On Tuesday, Sept. 29, County Commissioners held their annual Preliminary State Legislative Proposals Work Session. Commissioners considered 30 state legislative proposals for potential inclusion in the County’s 2027 State Legislative Package to be forwarded to the Charles County Delegation. Commissioners ultimately reached consensus to include 13 proposals and asked staff to return with additional information on two others before making a final decision.

State Transportation Program Update

Representatives from the Maryland Department of Transportation presented the Draft Fiscal Year 2027–2032 Consolidated Transportation Program during the annual Consolidated Transportation Program Tour. The Consolidated Transportation Program is Maryland’s six-year capital budget for transportation projects. The presentation included an update on the Southern Maryland Rapid Transit project. The Maryland Transit Administration is finalizing the Planning and Environment Linkages (PEL) Study for the approximately 19-mile project, which would extend from the Branch Avenue Metrorail Station in Prince George’s County to Waldorf and White Plains in Charles County.

Proposed Cannabis Growing Moratorium

Wes Adams, County Attorney, presented a proposed temporary moratorium on large-scale cannabis growing operations in all zoning districts except the General Industrial and Heavy Industrial zones. If adopted, the resolution would prohibit large-scale cannabis growing operations in other zoning districts through Sept. 1, 2027. The moratorium would give the Department of Planning and Growth Management time to develop recommendations for a zoning text amendment addressing where cannabis growing operations should be permitted.

Ribbon Cutting at Cliffton Wastewater Treatment Plant

Before the Sept. 29 meeting, commissioners joined Department of Public Works staff in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Cliffton Wastewater Treatment Plant. A photo gallery from the morning event is available online.

For more information on the meeting, including a full list of briefings, approval items, actions on boards and commissions, and more, visit the Charles County Board of County Commissioners webpage and select “Available Archives.”