It was standing room only at the Kent Island Library on Thursday evening, November 20, for A Community Conversation about Land Use and the Queen Anne’s County Development Process. Hosted by the County Commissioners along with staff from the Department of Planning and Zoning and the Department of Public Works, the event offered residents a chance to learn firsthand how development decisions are made and how they can participate in the process.
The evening began with opening remarks from County Commission President Chris Corchiarino, who emphasized the importance of understanding the balance between property rights, state mandates, and community expectations. “Our job is to live in the tension between competing views,” Corchiarino told the audience. “The more informed our citizens are about the laws and processes that guide development, the stronger our community becomes.”
Following the presentation, residents took part in an open-house format where topic stations were staffed by Planning and Public Works experts. These stations covered areas such as:
- Development and project review processes
- Zoning, boards, and commissions
- Floodplain management and stormwater regulations
- Water and sewer infrastructure and allocation rules
- Traffic and road responsibilities
- Long-range and critical-area planning
- Opportunities for public comment and citizen engagement
The event also featured a debut of new educational videos that explain complex development topics in clear, accessible language. These short videos cover subjects like Subdivision Basics, Zoning and Site Plans, Stormwater Management, Water and Sewer Allocation, Flooding and Floodplain Maps, and How and When to Make Public Comment.
All videos, along with the full presentation, slides, and a comprehensive FAQ section, is available at https://www.qac.org/1820/Land-Use-and-the-Queen-Annes-County-Deve for anyone who could not attend or who would like to review the materials again.
Commissioners and staff praised the strong turnout and community interest, noting that continued engagement and understanding of the development process are key to good local government.
“We were thrilled to see such an incredible turnout,” said Corchiarino. “Last night’s conversation demonstrated that our residents care deeply about the future of Queen Anne’s County.”
For more information about Queen Anne’s County Planning and Zoning and the Department of Public Works, visit www.qac.org