On Tuesday, October 1, the Charles County Commissioners convened to address several significant issues, including proposed zoning changes around Maryland Airport, the 2025 Preliminary State Legislative Proposal Package, and budgetary actions affecting various county departments.
Rezoning Proposals for Maryland Airport Area
The primary focus of the session was a briefing on two proposed zoning amendments. Charles Rice, Planning Director, alongside Cathy Thompson, Assistant Chief of Planning, and Kelly Robertson-Slagle, Director of Economic Development, presented Bill 2024-(07) Zoning Text Amendment #23-176 and Bill 2024-(08) Zoning Map Amendment #23-02. These amendments aim to rezone specific properties around the Maryland Airport into either an Aviation Business Park Zone or a Light Industrial Zone. This strategic rezoning would align the area’s development with its aviation-related operations.
The Commissioners received the Planning Commission’s recommendation and voted to schedule a public hearing for October 29, 2024, to gather further public input on the proposed zoning changes.
2025 Legislative Proposal Package
Another major point of discussion was the 2025 Preliminary State Legislative Proposal Package, led by Danielle Mitchell, Assistant Deputy County Attorney. This session aimed to finalize the set of legislative proposals that Charles County will present to the 2025 Maryland General Assembly in January. The proposals include a notable initiative to introduce a ferry service to Indian Head, along with six other legislative priorities. The Commissioners voted to approve all seven proposals.
Financial Briefings and Recommendations
Jacob Dyer, Acting Director of Fiscal and Administrative Services, delivered a detailed briefing on the Sheriff’s Office Retirement Plan (SORP) Fixed Income Assets. A consultant provided recommendations on diversifying the fund’s investments to better support the retirement plan. After reviewing the recommendations, the Commissioners voted to adopt the proposed strategies.
Additionally, Dyer and TaTanya Bowman, Assistant Chief of Budget, provided insight into the 2024 Charles County bond issue. They proposed issuing bonds worth $73 million to support the County’s Capital Improvement Program. Commissioners voted to schedule a public hearing for this issue on October 29 at 6 p.m.
Other Notable Briefings
- Summer Youth Employment Program: Former Local Care Team Convener Fredina James, Deputy Director Laura Gustafson, and Local Management Board staff briefed the Commissioners on the successes of the program during fiscal year 2025.
- Mallows Bay Visitors Center Feasibility Study: Updates were presented by Sam Drury, Deputy Director, and Elena Gilroy, Mallows Bay Operations Manager, from the Department of Recreation, Parks, and Tourism. This ongoing study aims to assess the feasibility of a new visitors center in the region.
- Collaborative Community Improvement Projects: Acting Deputy County Administrator Jenifer Ellin, Chief Equity Officer Renesha Miles, and Community Engagement Coordinator Doria Fleisher recommended the selection of the Bryans Road/Indian Head area as the pilot community for the Equity Emphasis Area initiative. The Commissioners voted to approve this area for the project.
- Zoning Text Amendment 22-174: Charles Rice and Tetchiana Anderson, Planner III, briefed the Commissioners on Proposed Bill 2024-06 Zoning Text Amendment, which seeks to incorporate housing for “specific populations” within the Mixed-Use Zone. This amendment would permit certain residential uses to replace commercial functions. The Commissioners agreed to hold an additional public hearing at a future date.
Approved Actions
Several key items were approved by the Commissioners during the session:
- A budget amendment increase of $80,580 for a stake body truck procurement.
- A $1.5 million budget transfer for the Charles County Board of Education.
- A budget amendment request of $172,250 and a change order of $172,245.21 for the Mattawoman Flow Equalization Basin project.
- Approval of up to $1,000 for the Interfaith Commission Clergy Breakfast.
Next Session and Public Hearing
The Commissioners will reconvene for their next session on October 8-9, with the public hearing on the zoning changes and bond issue set for October 29.
For those interested, the meeting and public hearing can be viewed here.
Citizens with special needs can contact the Maryland Relay Service at 711 or Relay Service TDD: 800-735-2258.
