Comprehensive Plan Update
Frequently Asked Questions
The Planning Commission is conducting five work sessions, which will allow Planning Commission members to review an initial draft of each of the components of the St. Mary’s 2050 Plan. This initial draft is based upon current policy (included in the 2010 Plan), community input, and recommendations from the Technical Review Team members that are the subject-matter experts on the topics discussed. You can find the schedule for the topics covered below.
| Draft Plan Component | PC Meeting |
|---|---|
| Housing | 14-Nov |
| Growth Management | 14-Nov |
| Growth Management and Housing (Cont.) | 21-Nov |
| Public Health & Community Services | 21-Nov |
| Environmental & Natural Resources | 25-Nov |
| Natural Hazards, Vulnerability & Resiliency | 25-Nov |
| Transportation | 1-Dec |
| Public Infrastructure & Facilities | 1-Dec |
| Economic Development | 12-Dec |
| Implementation | 12-Dec |
Each work session will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Commissioners Meeting Room and members of the public are invited to attend. These sessions will be livestreamed on the County’s YouTube channel and will be available for on-demand viewing if you miss the livestream.
YouTube Channel Link: https://www.youtube.com/@StMarysCoGov
Check the project website for continued updates (https://www.stmaryscountymd.gov/StMarys2050/)
Following the feedback from the Planning Commission during the November/December topical work sessions, the consultant team will put the finishing touches on the first draft of the St. Mary’s 2050 Plan. The first draft will be released for public comment in early February (tentative). Following, the public comment period (approx. 45 days), LUGM and the consultant team will be holding workshops around the county to gather community input. Then, the consultant team will work to prepare a revised draft. It is this revised draft that will form the basis of at least one Public Hearing conducted by the Planning Commission. Following a vote by the Planning Commission, the proposed St. Mary’s 2050 Plan would move forward to the County Commissioners, who have the option to adopt the Plan, as presented, or they may change, deny, or refer the Plan back to the Planning Commission for further action.
Input from the community is crucial to the success of this project because a Comprehensive Plan should reflect a shared vision. As established at the Project kickoff, there are three Community Engagement Windows. During each window, the community is asked to provide input and feedback to guide the development of St. Mary's 2050.
During Community Engagement Window #1 (CEW #1), members of the community were asked to share their future vision for St. Mary's County. CEW #1 provided residents, business owners, and community partners with the opportunity to share their opinions through Community Visioning Activities, both online and in-person at visioning sessions. Click here to see the schedule of the past Community Visioning Sessions. Click here to see the results from CEW #1.
During Community Engagement Window #2 (CEW #2), public input was sought to provide a deeper understanding of certain opinions expressed during CEW #1. A short survey was designed to seek a consensus on certain topics. Click here to see the schedule of the past Outreach Events.
Details regarding Community Engagement Window #3 (CEW #3) will be released later this winter.
St. Mary's 2050: Charting our Tomorrow" is the formal name that has been given to this project and when the project is complete, we will have a new Comprehensive Plan for St. Mary's County that will bring us to 2050, and beyond.
Updates to the Comprehensive Plan can result in changes to the way that land used in the future. This project provides the opportunity for the community to engage in discussions about updates to the Plan and to help shape the future of the County.
All successful organizations plan for the future. Without this Plan, local jurisdictions can struggle to identify:
- Priorities among competing future public investment in infrastructure and other capital improvement projects; and
- Areas appropriate for directed growth and separating them from other parts of the County where preservation efforts are prioritized.
Volunteering on the Community Engagement Team, attending public engagement events, and completing surveys are the best ways to get involved.
Click here to learn more about these opportunities.
The project officially kicked off in the Fall of 2024 and is anticipated to be completed in the Spring - Summer of 2026.
Please direct your questions to StMarys2050@stmaryscountymd.gov
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