6/29/26 Planning Commission

The St. Mary's County Planning Commission held a public hearing on June 29, 2026, to discuss the draft of the 2050 Comprehensive Plan update. The meeting included a detailed presentation by the consultant team from Clarion Associates on the plan's development process, community engagement efforts, and key themes such as growth management, environmental protection, housing affordability, and infrastructure improvements. Several requested changes to the draft plan were introduced, including updates to community engagement descriptions, restoration of ferry-related goals, and map corrections. Public testimony was heard from residents expressing concerns about land use designations, infrastructure capacity, environmental impacts, and the need for more actionable policies, especially regarding housing and transportation. No decisions were made during this session; the commission will review all comments and state agency feedback before continuing deliberations in the next meeting. The plan's implementation is expected to align with capital improvement projects and zoning updates, with ongoing monitoring and periodic reviews.