Planning Commission — 2022-01-19

The Planning Commission met January 19, 2022, approved minutes from November 17 (work session) and December 13, and heard a special exception request to expand the Queen Anne’s County Detention Center at 500 Little Hut Drive. Presenters said the expansion would increase building area from just under 27,000 sq. ft. to about 61,000 sq. ft. but would not increase the current 148-bed capacity; the work is driven by state incarceration and medical standards and would add medical, program, visitation, kitchen, parking, fence, lighting, and site changes. The commission unanimously forwarded a favorable recommendation to the Board of Appeals finding the expansion does not conflict with the Town Comprehensive Plan; the project was described as likely a two-year phased construction to be bid in early 2023. The Comprehensive Plan discussion was deferred to the February 2 work session, and the Town Council report noted ongoing work on wastewater expansion and a draft request that the State fund that expansion.