Planning/Zoning
Historic Preservation Open Meetings Audio Recordings Town Mtg Minutes Water/Sewer Traffic/Trucks Wharf Project Planning/Zoning Open Space Issue Election Information Miscellaneous Media Contacts Links

Comp Plan Update
1998 Comp Plan
Wants CAC Recommendations in Comprehensive Plan - [Sherry Adam]
I find myself sitting in the auditorium of the Queen Annes County High School once again. Visions of the previous FASTC meetings enter my mind as I look around at the crowd forming. We are all here to once again let “government” know how “We the people feel”. As I listen to people speak [...]
Planning Commission Agenda - July 21, 2010
7:00 p.m. County Annex Building - 2nd Floor (B) 206 North Commerce Street I. CALL TO ORDER – Christopher Frank – Chair II. Review of Minutes [...]
Is `growth` always good? - [Dan Rodricks, Baltimore Sun]
Sustainability, not unbridled development, should be the guiding principle Looking for signs of recovery in our part of the country, we note that homebuilders took out permits to construct nearly 1,900 new residential units in the Baltimore metropolitan area in the first four months of the year. That’s a 70 percent rise over the same period [...]
CLICK HERE TO SEE EVERYTHING ON RUTHSBURG HARD SKILLS FACILITY
Announcements The Department of State (DoS) and General Services Administration (GSA) have determined that the Hunt Ray/CrismerFarm in Queen Anne’s County will no longer be considered for the proposed DoSForeign Affairs Security Training Center.  Click Here for Details News Articles NEW! Links to articles concerning the demise of the Ruthsburg FASTC NEW! It`s Official [...]
Planning Commission Meeting Agenda - June 16, 2010
7:00 pm County Annex Building - 2nd Floor (B) 206 North Commerce Street I. CALL TO ORDER – Christopher Frank – Chair II. Review of [...]
Leveling the environmental playing field - [Pamela Wood, The Capital]
When it comes to homeowners and community groups fighting deep-pocketed polluters and developers, Russell Stevenson wants to even the score. The semiretired lawyer has been working for more than a year to establish the Chesapeake Legal Alliance, a nonprofit group that links people needing representation with lawyers willing to do the work for free. “There’s a huge [...]
Planning Commission Agenda - May 19, 2010
County Annex Building - 2nd Floor (B) 206 North Commerce Street I. CALL TO ORDER – Christopher Frank – Chair II. Review of Minutes from [...]
Planning needed to save farming, county says - [Meghan Tierney, The Washington Post]
Montgomery County’s Agricultural Reserve has helped reverse the decline of the county’s agricultural industry, but officials say careful planning is needed if farming is to remain part of the area’s future. The 93,000-acre Agricultural Reserve, a nationally recognized farmland preservation program created in 1980, restricts development in the rural upcounty. Thanks in part to the reserve, [...]
Centreville Planning Commission Minutes - February 17, 2010
The February 17, 2010 Centreville Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Christopher Frank, Chair, in the first floor meeting room of the Goodwill Fire Company. The following members and staff were present: Christopher Frank, Chair; Elizabeth Brice, Vice Chair; Penny Lins, Secretary; Norma Coursey, Bob Elliott, Kara Snyder and Carol [...]
Dobbins Island battle back to square one - [Allison Bourg, The Capital]
It could be back to the beginning for Dobbins Island. The Maryland Court of Special Appeals ruled yesterday that two environmental groups can appeal David Clickner’s plans to build a house on Dobbins Island. The decision reverses a 2007 ruling from the county Board of Appeals that kept the Magothy River Association and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation [...]
Planning Commission Minutes - March 17, 2010
The March 17, 2010 Centreville Planning Commission meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Christopher Frank, Chair, in the County Annex meeting room B. The following members and staff were present: Christopher Frank, Chair; Elizabeth Brice, Vice Chair; Norma Coursey, Bob Elliott, Kara Snyder and Carol Hellmann, Members; Tim McCluskey, Council Member; Chris [...]
PBS programs on the Bay, Growth and Development to air this week
All program times are for Maryland Public Television Tuesday, April 20th, 9:00 pm - Chesapeake Bay by Air [repeats April 21st at midnight and 4:00 am, April 23rd at 8:00 pm, April 24th at midnight, 4:00 am and 3:30 pm and May 2nd at 3:30 pm] Tuesday, April 20th, 10:30 pm - Sprawl: The Tipping Point [repeats [...]
Comprehensive plan nears final stage - [Shauna Thompson, Bay Times]
21 months after the process was initiated, final work sessions are now under way to complete the Queen Anne’s County 2010 Comprehensive Plan by end of July 2010. The Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission met in special session on April 6 and used half their regular monthly session on April 8 in the next step [...]
Economy leads more farmers to choose to preserve farmland with easements - [Karen Gardner, Frederick News-Post]
More farmers want to take advantage of a Frederick County farmland preservation program this year than in past years. Tim Blaser, program administrator for the county planning office’s Agricultural Land Preservation program, told county commissioners Tuesday morning that 19 property owners applied to be part of the program this year. Landowners get paid to preserve their land [...]
Preliminary Draft 2010 QAC Comprehensive Plan now on-line
On April 6, 2010 the Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission began to review the preliminary draft 2010 Comprehensive Plan. The Planning Commission has scheduled several more dates to complete their review of this draft plan. Once the Planning Commission review is complete and their changes have been incorporated, they will issue the plan [...]
Two Elkton Taxpayers Will Get Their Day in Court, Judge Rules - [Someone Noticed blog]
Two Elkton taxpayers seeking to stop the town from waiving major facilities fees for a developer building a senior citizen project on High Street will get their day in court, a Circuit Court judge ruled today. That decision came about after two attorneys for the municipality, arguing that the case did not have merit, [...]
State of Maryland advances concerns over FASTC proposal in Ruthsburg
In accordance with Presidential Executive Order 12372 and Code of Maryland Regulation 34.02.01.04-.06, the State Clearinghouse has coordinated the intergovernmental review of the referenced project. This letter constitutes the State Summary of Findings. The State of Maryland is pleased to be selected as the future home of the Department of State’s Foreign Affairs Security Training Center [...]
Planning Commission Agenda - March 17, 2010
County Annex Building - 2nd Floor (B) 206 North Commerce Street 7:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER – Christopher Frank – Chair II. Review of Minutes [...]
Zoning Appeals Hearing - March 10, 2010
Application has been made to the Town of Centreville Board of Zoning Appeals under the Zoning Ordinance of the Town of Centreville, municipal corporation of the State of Maryland, by Brodie Holdings, LLC, Case No. V-1-10, requesting a variance under the authority of Article VI, Section 170-56 (C) of the Zoning Ordinance of the Town [...]
Planning Commission Agenda - February 17, 2010
Goodwill Fire Company 212 Broadway 7:00 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER – Christopher Frank – Chair II. Review of Minutes from Previous Meeting III. [...]

