Queen Anne’s County Announces Comprehensive Zoning Code Update
The Queen Anne’s County Zoning and Subdivision Regulations, known as Chapter 18:1 or the Zoning Code, is set to undergo a comprehensive update. The last Zoning Code update occurred in 2004. The 2023 update comes as not only a regulatory requirement following the update of the 2022 Comprehensive Plan, but also as a response to the changing social, economic, and environmental landscape, as well as the need to incorporate new state and Federal regulations and guidelines. The 2023 Comprehensive Zoning Code Update will be guided by the 2022 Comprehensive Plan, aligning the zoning regulations with the Plan's goals, strategies, and recommendations.
The Comprehensive Plan provides the overarching framework for the update, as it serves as a blueprint for land use activities, while zoning determines the precise manner in which these activities will occur. To facilitate the update process, the Planning Commission will be presented with a series of proposed code and map changes over the next year(s). Each code update will address either a new goal or objective outlined in the 2022 Comprehensive Plan or rectify deficiencies, ambiguities, or contradictions found in the current Zoning and Subdivision Regulation Code. The final enactment of the updated Zoning Code will require adoption by the County Commissioners, following recommendations made by the Planning Commission.
The upcoming Planning Commission meeting focuses on the update of the Airport Protection and Kent Island Gateway District. The proposed changes include the addition and removal of permitted uses, as well as the incorporation of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Maryland Aviation Administration (MAA) airport protection requirements.
A dedicated section has been created on the county website to provide access to draft documents and updates on the process: https://qac.org/1618/2023-Comprehensive-Zoning-Code-Update. Documents will be posted the Monday prior to the Planning Commission meeting. As well, the existing Subdivision and Zoning Regulation Code, Chapter 18:1 can be found at the official Queen Anne’s County website: https://ecode360.com/7137102.
The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled to take place on July 13 at 8:45 AM in the Vincit Building, located at 110 Vincit Street in Centreville. At this time public comment will be taken by the Planning Commission on the draft and map. The meeting will be streamed live on qac.org/live, @QACTV social media channels, and Breezeline channel 7, 507. For those interested in participating remotely please see qac.org/publiccomment.