On Tuesday, Oct. 29, Commissioners participated in the annual Charles County Department of Economic Development Fall Meeting. The meeting featured conversations on the operations of Naval Support Facility Indian Head. This year’s meeting promoted strategic partnerships and how they benefit innovation, business growth, and job creation in the region. Kelly Robertson Slagle, Director of the Charles County Department of Economic Development, provided an update on the state of economic development in the county. Dewan Clayborn, IOM, President and Chief Executive of the Central Maryland Chamber of Commerce, provided the event’s keynote address.

During the afternoon, commissioners received the Bi-Annual Health Department Report from Dr. Dianna Abney, Health Officer, and Amber Starn, Director of Community Health and Evaluation with the Charles County Department of Health. The report included updates on respiratory virus activity in the county, including COVID-19 and preventative measures residents should take, upcoming free community clinics, and other emergency preparedness health-related activities.

On Oct. 30, the Commissioners reviewed and discussed the work session on Zoning Map Amendment 20-01; Wintergreen, Rural Conservation to Commercial Village with Elizabeth Theobalds, Deputy County Attorney. The Commissioners initially held this work session on July 27, 2021, after a public hearing in June of that year. The amendment would have changed the designation of a property on Leonardtown Road from rural conservation to commercial village. At that time, the Commissioners did not make a decision to approve or deny the amendment. After an appeal to the Circuit Court, the amendment was returned to the Commissioners to conduct the work session and to issue an order. During the discussion, the Commissioners reviewed the procedural history and record presented in July 2021.  As a result of their discussion, the Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the amendment.

 

Public Hearings

On Tuesday, Oct. 29, Jacob Dyer, Acting Director, was joined by Anna Horevay of McGuire Woods, LLP, on the 2024 Bond Issue. The proposed Bond Size is $73 million split between 10, 15, and 30-year bonds to support the County’s Capital Improvement Program. The bond sale is scheduled to take place in December. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the bond issue.

Commissioners also voted to adopt Bill 2024-13: Zoning Text Amendment 24-184 Additional Transitional Provisions for the Waldorf Activity Centers, which would create new transitional provisions to modify specific zoning requirements for an interim period and allow residential use on the portion of the ground floor of multifamily buildings on major streets that is not visible from the street.

Finally, Commissioners voted 3-1 to approve  Bills 2024-07: Zoning Text Amendment #23-176 Aviation Business Park and Bill 2024-08: Zoning Map Amendment #23-02 Aviation Business Park. The bills would create an Aviation Business Park Zone or General Industrial Zone using 236 acres around the Maryland Airport in Indian Head and along Ray Drive. Commissioner Thomasina O. Coates, District 2, recused herself from the vote.

On Wednesday, Oct. 30, Commissioners held a public hearing on Proposed Bill 2024-06: Zoning Text Amendment 22-174 Mixed Use Zone. The amendment would create housing for specific populations in large residential developments in mixed-use zones and allow that housing to be substituted for commercial (office and/or retail) uses. Commissioners voted unanimously to hold the record open until Dec. 3 and have a work session on the bill on Dec. 10.

Actions on Boards and Commissions

Commissioners took the following actions on county boards and commissions:

• Reappointed Ben Schultz and Franklin Robinson and appointed Stephanie McKissic to the Historic Preservation Commission.
• Reappointed Jerome Johnson and appointed Robert Padgett and Tarshea Smith to the Nuisance Abatement Hearing Board.

Approval Items

• A budget transfer request of $110,000 for the technology buildout for the Centennial St. Conference room.
• A budget amendment increase of $3,000 to remove the match requirement from the long driveway grant program and reimburse 28 residents for their contributions to date.
• A change order of $299,951.00 for continued construction engineering services, electrical, and automation improvements from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, on the Mattawoman Wastewater Treatment Plant.
• A change order of $338,704.38 for grout work related to the Mattawoman Wastewater Treatment Plant.

 

Citizens with special needs may contact the Maryland Relay Service at 7-1-1 (Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258).