Charles County 2013 Comprehensive Plan Draft · 2019-05-29 · • 2015 Plan is a complete update/rewrite of the 2006 Plan. • The Plan meets the content requirements of the Maryland

Charles County 2015 (draft)

Comprehensive Plan

Update & Status Briefing to the County Commissioners

Presented by: Steven Ball, Planning Director February 3, 2015

• This presentation describes the chronology of the most current draft Comprehensive Plan and changes to the draft plan over time. It will define the process from this point in time.

• Under state law, the Planning Commission (PC) prepares the Plan, certifies it and sends it to County Commissioners.

• The County Commissioners are the final approving authority for the Plan. Can advise the Planning Commission on issues of concern, but not change the plan. (Attorney General Opinion, 2014)

Slide 2 County Commissioners – February 3, 2015

• The current Plan was adopted in 2006.

• 2015 Plan is a complete update/rewrite of the 2006 Plan.

• The Plan meets the content requirements of the Maryland Code Land Use Article (replaced Article 66B effective October 2012).

• The Plan has 11 Chapters (versus 14 in 2006), and has been streamlined where possible.

• County population projection: 2015 = 155,000 2040 = 222,000


COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: CHRONOLOGY

2010-2011: • Public input process of plan. Held a series

of public outreach meetings including visioning and design workshops. Proposed 3 land use map and text scenarios. Staff proposed a combined “Merged Scenario” plan with parts of the various options.

County Commissioners – February 3, 2015 Slide 4

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: CHRONOLOGY

2012-2013: • Hosted a Smart Growth Seminar of experts

held at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM). Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act (SB236) passed.

• Planning Commission held numerous policy setting meetings to form the basis of the plan. Changed staff recommendations on the plan and proposed Tier Map.


COMPREHENSIVE PLAN: CHRONOLOGY cont.

2012-2013: • Planning Commission held public hearings

and work sessions. Recommends a draft Comprehensive Plan and a draft “Tiers Map” to implement SB236. (Plan sent to BoCC, August, 2013)


LAND USE PLANS COMPARED

Slide 7

PC Tiers Map PC Recommended 2013 Plan

2006 Plan

County Commissioners – February 3, 2015



• The draft plan and Tier Map, presented by the Planning Commission in 2013, removed the Agricultural Conservation Land Use District.

• It was replaced with Rural Residential (RR) District. WHY?


• Tier Map restrictions. Tier III allows for major subdivisions in rural areas on septics; however, Tier III cannot be zoned or planned for conservation. Not consistent with SB236.


2013-2014: • Numerous public objections submitted on the

transmitted draft plan. (Summary over 50 pages, 2000+ comments).

• County Commissioners held several briefings with staff.

• Formed a “Tier Map Working Group” to propose a revised map to comply with SB236.


• Commissioners adopted a revised Tier Map which the MDP found consistent with SB236.

• Directed staff to include the Tier Map in the Comprehensive Plan with new policies on farm and forest protection and to make changes to the plan for consistency with the Tier Map.

• Voted to send the plan back to the Planning Commission to have them consider the new Tier Map and recommended changes supported by the Commissioners.


ADOPTED TIER MAP


BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION

2014-2015: • Membership on the Planning Commission

changed from 2013. Three new members were installed on the Board.

• Planning Commission reviewed and approved the inclusion of the adopted Tier Map into the plan and new policies but also directed staff to address three additional issues:


BACK TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION cont.

1. Removal of the Deferred Development District to better match the land uses with the Tier Map and Merged Scenario;

2. Reinserting the Agricultural Conservation land use back into the plan to better match the Tier Map;

3. Including a Priority Preservation Area (PPA) to focus preservation grant funds;


DDD changed to WC

Slide 17 Planning Commission – January 12, 2015

RECOMMENDED LAND USE PLAN MAP


RECOMMENDED PRIORITY PRESERVATION AREA MAP


SUMMARY OF MAJOR CHANGES IN THE 2015 DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN


1. Incorporates the adopted “Tier Map” and recognizes SB236 criteria and impacts on use of septic systems in rural areas;

2. Removes Deferred Development District (DDD), replaces it with Watershed Conservation District (WC) (Merged Scenario);

SUMMARY OF MAJOR CHANGES IN THE 2015 DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE PLAN cont.


3. Adds 1,100 acres from previous DDD to Residential land uses with (east of Middletown Rd) with use of Transferrable Development Rights (TDRs) (Merged Scenario):

4. Promotes existing employment parks, economic development efforts, including rural broadband services;



5. Recognizes the new Redevelopment District (WURC) and our transit corridor;

6. Updates the Water Resources Element (WRE) based on the Tier Map and new aquifer permit use restrictions;

7. Relocates farm, forest data to a new Chapter 11: Farmland, Forestry and Fisheries. Includes new policies for stronger protection of these resources (Tier work group)



8. Establishes new TDRs Receiving Sites in White Plains and Newburg – Sub Area Planning Area;

9. Recognizes Rural/Historic Villages importance and our community revitalization and tourism ongoing efforts;



10.Includes a new Energy Conservation Element to promote energy conservation, baseline of energy use;

11.Supports the Airport Land Use study and Military Base Joint Land Use studies (JLUS) and implementation measures;

12.Advocates the use of transit and light rail in a “transit corridor” as a long term Smart Growth planning strategy;

TRANSPORTATION – TRANSIT DEVELOPMENT CORRIDOR


WHAT’S NEXT IN THE PROCESS?


• Staff completes formatting the changes to the plan per direction of the Planning Commission;

• Transmittal of the plan to Maryland Department of Planning (MDP) and State for Agency Clearinghouse (60 day) review process;

• Staff reviews and formats State Agency comments for consideration by the Planning Commission;

WHAT’S NEXT IN THE PROCESS? cont.


• Planning Commission holds a public hearing and keeps the record open;

• Planning Commission evaluates all comments, considers changes, recommendation to County Commissioners;

• County Commissioners holds a work session, makes a decision on the plan;

Planning Commission Presented by:

Charles County Government Department of Planning and

Growth Management P. O. Box 2150, LaPlata, MD 20646

(301) 645-0540 PGM/Planning Charles County

[email protected] www.charlescountymd.gov

The Comprehensive Plan, background, data and recently recommended changes by the Planning Commission can be viewed on the following web page:

http://www.charlescountyplan.org/document-library


Charles County Government Department of Planning and

Growth Management P. O. Box 2150, LaPlata, MD 20646

(301) 645-0540 PGM/Planning Charles County

[email protected] www.charlescountymd.gov

Mission Statement The mission of Charles County Government is to provide our citizens the highest quality service

possible in a timely, efficient, and courteous manner. To achieve this goal, our government must be operated in an open and accessible

atmosphere, be based on comprehensive long- and short-term planning, and have an appropriate

managerial organization tempered by fiscal responsibility

Vision Statement Charles County is a place where all people thrive and businesses grow and prosper;

where the preservation of our heritage and environment is paramount, where government

services to its citizens are provided at the highest level of excellence; and where the

quality of life is the best in the nation.

Planning Commission Presented by:

Documents

Charles County 2013 Comprehensive Plan Draft · 2019-05-29 · • 2015 Plan is a complete update/rewrite of the 2006 Plan. • The Plan meets the content requirements of the Maryland