residential community use in the RM and RH zones.

If it pleases the commissioners, I will dispense with the reading of the public notice.

For

the public, when it's your turn to speak, please state your name and address clearly for the record.

Statement should relate to the subject matter of this identified hearing.

Statement should be briefed to the point and limited to three minutes or less.

Proper language is required at all times.

Additionally, please understand that this is a public hearing, which means that this is the Commissioner's opportunity to hear directly from the public.

This is the public's opportunity to speak.

Consequently, the commissioners will not be entertaining questions or debating the issue.

The

commissioners do reserve the right to extend the time frame or to continue the hearing until another date.

We will now begin the public hearing.

Good

evening, Commissioners.

My name is Kirby Bloss, and I'm a senior planner with zoning administration.

I'm accompanied this evening by my colleague, Mr.

Joel Binkley, Planning Supervisor with Community and Long Range Planning.

We

are joining you tonight for the public hearing consideration of this amendment that was formally submitted on March 24th of this year by the law offices of Sue A.

Greer in accordance with the procedural requirements of Chapter 297, Section 447 of the zoning ordinance.

And uh next slide, please, Claryl.

Uh after thoroughly analyzed uh analyzed being analyzed by county staff for consistency with the current comprehensive plan and the recommendations of the county's affordable housing strategy.

This amendment proposal was presented to the planning commission via briefing on May 18th of this year with a subsequent public hearing date of July 20th.

At the conclusion of that public hearing, the record was closed and their work session was conducted during which they voted to unanimously recommend approval to this board.

The details of their recommendation are contained within the planning commission's report signed by Chairman Wetting.

An interoffice memorandum directed to the commissioners dated September 10th, further summarizes the key provisions, rationale, and perceived benefits of the legislation.

On September 15th, staff briefed the commissioners, and this evening's public hearing was scheduled.

Thank you, Carol.

This application seeks to amend certain provisions of the zoning ordinance to create a new mixed residential community use in the designated medium density residential RM and high density residential zones within the designated development districts and priority funding areas of the county.

The specific characteristics regarding what constitutes a mixed residential community use will be elaborated upon by the applicant this evening during their presentation.

In short, this application would establish new housing type conditions, definitions, density bonuses, and general design standards, including the flexibility to pursue an alternative design and development code, which would ultimately be approved by the planning commission and would accompany any future site-specific development plan application.

The approved development code would holistically govern pertinent aspects of the architectural landscaping and site design considerations.

Next slide, please, Carol.

Within the applicant's draft bill and justification, a reduction to the minimum footprint for single family and cottage dwelling housing is proposed.

Staff acknowledge that these amendments are consistent with the recommendations of the county's affordable housing strategy in that they provide additional flexible creative housing solutions at different price points that don't currently exist in the available market, such as starter homes and missing middle housing.

And uh next slide, please, Carol.

Uh at this time, I welcome my colleague, Mr.

Binkley, to elaborate on the nuances of the affordable housing density bonus provisions.

Joel?

Thank you, Mr.

Bloss.

As we briefed you last month, there was a proposed amendment to the uh text

amendment.

And staff reviewed that.

It did propose an increase in the affordable housing density bonus across all the housing uses in the high density residential zone.