The July 9th meeting started at 5:00 p.m. with a closed session for Boards and Commissions. Commissioner McLaughlin and Commissioner Corchiarino attended via zoom.
Closed Session
- Housing Authority -- The Board unanimously agreed to reappoint Mike Arntz to the Housing Authority. This term will expire June 30, 2029. APPROVED 5-0
- Local Management Board - The Board unanimously agreed to appoint Deanna Lewis, Michael McGrew, Michael Murphy, and Janet Salazar to the Local Management Board. These are three-year terms that expire on June 30, 2027. APPROVED 5-0
PRESENTATIONS I. Proclamation #24-24 Stroke Smart Awareness Commissioner Wilson read Proclamation #24-24 for Stroke Smart Awareness. Dr. Rena D. Sukhdeo-Singh, Medical Director, UMMS & Ms. Nicole Leonard, Stroke Coordinator, UMMS gave a brief presentation on how local health and safety-focused entities such as hospitals, clinics, physicians’ medical practices, health departments, pharmacies, fire, EMS, public safety, social services, and the departments of aging, and all county employees can participate in improving stroke literacy to educate all its employees, volunteers, and associated communities.
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS 1. Systematic Replacement of Fleet Equipment - Gradall The Roads Division recommended the purchase of one (1) XL4100 V 6x4 Gradall, from Elliot and Frantz of King of Prussia, PA, in the amount of $571,320.64, via the Sourcewell Contract #040319-GRD. As part of this purchase, unit #0554, a 1998 Gradall XL4100 with 87,997 miles will be disposed of via Gov Deals. This purchase was programmed in FY2025 and adequate funding is available in the FY2025 Capital Equipment Budget. APPROVED 5-0
ACTION ITEMS 1. Proclamation #24-27 Parks and Recreation Month A proclamation was read by Commissioner Dumenil proclaiming July as Parks and Recreation month.
- Kent Narrows Development Foundation Request to Draw The Kent Narrows Development Foundation requested approval to withdraw $65,000 from the 570 Fund. This will cover the Foundation’s projected upfront costs for ongoing projects and will allow the Foundation to operate efficiently as the new funds from the Special Taxing District become available for FY 2024 in late July or early August. APPROVED 5-0
- Bay Bridge Run 2024 Memorandum of Understanding with Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) MDTA and Queen Anne’s County have negotiated with Corrigan Sports Enterprises to facilitate the 2024 Bay Bridge Run on 11/10/2024. Last year was the 3rd year that Corrigan Sports Enterprises, Inc. “CSE” was contracted to run the event and it was reported that over 17,100 runners participated in the race. It is anticipated that participation will continue to increase in 2024. This event is a great opportunity to showcase Queen Anne’s County as a Tourism destination. The MOU between QAC and Corrigan Sports is a multiyear agreement expiring after the event in November 2024. The County must also annually execute an MOU with MDTA to allow the event to take place and staff recommends approval. The County Attorney has reviewed and approved the MOU with MDTA for legal sufficiency. APPROVED 5-0
- Amended Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund The Maryland Department of Commerce and Upper Shore Regional Council awarded Queen Anne’s County $2.9 Million in grant funds through the Rural Maryland Economic Development Fund. The commissioners voted to fund 11 projects in August, 2022. This is a recommendation to reallocate $300,000 in funds from the Town of Centreville’s wastewater project upgrades to the 4-H Park project allowing for additional improvements at the park. The Town of Centreville notified the county that they will not be able to complete the proposed wastewater project upgrades within the required grant time frame due to the delays in approvals and permitting. The town requested that we still fund $200,000 for the wastewater testing facility along with an extension of time to 6/30/2025 to complete the work. The request to reallocate $300,000 of the RMEDF to the 4-H Park Project and the proposed extension of time has been preliminarily approved by MDOC and USRC subject to the County Commissioners approval. APPROVED 5-0
- Economic & Tourism Development 2024 Official Visitors Guide The newly developed Visitors guide has been carefully crafted and is currently being distributed. This comprehensive guide has been a collaboration of County GIS, Parks and Recreation and various stakeholders to ensure we meet the needs of our diverse audience. Staff wanted to take the opportunity to present our newly polished Visitors guide publicly. Here is a link to the digital version of the guide: https://visitqueenannes.com/visitors-guide/
- Rural Maryland Council Grant Application – Community Revitalization Through Adaptive Reuse: Former Sudlersville Middle School Building Phase 3 It was recommended for approval to apply for a Rural Maryland Council Grant up to $50,000 to fund predevelopment costs for the adaptive reuse of the former Sudlersville Middle School. Economic & Tourism Development and Sudlersville Volunteer Fire Company have been working in partnership to take the planning and predevelopment steps needed to adaptively reuse the former this building. To continue the redevelopment of the property, the County applied for and received a $30,000 award from Rural Maryland Council in FY2024 to complete a market analysis that includes a financial model and redevelopment strategies. APPROVED 5-0
- County Ordinance #24-09 Short Term Residential Rentals Extension Request This is a processing time extension request for draft County Ordinance #24-09. Chapter 18:1 contains provisions for text and map amendments. All amendments are required to be conveyed to the Planning Commission for investigation and recommendation. On April 23, 2024, the County Commissioners conveyed County Ordinance #24-09 to the Planning Commission for a recommendation. The item was placed on the May 7, 2024 Planning Commission agenda. Prior to meeting, many comments were received regarding the draft code with concerns about the existing short-term rental market, neighboring properties, and what may be perceived as a commercial use in a residential neighborhood. Due to these concerns, it was decided that further data should be collected and analyzed for consideration. Staff is working with a short-term rental compliance consultant that was retained for data analysis. Chapter 18:1-220(C) indicates that the Planning Commission must submit its report and recommendation to the County Commissioners within 90-days from the date when it receives the proposal, so this time extension is being requested. APPROVED 5-0
- CRR 05 Chesterhaven Beach Partnership, LLP Reconsideration Comprehensive Rezoning Request (CRR) 05 submitted by Chesterhaven Beach Partnership, LLP (CHB) is an application to add what is known as Tax Map 57, Parcel 25 to the Chester Growth Area and to rezone it to Chester Master-Planned Development (CMPD) when comprehensive rezoning was addressed. CHB is mapped as S1 and W6 (No Planned Service) and classified in the Neighborhood Conservation (NC-15) District. It has a Resource Conservation Area (RCA) designation for Critical Area purposes.
