PRINCE FREDERICK, Md. — The Calvert County Department of Planning & Zoning will hold public input sessions in October 2025 to gather resident feedback on the St. Leonard, Huntingtown, and Owings Town Center Master Plan surveys, a critical step in shaping a consolidated Master Plan of Town Centers. The meetings, scheduled across three weeks, aim to share survey results and discuss updates to guide future development in these communities. Residents can attend at the following locations: St. Leonard on October 6 at 6 p.m. at Crossroad Christian Church, 150 Ball Road; Huntingtown on October 14 at 6 p.m. at Huntingtown Volunteer Fire Department, 4030 Old Town Road; and Owings on October 20 at 6 p.m. at Grace Brethren Church, 9870 Old Solomons Island Road.
The Calvert County Planning Commission has adopted a streamlined approach, merging individual town center master plans into a single document to reduce redundancy and provide cohesive guidance. This new Master Plan of Town Centers will include a dedicated chapter with shared background information, setting a unified vision for growth while addressing each town’s unique needs. The surveys, accessible online at www.CalvertCountyMd.gov/TownCenterUpdate, mark the initial phase of updating these plans, with public input shaping priorities like zoning, infrastructure, and community services.
Tay Harris, long-range planner, emphasized the importance of community engagement, urging residents to attend or submit feedback. Written questions can be provided at the meetings or sent in advance to Harris at 410-535-1600, extension 2333, or Tay.Harris@calvertcountymd.gov. The input sessions are designed to foster open dialogue, allowing residents to influence decisions on land use, traffic management, and public amenities in St. Leonard, Huntingtown, and Owings.
Calvert County’s town centers serve as hubs for local commerce and community activity. St. Leonard, located along Route 4, supports small businesses and residential areas. Huntingtown, centered around Route 2, balances rural charm with growing development pressures. Owings, also along Route 2, faces similar demands for sustainable growth. The consolidated master plan aims to address challenges like traffic congestion and commercial expansion while preserving each town’s character, according to the Planning & Zoning Department’s framework.
Maryland’s local government code requires counties to update comprehensive plans periodically, ensuring alignment with state growth management goals. Calvert County’s last comprehensive plan update in 2019 set benchmarks for smart growth, with town center plans refining these at a local level. Public input sessions, mandated under Maryland Land Use Article Section 1-416, ensure transparency and community involvement in zoning decisions. The county’s process mirrors efforts in neighboring St. Mary’s and Charles counties, where similar forums have shaped development along major corridors.
Previous input sessions in Calvert County, such as those for the 2019 Comprehensive Plan, drew hundreds of residents, with online surveys logging over 1,500 responses, per county records. The current effort builds on this, using survey data to identify priorities like walkability or green spaces. The Planning Commission will review feedback before drafting the final master plan, expected to guide development through 2035.
Residents unable to attend can access survey results and submit comments online, ensuring broad participation. The meetings underscore Calvert County’s commitment to collaborative planning in Southern Maryland’s evolving landscape.