URS's presentation concerning Design Standards from the 1/4/2007 Town Council Meeting:

Handout

Audio Tape

Presentation by URS

Town Council questions and comments

Audience questions

A copy of the Summary Report of the Reality Check Plus Growth Visioning Exercises is now available here. "A statewide analysis of the results of the four regional events specifically revealed that Reality Check participants supported:

Placing more of the states future growth inside already designated Priority Funding Areas and less growth on green field sites than is currently forecast by either Baltimore or Washington regional planning
councils or that current zoning would allow;

Protecting the states green infrastructure more consistently than either regional forecasts suggest or current zoning would allow;

Keeping the same percentage of development inside the Baltimore and Washington beltways as is currently there, even while adding significant new growth. This would represent a greater share than regional forecasts suggest will go there;

Placing a higher share of households and jobs close to transit stations than is currently there and more than is projected to be close to transit by the two regional planning councils in Baltimore and Washington;

A better jobs/housing balance throughout the state, but especially want to see more jobs created in Baltimore;

Efforts to protect water quality by locating future growth in a way that would create fewer acres of impervious surfaces when compared with either growth forecasts or what would be permissible under existing zoning;"

Final Drafts of the first two chapters of the Updated Community Plan are now available - click on "Comp Plan Update" on left.

Mary McCarthy has a report of the August 2nd Comp Plan meeting on her blog.

"Primed for Growth" is an article in the Baltimore Sun, published July 2nd, concerning growth on the Eastern Shore including Centreville.

"A Regional Approach to Growth" is related to the above Sun article.

Mary McCarthy has posted a copy of her letter to the editor concerning the Centreville Comp Plan on her web site http://www.marytmccarthy.com

Here are the Town Code and Ordinances related to building codes and building maintenance:

Ch 28 Town Code

Ordinance 01-04 (supersedes most of above)

Comments received from the 2/15/06 Public Workshop - click on "Comp Plan Update" on left.

Projects Approved by the Planning Commission (chronological order)

Project Type Discussion / Concept Preliminary Approval Final Approval
Murdoch - Granary (15 Condos) Residential 5/15/2002   7/31/2002
Hospice House Institutional   4/21/2004 3/16/2005
Torchio Building (Water Street) Mixed (Office/Residential)   3/16/2005 4/20/2005
DMS Building (Water Street) Mixed (Office/Residential)     4/20/2005
Providence Farm Phase III Residential Development 6/18/2003   5/18/2005
Callahan Property - 142 N. Commerce Mixed (Retail/Office/Residential)   4/21/2004 6/15/2005
Seagar Project - Rt 18 Retail/Office   5/18/2005 8/18/2005
Centreville Business Park Lots I & J (Flex Space) Office/Warehouse   4/20/2005  
Centreville Wharf, LLC Mixed (Office/Residential)   8/18/2005  

Video clip of Rob Babbitt speaking about managing growth in the County at County Commissioner's Meeting 6/14/2005.

Northbrook Phase I Covenents - "The Architectural Review Committee shall be composed of three (3) persons, and the following persons are designated as the initial members: William E. Schuman, III, Matthew M. Rosendale, Sr. and Jeffrey E. Thompson. Each member shall serve until the last lot is sold by Declarant. Upon the last being sold by the Declarant, the owners of the lots within the community, by majority vote of the lot owners present at a meeting to be called by the Declarant, shall elect the members of the Architectural Review Committee, ... "  COMMENT:  The mechanism for enforcement of these convents has never been established since the homeowners meetings has never been called.

