[00:02:13]
>> [BACKGROUND] WELCOME TO THE APRIL 9TH,
[Planning Commission Review and Comment:]
2025 MEETING OF THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION.>> CRYSTAL DADDS, DIRECTOR OF PLANNING & CODES.
>> DIRECTOR CRYSTAL DADDS, LESLIE GRUNDEN, GENEVA.
>> OLIVIA, CATHERINE MCCULLEY.
OUR LAWYER IS NOT HERE TONIGHT.
>> KEITH BILBROUGH. VICE CHAIRPERSON HANNAH CAWLEY, AND MYSELF, THE CHAIRMAN, JEFF JACKSON.
WE ARE MISSING ONE, BUT WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
THE FIRST ITEM ON OUR AGENDA TONIGHT IS THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE.
[Comprehensive Plan Update: 2023 Comprehensive Plan Survey Results]
CAN YOU HEAR ME OKAY? I WILL GO OVER WHAT'S IN THE PACKET.
YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF HANDOUTS IN FRONT OF YOU.
I'LL GO OVER THAT LAST. BUT WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST MONTH AND WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE, WE MENTIONED THE SURVEY THAT WAS DONE FOR THE CITIZENS BACK IN 2022 AND WHAT THE RESULTS WERE.
SOME OF YOU HAD NEVER SEEN IT.
SOME OF YOU THOUGHT MAYBE YOU HAD.
WE WERE ASKED TO BRING BACK THAT INFORMATION.
IT WAS A LITTLE ARDUOUS BECAUSE IT WAS A VERY LONG SPREADSHEET, A LOT OF QUESTIONS.
YOU HAVE ALL THAT INFORMATION IN FRONT OF YOU WITH A SUMMARY AT THE END OF THE QUESTIONS.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS, STAFF WILL HELP IF WE CAN TO ANSWER THAT.
I KNOW THAT LESLIE AND CRYSTAL WERE BOTH HERE WHEN THAT TOOK PLACE.
THEN WE'LL TALK ABOUT IF YOU WANT TO DO A NEW SURVEY OR AN UPDATED SURVEY OUT AS WE DO THIS OUTREACH FOR THE CITIZENS.
THE REASON FOR DOING IT HONESTLY IS A LOT OF THINGS HAVE CHANGED.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S NEW, DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE, PEOPLE THAT WERE HERE THEN THAT AREN'T ANYMORE.
JUST TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN BECAUSE THAT IS IMPORTANT TO GET PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
IT DRIVES THE CHANGES IN YOUR ZONING CODE, WHICH GETS UPDATED AFTER THIS IS APPROVED.
[00:05:04]
THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF INFORMATION RIGHT THERE, BUT IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR DISCUSSION ON THIS, AND THEN I'LL TELL YOU WHAT ELSE YOU HAVE IN FRONT OF YOU THAT I PASSED OUT TONIGHT.>> WHO WAS HERE FOR THE SURVEY?
>> THE QUESTIONS WERE GENERAL.
>> YOUR PACKET IS VERY THICK. IT'S FUNNY.
WHEN GENEVA EMAILED IT AND I LOOKED AT HOW MANY PAGES, I WAS LIKE, WHAT? THEN I REALIZED IT'S WHAT I ADDED.
>> IF YOU LOOK AT THAT FIRST PAGE, JUST TO GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW IT WORKED UNDER HOUSING AND RESIDENTIAL, IT WASN'T SO MUCH A QUESTION.
IT WAS SUBJECT LINES AND IT WAS GRADE US ON THIS ITEM.
THE FIRST ONE WAS OUR RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE.
IS IT A STRENGTH? IS IT A WEAKNESS? IS IT TERRIBLE? IS IT SORT OF TERRIBLE? IT WASN'T OUTRIGHT QUESTIONS PER SE.
IT WAS MORE LIKE, WHAT IS YOUR PERCEPTION OF THIS ISSUE OR THIS TOPIC?
THEY GOT TO CHECK THESE AND THESE ARE THE RESULTS THAT CAME BACK.
LIKE LESLIE SAID ON THE FIRST ONE, RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE, APARTMENT, SINGLE FAMILY RENTALS, PURCHASE, ETC., THIS IS WHAT CAME BACK.
ALMOST EVERY QUESTION HAD SIX OPTIONS.
IT MAY BE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON THE QUESTION, BUT FOR INSTANCE, ON THIS ONE, YOU HAD WEAKNESS, MILD WEAKNESS, MILD STRENGTH, STRENGTH, NO OPINION, NO ANSWER.
WEAKNESS TOOK THE HIGHER, 87 PEOPLE SAID THAT IT WAS A WEAKNESS.
BASICALLY, THEY THINK THAT WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD RANGE OF HOUSING OPTIONS AVAILABLE.
THEN IT JUST GOES ON FROM THERE.
>> THEN THEY WERE OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMMENT AT THE END OF EACH SECTION.
