Planning Commission — 2023-01-18

The Centreville Planning Commission met January 18, 2023, approved minutes from October 5 and December 21, and held a public hearing on the Draft Comprehensive Plan (the hearing notice had not appeared in a newspaper and will be re-advertised; a second hearing is scheduled for February 15). Town Planner Chris Jakubiak summarized the Plan as advisory and corrected municipal water data: MDE permit = 645,000 gpd, 12-month average = 360,912 gpd, 258,088 gpd available, with 62 EDUs reserved for existing lots and 68 EDUs for commercial uses (1 EDU = 200 gpd). Public comments included reports that wastewater flow exceeds capacity after heavy rain, a complaint about pungent marijuana odor from an outdoor grow facility (Council will consider contacting the business), and written comments submitted by several state and regional agencies and organizations. In Old Business Jakubiak reported a productive meeting with Queen Anne’s County staff and three County concerns to be addressed in the Plan: clearly map preserved areas (e.g., Providence Farm), reconcile the Town’s “Employment” designation vs. the County’s “Light Industrial Highway Service” at the Rt. 301 & 213 interchange (may need a joint planning agreement), and remove references suggesting County involvement in infrastructure development. Commissioners also noted support for trail expansion, concerns about allowing standalone residential in the Central Business District and its possible expansion to Little Hut Drive, a request for larger maps at the document end, and comments that if wastewater capacity is increased through a new plant it could enable higher-density development on existing parcels.