CGC Letter to the Town (response to Pinder's letter) 12/14/2004 - "If there is a problem with the planning and zoning commission operating outside its by-laws by having a person serve more than one year as chairman, then it should be corrected. This is not a reflection on the performance of Mrs. Elizabeth Brice, the current chairman. She has given years of excellent volunteer service to the town as a member and chairman of the planning and zoning commission and has done an admirable job, considering the lack of guidance provided to that board by town council members."

Norman Pinder's Response to Mary's Position Statement - "As an elected official for the Town of Centreville your responsibility is to ALL of the citizens of this community, not to create division among any one group of people such as the Planning and Zoning Commission."

Gene Ransom's Letter to Donna Turner 12/2/2004 - "With regard to the Woods annexation, I have see [sic] partial documentation including a staff report by a low level county community planner that states they felt in their 'opinion' it was consistent with the plan.  I have still not seen any documents from the County Planning Commission, The County attorney, or the Queen Anne' s County Commission stating either project is consistent, or granting a waiver."

Joe Steven's Letter to County Commissioners re: Symphony Village Annexation 12/1/2004 - ". No express approval of the R-I zoning was requested or obtained by the County Commissioners because clearly none is required under Article 23A, 9(c). The R-l zoning classification docs not permit land uses substantially different than the land use specified in the Centreville Community Plan. In fact the land uses allowed in the Town R-1 zoning and identified in the Centreville Community Plan are identical."

MDP letter concerning Symphony Village annexation (attachment 1 of Gene Ransom's letter) - "We note that the R-1 Residential zone, which is being proposed for the property, may be considered substantially different from the Agricultural land use recommended in the County Comprehensive Plan.  Therefore, we recommend that the Town coordinate with the County to determine if a waiver will be necessary."

The "Statement of Consistency" for Northbrook - "Although the plan recommends some residential uses and development design standards which differ from the proposed R-l zoning classification, the Plan's recommendations for the general use of this property are substantially the same as the uses permitted by the proposed R-l classification."

Citizen, QA's officials ask if county ever waived zoning for two Centreville annexations Star-Democrat 11/30/2004 - "Citing a handbook for the Maryland Municipal League, Storm said 'express approval of the county governing board' is needed if there is a significant change from county zoning to town zoning on a property annexed by a town."

Centrevillle Faces 'Growing' Problem WBAL Report 11/30/2004 - "You would think that, according to the law, at least my reading of it, that at least one of those two documents would be there -- either a statement of consistency or a waiver, and it looks life neither one is there," Queen Anne's County Commissioner Gene Ransom said. "This is the only check and balance in the planning process with regard to towns and counties."

Mary McCarthy's Position Statement 12/2/2004 - "As a result of the planning commissions continual violation of their own bylaws, what I consider a lack of vision, leadership and direction on the community plan and in order for the town to begin to heal the many wounds it has become inflicted with in recent years, I am hereby calling for the resignation of the chairman of the towns planning commission."

Article 23A 9. Definitions and limitations.

1) A municipal corporation which is subject to the provisions of Article XI-E of the Maryland Constitution may not amend its charter or exercise its powers of annexation, incorporation or repeal of charter as to affect or impair in any respect the powers relating to sanitation, including sewer, water and similar facilities, and zoning, of the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission or of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission. Except that where any area is annexed to a municipality authorized to have and having then a planning and zoning authority, the municipality shall have exclusive jurisdiction over planning and zoning and subdivision control within the area annexed; provided nothing in this exception shall be construed or interpreted to grant planning and zoning authority or subdivision control to a municipality not authorized to exercise that authority at the time of such annexation; and further provided, that no municipality annexing land may for a period of five years following annexation, place that land in a zoning classification which permits a land use substantially different from the use for the land specified in the current and duly adopted master plan or plans or if there is no adopted or approved master plan, the adopted or approved general plan or plans of the county or agency having planning and zoning jurisdiction over the land prior to its annexation without the express approval of the board of county commissioners or county council of the county in which the municipality is located.

Planning and Zoning Board By-Laws - "Officers will serve for a term of one year and shall not immediately succeed themselves."

Subdivision Plats

Ridgeview ("Affordable" Townhomes/Duplexes between Liberty and Commerce)    Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Here is a MLS listing for one of them.

Symphony Village Phase I - Page 1

Northbrook Phase I - Page 1

Providence Farm Phase II - Page 1

Centreville's Comprehensive Plan - "To develop a detailed, community-based plan and separate implementation ordinances aimed at managing anticipated growth in the Centreville area so as to preserve its existing character and stability and enhance local economic health through: ... (2) Encouraging appropriate types of responsible development at rates of growth compatible with the Town's infrastructure and fiscal resources."

Whitehill and Turner talking about comp plan update (in March. 2004)  "..parts of the plan have been realized."  "... they [Centerville's Planning Commission] are eager to move forward."

Zoning Ordinance (13 Megabytes)

Subdivision Regulations (4.3 Megabytes)