At the May 10, 2022 meeting, the Board agreed to reject CRR 05 CHB – Parcel 25 based on the Technical Committee’s recommendation to oppose the request. Further, the motion noted that acceptance of the request would have been favorably considered if clear documentation of the grandfathering of the density onsite had been provided. The Commissioners moved that should the property owner seek and obtain a declaratory judgment or equivalent court ruling establishing the legal grandfathering of the lots, the Commissioners would reconsider CRR 05 CHB at a later date.
On May 4, 2023, Joe Stevens, on behalf of Chesterhaven Beach Partnership, LLC, submitted a letter outlining a lack of basis for filing for a declaratory judgment since there is no controversy on which to base such a claim. He cites the County’s long history of recognition of the original lots in CHB. Mr. Steven’s also included significant documentation which substantiates the County’s position.
On July 25, 2023, this item was placed before the Board. As reflected in the minutes from that meeting, the County Commissioners discussed that a condition should be placed on the development of this property that the reconfiguration of the remaining lots be limited to 90 lots without the need for Critical Area Growth Allocation. The item was tabled.
When this item was rescheduled on August 22, 2023, the applicant indicated agreement to the condition that the remaining lots of record would be reconfigured and reduced to a maximum of 90 single-family lots. The applicant also agreed not to pursue Growth Allocation as part of the reconfiguration and overall density reduction from 180 vacant lots down to 90 vacant lots. This allowed the County to recapture 22,500 gpd of sewer allocation. While the merits of this reconsideration were discussed with the conditions noted, the item was again tabled.
On October 24, 2023, the Board approved an amendment to the Public Works Agreement which extended the sewer allocation commitment to 2026 and reduced the number of undeveloped lots from 180 to no more than 90 lots, resulting in a total of 91 lots being served onsite (to include the existing dwelling).
On June 6, 2024, the applicant submitted correspondence that the request for reconsideration to be placed within the Chester Growth Area be brought back to the County Commissioners for reconsideration. The primary reason the applicant is seeking to be placed in the growth area is to make the property eligible for a connection to our public water system.
Staff has consulted with both the Planning Attorney and the County Attorney to review the CHB submittal. Both agree that the Court only has declaratory judgment jurisdiction over actual controversies. There is no such justiciable issue between the County and the owner of the CHB property. The recognition that the condition of reconsideration (a declaratory judgment) is not possible legally is a recognition that the condition was unenforceable and without remedy. Taking up a reconsideration to include the property in the Growth Area without satisfaction of this condition is justified, provided it is directed by the entity of the motion which passed at the May 10, 2022 Board meeting.
- A motion was made to take this matter that was tabled on August 22, 2023 off the table. APPROVED 5-0 2. A motion was made to reconsider this item in accordance with the motion made and passed at the May 10, 2022 meeting which directed the applicant to seek declaratory action; APPROVED 4-1 OPPOSED 3. A motion was made to include CRR 05 Chesterhaven Beach Partnership, LLP in the Growth Area with a 90 lot restriction and without the need for growth allocation and furthermore, that the recaptured sewer allocation (22,500 gallons) be reserved for commercial & institutional uses. APPROVED 3-2 OPPOSED
INFORMATIONAL ITEMS 1. Plumbing/HVAC Board Minutes 2. Notification of Minor Subdivision to adjacent property owners – Bay Bridge Marina 3. Comments on Draft County Ordinance # 24-09 Short Term Rentals
Or you can watch the meeting here https://www.youtube.com/live/W4q3F86Vv_Q?si=f7RYuzLvnko54qXt