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Zoning Ordinance Update
Background:
Title 4 of the Land Use Article of the Maryland Annotated Code, as amended, empowers the Board of County Commissioners to enact a Zoning Ordinance to provide for its administration, enforcement and amendment. The Zoning Ordinance is one tool necessary to implement the Comprehensive Plan. The Zoning Ordinance is designed to regulate land uses, many aspects of land use can impact adjoining properties, neighborhoods, public facilities and overall County development. As mandated in the Comprehensive Plan, the Zoning Ordinance is adopted to regulate land uses as part of the effort to promote the health, safety and general welfare of Calvert County residents. Ordinance 35-06 approved by the Board of County Commissioners adopted the current Calvert County Zoning Ordinance in May of 2006. Many text amendments have been adopted amending the Zoning Ordinance since.
Purpose:
The County’s Comprehensive Plan was recently adopted in 2019 and amended in 2022. The project started in 2016, since the beginning of that project, County staff and the Comprehensive Plan consultant conducted a zoning analysis of existing conditions. Through the confirmation of the County’s vision through the Comprehensive Plan adoption – Calvert 2040, staff began working on developing zoning recommendations and a draft ordinance that would bring the Zoning Ordinance into compliance with the new Comprehensive Plan.
Goals:
- Ensure uniformity with the Calvert 2040 newly adopted Comprehensive Plan
- Conduct a comprehensive review of zoning regulations regarding current land use practices
- Condense the document and remove unnecessary language
- Re-organize sections to make the document more intuitive for users
- Revise vague language to limit need for Zoning Interpretations
- Update outdated requirements to be in line with State standards and current best management practices
- Provide an ordinance that is user friendly for staff, citizens and businesses
Zoning Ordinance Draft Map:
How to submit public comment:
***NOTE – Public comments will only be considered regarding the articles for which the public comment period is open for. Public comments received regarding other articles will be considered at the time of the public comment period is open for that designated article. ***
Email to: ZOupdate@calvertcountymd.gov
Mail to: Attn: ZO Update, 205 Main Street, Prince Frederick, MD 20678
May 2023 Draft Zoning Ordinance
- A1 Title, Purpose, and Applicability
- A2 Definitions
- A3 Zoning Map
- A4 Agricultural Districts
- A5 Rural Residential Districts
- A6 Residential Districts
- A7 Commercial Districts
- A8 Industrial Districts
- A9 Historic Districts
- A17 Transferable Development Rights
- A18 Uses
- A18 Table 18-1 Outside Town Center Uses
- A18 Table 18-2 Town Center Uses
- A18 Table 18-3 Solomons Town Center Uses
- A19 Accessory Structures
- A20 Forest Conservation
- A21 Natural Resources
- A22 Critical Area
- A23 Marine and Water-Dependent Facilities
- A24 Floodplain
- A25 Site Development and Design Standards
- A26 Outdoor Lighting
- A27 Parking
- A28 Landscaping
- A29 Signs
- A30 Zoning Approvals, Variances, and Appeals
- A31 Subdivision
- A32 Nonconformities
- A33 Enforcement
Schedule:
Zoning Ordinance Public Adoption Schedule
Date | Meeting Body | Action |
---|---|---|
April 19, 2023 | BOCC/ PC | Joint Work Session: Overview of Planning, Comp. Plan/ ZO purpose, strategies/ goals of this update. |
May 10, 2023 | Public Comment Period Open: Article 3 - Zoning Map Article 4 - Agricultural Districts Article 5 - Rural Residential Districts Article 6 - Residential Districts Article 7 - Commercial Districts Article 8 - Industrial Districts Article 9 - Historic Districts | |
May 31, 2023 | Public Comments Due: Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | |
May 31, 2023 | Public Comment Period Open: Article 22 - Critical Area Article 23 - Marine and Water-Dependent Uses Article 24 - Floodplain | |
June 21, 2023 | BOCC/PC | Joint Work Session: Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 |
June 21, 2023 | Public Comments Due: Articles 22, 23, 24 | |
June 21, 2023 | Public Comment Period Open: Article 25 Site Development and Design Standards Article 31 Subdivision | |
June 22, 2023 | Public Forum on Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 | |
July 12, 2023 | Public Comments Due: Articles 25, 31 | |
July 12, 2023 | Public Comment Period Open: Article 26 Lighting Article 27 Parking Article 28 Landscaping Article 29 Signs | |
July 19, 2023 | BOCC/PC | Joint Work Session: Articles 22, 23, 24 |
August 9, 2023 | Public Comments Due: Articles 26, 27, 28, 29 | |
August 9, 2023 | Public Comment Period Open: Article 18 Uses Article 19 Accessory Structures | |
August 23, 2023 | BOCC/PC | Joint Work Session: Articles 25, 31 |
August 24, 2023 | Public Forum on Articles 22, 23, 24 | |
August 30, 2023 | Public Comments Due: Articles 18, 19 | |
August 30, 2023 | Public Comment Period Open: Article 30 Zoning Approvals, Variances, and Appeals Article 32 Nonconformities Article 33 Enforcement | |
September 20, 2023 | BOCC/PC | Joint Work Session: Articles 26, 27, 28, 29 |
September 20, 2023 | Public Comments Due: Articles 30, 32, 33 | |
September 20, 2023 | Public Comment Period Open: Article 1 Purpose Article 2 Definitions Article 17 Transferable Development Rights | |
October 11, 2023 | Public Comments Due: Articles 1, 2, 17 | |
October 11, 2023 | Public Comment Period Open: Article 20 Forest Conservation Article 21 Natural Resources | |
October 18, 2023 | BOCC/PC | Joint Work Session: Articles 18, 19 |
October 26, 2023 | Public Forum on Articles 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 31 | |
November 1, 2023 | Public Comments Due: Articles 20, 21 | |
November 15, 2023 | BOCC/PC | Joint Work Session: Articles 30, 32, 33 |
November 16, 2023 | Public Forum on Articles 18, 19, 30, 32, 33 | |
December 13, 2024 | BOCC/PC | Joint Work Session: Articles 1, 2, 17 |
January 2024 | BOCC/PC | Joint Work Session: Articles 20, 21 |
January 2024 | Public Forum on Articles 1, 2, 17, 20, 21 | |
January 2024 | Public Comment Period Open: Final Draft Zoning Ordinance | |
February 2024 | Public Comments Due: Final Draft Zoning Ordinance | |
March 2024 | BOCC/ PC | Joint Public Hearing: Adoption of Final Draft Zoning Ordinance |