On Tuesday, Oct. 22, the Commissioners held a work session to discuss Docket 90 Amendment PDZA#24-90(23) Villages of Wooded Glen & Piney Reach Master Plan. This followed a commissioner public hearing that was held on Sept. 17, with the comment period held open until Oct. 2. The proposed amendments included moving the middle school site to Piney Reach Neighborhood #2, near Piney Church Road. Another proposed change included allowing homes to be built in the Village of Piney Reach Neighborhood #3 before 85% of construction in the Village of Wooded Glen was finished and modifying the buffer remediation plan. Consistent with the Planning Commission’s recommendation, the Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve the middle school site move and adjustments to the buffer plan, but they did not include the 85% rule change.

 

Briefings

·       Jason Groth, Acting Director, Heather Kelly, Planning Supervisor, and Melissa Hively, Planner II, Department of Planning and Growth Management, held a briefing on Proposed Bill 2024-15: Amendments to the Water and Sewer Ordinance. The bill would revise supplemental policies regarding the Mattawoman Sewer and Waldorf Water Systems. The amendments would reflect the proposed water and sewer systems in documentation related to supplemental service areas. Commissioners introduced the bill and scheduled a public hearing for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at 6 p.m.

·       Planning and Growth Management staff also held a briefing on the Fall 2024 Water and Sewer Category Amendment Cycle. Requests for amendments are heard on a semi-annual cycle for requested service category amendments as outlined in the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan. The Department of Planning and Growth Management received four applicant-driven requests during this cycle. Commissioners voted to schedule a public hearing for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at 6 p.m.

·       Kirby Blass, Planner III, and Kelly Palmer, Planner III, Department of Planning and Growth Management, briefed commissioners on Proposed Bill 2024-16: Zoning Text Amendment ZTA 24-182, Required Widths of Aisles and Driveways & Parking Area Surfaces for Agritourism Projects.  The amendment would clarify width of aisle, driveway, and parking area surface requirements for Agritourism projects.  Commissioners voted to introduce the bill and schedule a public hearing for Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024 at 6 p.m.

·       Mark Anderson, Vice President of Land Development; Matthew Wineman, Division President, Lennar; Andrew Vail, Associate Vice President, Whitman, Requardt & Associates; and Rick Barnas, President, Barnas Engineering, provided an annual update on Docket 90 in the St. Charles Community.

·       Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator, introduced a briefing on the Charles County Government's federal lobbying agenda led by Joseph Green of G.S. Proctor & Associates, Inc.

·       Megan Donnick, Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, David Johnson, Vice President of Bolton, and Nick Webb, Associate Consultant, and Alexis Blackwell, Director of Human Resources, discussed with Commissioners about Healthcare options for Charles County Employees. Charles County Government has a three-year contract with CareFirst, which was awarded in July 2022 for three years with four optional one-year extensions. As a part of the discussion, presenters proposed beginning the request for proposal process in the summer/fall of 2026, with the winning proposal to be awarded a contract to begin in the July 1, 2027 plan year.

·       Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of the Department of Fiscal and Administrative Services, briefed commissioners on the Investment and Actuarial Reviews for the Charles County Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB), Sheriff’s Office Retirement Plan (SORP), and the Charles County Pension Plan.

Approval Items

·       Letters of Support and Commitment for Charles County Resiliency Authority Grant Applications for phase 2 of the Concrete to Green Stormwater Pocket Park Project at Elite Gymnastics, phase 2 of the East Waldorf Residential Stormwater Drainage Improvement Project, and Nature-Based Climate Solutions on Bensville Park, Robert D. Stethem Memorial Sports Complex.

·       A request for additional holiday leave for county employees during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. County employees now have full-day closures on Nov. 27, Dec. 26, and Jan. 2, 2025 and a half-day off on Dec. 24.

·       A request for property improvements to the Clifford House.

 

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