County Commissioners were joined by leaders from the Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services, and Town of La Plata Police Department for a joint meeting on public safety in Charles County. The meeting was a forum for officials to discuss the challenges and opportunities to provide for public safety and emergency response. Topics included leveraging technology and managing staffing needs as the county grows.

Commissioners were also joined by Dr. Maria Navarro, School Superintendent; Dr. Marvin Jones, Chief of Schools; and Jason Stoddard, Director of School Safety and Security, to discuss ways to improve school safety, security, and discipline. The conversation included a review of the school system’s code of conduct and response levels to classroom disruptions.

2025 Legislative Update

Danielle Mitchell, Assistant Deputy County Attorney, and Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator, updated commissioners on the 2025 Maryland General Assembly Session. They also briefed them on three drafted local proposals, including bills to repeal the Charles County Gaming Review Board, to expand the authority of special police officers to maintain the safety and security of elected officials and county employees, and to expand the locations for consumption of liquor within the Blue Crabs Stadium.

Commissioners supported the request of Director of Public Works, Martin Harris, to provide testimony concerning HB20 - Transportation Investment Priorities Act of 2025.

A letter of support was also drafted for House Bill 97, which would expand the capabilities of economic development authorities and allow communities to create Redevelopment Authorities to enhance support for economic development opportunities.

A letter of opposition was approved for SB292, which specifies certain vehicle offenses as secondary enforcement only.

Briefings

• Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator, and Danielle Mitchell, Assistant Deputy County Attorney, presented a briefing on two NIKE Land Donations requests by  Melwood and the Piscataway Indian Nation. Land donation requests were received from both parties in September 2023. The Melwood donation would include a 10-acre property at 12705 Country Lane in Waldorf. The current tenant, Melwood, has leased the property since 1992. Commissioners approved a public hearing for the Melwood land donation on Feb. 25, 2025, at 6 p.m.

The Piscataway donation would be for a 16.492-acre property on 16816 Country Lane, which has an appraised value of $2.88 million. The Official Piscataway Conoy Tribe of Maryland, Inc., has occupied the property since 2023. Commissioners voted 3-1 to schedule a public hearing for Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 6 p.m.

• Charles Rice, Planning Director, and Cathy Thompson, Assistant Chief of Planning, briefed the Commissioners on a revised design for on-site public notice signage. The presentation reviewed the type of zoning applications that require on-site posted signage and comparisons between the original version and the new sign template. The latest sign template is weatherproof and includes a QR code leading to a website containing all information for a given application.

The new signs were piloted with several new projects over the past year, including the Aviation Business Park Rezoning project. They have received positive feedback for their weatherproof design, more legible fonts, and overall visibility. Commissioners approved using the new sign template as the standard rule of practice and procedure going forward.

• Joel Binkley, Planning Supervisor; Cathy Thompson, Assistant Chief of Planning; Charles Rice, Planning Director; and Dawud Abdur-Rahman, Planning Commission Secretary, held a briefing on updates regarding the Affordable Housing Workgroup's activities. The workgroup is developing a comprehensive strategy to increase the county's affordable housing availability.

The workgroup recommended an aspirational goal that 25% of new residential housing units be affordable to HUD’s three low-income tiers by 2033. In addition, the Planning Commission would devise and update a five-year work plan that includes specifics, including regulatory changes, developer incentives, and other programs enhancing affordability.

The Affordable Housing Workgroup plans to present its strategy to the Planning Commission and the public for input in March 2025. The proposal would return to commissioners for approval in May.

• Sam Drury, Deputy Director of the Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism, provided an update on the future Mallows Bay Heritage Center feasibility study. The future heritage center will aim to enhance education, exploration, and economic opportunities for both visitors and residents by providing increased accessibility, educational initiatives, and improved amenities. The Inflation Reduction Act awarded a $5 million grant for planning and preconstruction of the visitor center.

In addition, the Mallows Bay-Potomac River National Marine Sanctuary received upgrades in November 2024, with electrical power access and broadband network connection. The completion of this project will bring network connectivity to the park to include future safety and security enhancements, including an emergency call station.

• Deborah Hall, Acting County Administrator; Jenifer Ellin, Acting Deputy County Administrator; Doria Fleisher, Assistant Chief of Media; and Cathy Thompson, Assistant Chief of Planning, briefed commissioners on the Winkler House. The home, built in 1923, currently sits on land designated as the future site of the new La Plata Library.

A stakeholder meeting was held in Sept. 2024 to determine sentiments related to the property and the value of renovation versus demolishing the house. Because of the high cost of necessary renovations, presenters recommended demolishing the house to create a pocket park while creating a display within the library to commemorate the house.

Commissioner Gilbert “BJ” Bowling suggested allowing the Town of La Plata to take ownership of the home before demolition if the community wants to preserve it. Commissioners agreed to send a letter giving the town 30 days to decide whether to take over the Winkler House without impeding the library project.

• Charles Rice, Planning Director, and Reed Faasen, Zoning Administrator, held a work session on Proposed Bill 2024-16. The Bill would exempt Agritourism projects with 50 or fewer parking spaces from requirements to widen driveways to provide two-way traffic. The Commissioners deferred action on the bill to allow time for more stakeholder engagement and to address misconceptions about the bill. Commissioners voted unanimously to hold another work session on March 11.

Department Highlights

Commissioners were updated on the actions of the Department of Community Services, Recreation, Parks and Tourism, and Planning and Growth Management. Highlights included:

• The Department of Community Services secured a grant to purchase a 5-bedroom home for Jude House, Inc. The home facilitates an expansion of Jude House programs, including Robins Nest, a safe haven for sober living and reunification for women and their children.
• The Department of Recreation, Parks and Tourism has started its community engagement activities for the future Sports and Wellness Complex at the former Sears Building at St. Charles Towne Center. They also recently completed the installation of a new turf field with lighting at Bensville Park, to expand access for games and practices, and other improvements to enhance its use.
• The Department of Planning and Growth Management celebrated the inclusion of Charles County into Maryland Mesonet. Weather stations for the Mesonet system, which measure soil moisture, rain fall, and other weather-related measurements, will be built in the Soil Conservation District in Waldorf, at the Nanjemoy Community Center, and at the Jude House in Bel Alton.

Approval Items

Commissioners approved:

• A budget transfer request of $533,000 to fund the development of a shared-use path along Radio Station Road.
• A budget transfer request of $80,000 to cover the remaining fiscal year costs for mattress recycling. The volume of mattresses collected and recycled under the program is higher than projected.
• Two Inter-category budget transfer requests for Charles County Public Schools to cover $590,000 in expense movement and a budget transfer increase of $25.3 million to cover the Oracle Cloud ERP system implementation.
• A budget amendment increase of $176,775 for a property on Middletown Road for Program Open Space.
• A letter of support to the Bureau of Land Management’s proposal to open the Lower Potomac Field Station in Nanjemoy for recreational opportunities.