The Charles County Comprehensive Plan Charles County Government Planning & Growth Management P.O. Box 2150 • 200 Baltimore Street • La Plata, MD 20646 301.645.0550 • 301.870.3000 MD Relay Service: 711 • Relay TDD: 1-800.735.2258 Equal Opportunity County 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. We support and encourage efforts to grow a diverse workplace. 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. www.CharlesCountyMD.gov County Commissioners of Charles County, Maryland Peter F. Murphy, President Debra M. Davis, Esq., Vice President Ken Robinson Amanda M. Stewart, M.Ed. Bobby Rucci 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. We support and encourage efforts to grow a diverse workplace. 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. Acknowledgements Planning Commission: Gilbert “Buddy”Bowling, Jr., Chairman, Joan Jones, Vice Chairman, Rosemin Daya, Secretary, Robin Barnes, Wayne G. Magoon, Nancy Schertler, Angela Sherard With recognition to: Stephen Bunker, Past Chairman Administration & Planning Staff: Michael D. Mallinoff, County Administrator Danielle Mitchell, Clerk to the Board of County Commissioners Steve Kaii-Ziegler, AICP, Director, Planning & Growth Management Peter Aluotto, Director (2011-2016), Planning & Growth Management Rhonda Weaver, County Attorney Elizabeth Theobalds, Deputy County Attorney Steven Ball, AICP, LEED AP, Planning Director (Comprehensive Plan Project Manager) Theresa Pickeral, Clerk to the Planning Commission Charles Rice, Environmental Program Manager Cathy Thompson, Community Planning Program Manager Yolanda Hipski, AICP, Subdivision & Site Planning Program Manager Jason Groth, Chief of Resource & Infrastructure Management Tony Puleo, Planner III, Amy Blessinger, AICP, Planner III, Beth Groth, Planner III, Karen Wiggen, Planner III, Sheila Geisert, Planning Technician, Glenn (Map Wizard) Gorman, Resource Analyst, Stephanie Springer, Administrative Associate, Zakary A. Krebeck, AICP, Senior Planner Consultants Environmental Resources Management, Annapolis, Maryland; EDSA, Baltimore, Maryland. Clive Graham Stephen Fuller, Center for Regional Analysis, George Mason University Tom Daniels, University of Pennsylvania Jo Anne Ellison Chapter 6, Energy Conservation, is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Number DE-SC0003420 Contents Resolution of Certification by the Planning Commission Chapter 1 Introduction ………………………………………………………………………1-1 Chapter 2 Background ………………………………………………………………………2-1 Chapter 3 Land Use ………………………………………………………………………… 3-1 Chapter 4 Water Resources …………………………………………………………………. 4-1 Chapter 5 Natural Resources ………………………………………………………………... 5-1 Chapter 6 Energy Conservation ……………………………………………………………. 6-1 Chapter 7 Economic Development ………………………………………………………….. 7-1 Chapter 8 Transportation …………………………………………………………………… 8-1 Chapter 9 Community Facilities & Services ……………………………………………….. 9-1 Chapter 10 Community Development ………………………………………………………10-1 Chapter 11 Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries …………………………………………… 11-1 Chapter 12 Implementation Schedule ………………………………………………………. 12-1 Chapter 13 Mineral Resources ……………………………………………………………….13-1 Appendices “A” Charles County Baseline Housing, Population and Employment Projections “B” Comprehensive Plan Stakeholder Interviews List “C” Land Use Market Supply and Demand Analysis - Technical Memorandum “D” Zoning Districts “E” Water Resources – Technical Background Data “F” Telecommunications and Broadband – Technical Background Data Chapter 1: Introduction Legal context for the Comprehensive Plan ........................................................................1-1 Purpose & Consistency of the Comprehensive Plan .........................................................1-2 Components of the County’s Planning Program ...............................................................1-4 Goals and Objectives .........................................................................................................1-6 Planning History ................................................................................................................1-6 Introduction Charles County Comprehensive Plan Chapter 1 Introduction This document establishes a Comprehensive Plan (the Plan) to direct and manage the future development of Charles County. The new Plan replaces the 2006 Charles County Comprehensive Plan. The new (2016) plan was adopted by Resolution on July 12, 2016. It updates background information, notes recent trends, analyzes factors affecting future development, assesses the desires and interests of Charles County residents regarding the future of their County, and identifies areas where changes are recommended to the framework established in the 2006 Plan. It should be noted that this plan took over five years to complete, with various drafts and changes in order to best reflect the values of the community. Therefore, there may be some variations between chapters with the data used for issues which needed to be revised and updated over time. However, the plan is internally consistent throughout. This is a ten year plan for implementation but contains projections to the year 2040 and is intended to guide decisions for that period of time, until it is considered for additional major changes. Legal context for the Comprehensive Plan The Charles County Comprehensive Planning Program meets the requirements for local government planning in Maryland pursuant to State enabling legislation and requirements contained in the Land Use Article formerly known as Article 66-B of the Annotated Code of Maryland1. Among the requirements is that at least once every ten years a Planning Commission shall review and, if necessary, revise or amend the Comprehensive Plan. Included in the Land Use Article are 12 visions adopted by the Maryland General Assembly in 2009 for local Planning Commissions to implement through comprehensive plans. The visions are: (1) Quality of life and sustainability: a high quality of life is achieved through universal stewardship of the land, water, and air resulting in sustainable communities and protection of the environment; (2) Public participation: citizens are active partners in the planning and implementation of community initiatives and are sensitive to their responsibilities in achieving community goals; (3) Growth areas: growth is concentrated in existing population and business centers, growth areas adjacent to these centers, or strategically selected new centers; 1 House Bill 1290 adopted by the General Assembly in 2012 repealed Article 66B effective October 1, 2012, consolidating it with other laws relating to zoning, planning, subdivision, and other land use mechanisms, in a new article in the Annotated Code of Maryland, to be designated the Land Use Article. 1-1 Charles County Comprehensive Plan Introduction (4) Community design: compact, mixed-use, walkable design consistent with existing community character and located near available or planned transit options is encouraged to ensure efficient use of land and transportation resources and preservation and enhancement of natural systems, open spaces, recreational areas, and historical, cultural, and archeological resources; (5) Infrastructure: growth areas have the water resources and infrastructure to accommodate population and business expansion in an orderly, efficient, and environmentally sustainable manner; (6) Transportation: a well-maintained, multimodal transportation system facilitates the safe, convenient, affordable, and efficient movement of people, goods, and services within and between population and business centers; (7) Housing: a range of housing densities, types, and sizes provides residential options for citizens of all ages and incomes; (8) Economic development: economic development and natural resource-based businesses that promote employment opportunities for all income levels within the capacity of the State's natural resources, public services, and public facilities are encouraged; (9) Environmental protection: land and water resources, including the Chesapeake and coastal bays, are carefully managed to restore and maintain healthy air and water, natural systems, and living resources; (10) Resource conservation: waterways, forests, agricultural areas, open space, natural systems, and scenic