IN THOSE, YOU GET A LITTLE MEATIER RESPONSE.
>> NO. THERE WERE NAMES AND ADDRESSES ATTACHED TO THEM IF THEY WANTED TO FILL THAT INFORMATION OUT.
SOME PEOPLE DID, SOME PEOPLE DIDN'T.
>> SOME OF THE RESPONSES, PEOPLE ASSUME THAT IT WAS COUNTY WIDE, INCLUDING TOWNS.
SOME OF THE RESPONSES WERE SPECIFIC TO PROBLEMS WITHIN TOWNS.
WE NOTE THEM, BUT THEY'RE NOT REALLY RELEVANT TO OUR COMP PLAN EXERCISE.
ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT IS WE'RE COMING TO THE END OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION AND THE IMPACTS OF THE SOLAR LAWS AND BUDGET IMPACTS BECAUSE OF EDUCATION AND HOW THAT IMPACTS OUR ELEMENTS IN THE COMP PLAN.
OLIVIA AND I HAVE TALKED ABOUT POTENTIALLY DOING A SECOND SURVEY THIS SUMMER TO FOCUS ON THOSE PARTICULAR ISSUES, AND IT MIGHT NOT HURT TO BE A LITTLE MORE NARROW IN OUR QUESTIONS ABOUT HOUSING.
ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, MULTI-FAMILY.
BRING IT UP TO DATE A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH SOME MORE SPECIFIC TARGETED QUESTIONS ON SUBJECTS THAT PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY INTERESTED IN.
THAT WILL BE SOMETHING WE'LL TALK ABOUT AFTER THE FIRST PUBLIC MEETING WHEN WE SEE WHAT THE RESPONSE IS AND WHAT SUBJECTS THE PEOPLE WHO ATTEND THAT ARE ACTUALLY BRINGING UP.
OLIVIA WILL BE ATTENDING SPECIAL EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTY, OR WE WILL.
SHE'LL BE NOTING WHAT QUESTIONS PEOPLE HAVE AND WHAT CONCERNS PEOPLE HAVE.
IF WE HAVE ENOUGH REPEAT QUESTIONS ABOUT SPECIFIC THINGS, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING WE WOULD POTENTIALLY INCLUDE IN AN UPDATED SURVEY FOR RESIDENTS.
>> I CERTAINLY DON'T THINK IT WILL HURT BECAUSE THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF CHANGES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND ESPECIALLY JUST RECENTLY, THOSE THINGS LIKE LESLIE MENTIONED WITH THE LATEST LEGISLATION, BUDGET CUTS.
BUT THE DEMOGRAPHICS HAVE CHANGED BECAUSE AS I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THE COMP PLAN UPDATE AND LOOKING AT THE DEMOGRAPHICS AND THE INFORMATION FROM THE CENSUS BUREAU, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING TO SEE THE NUMBERS CHANGING IN CERTAIN AREAS FOR THE COUNTY.
I THINK IT WILL BE GOOD TO GET THOSE FRESH NEW PERSPECTIVES OF PEOPLE, NEWER PEOPLE THAT ARE HERE.
BUT ALSO, PART OF THE OUTREACH IS ALSO TRYING TO CAPTURE, THERE'S A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE THAT DON'T NECESSARILY SPEAK ENGLISH THAT WE CAN REACH OUT TO AND HAVE BETTER WAYS NOW THAN I THINK MAYBE IN THE PAST.
[00:10:01]
MAYBE THAT LEADS ME IN.I'LL WAIT IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ON THIS.
IF NOT, I'LL SEGUE INTO WHAT'S IN FRONT OF YOU.
>> THIS SURVEY IS A GOOD START.
LIKE YOU SAID, IT PROBABLY NEEDS TO CHANGE.
WE KNOW RIGHT NOW AS SOON AS THEY PUT THE SILT FENCE UP IN GREENSBORO, THAT JUST BLOWS UP OVER.
ANYTHING YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT SOLAR PANELS AND SANDPITS?
>> THERE WAS, BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, IT'S THREE YEARS AGO BEFORE A LOT OF WHAT YOU HAVE THAT'S COMING DOWN THE PIKE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> NOW THEY SEE IT. AS WE GET INTO THE COMP PLAN, PROBABLY BE BETTER TO DO IT AGAIN.
IN THEORY, THIS DOCUMENT IS WHAT COULD BE USED TO DEFEND OUR POSITION ON PRESERVING AG LAND AND RURAL LAND.
IF WE WERE TO ISSUE ANOTHER SURVEY, AND WE WOULD BRING THE DRAFT OF IT TO YOU ALL TO TALK ABOUT HOW CAN WE MAKE IT MEANINGFUL.
QUESTIONS LIKE, IS THE PRESERVATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IMPORTANT TO YOU? IS THIS IMPORTANT TO YOU ECONOMICALLY? OR WHAT ARE THE REASONS THAT THIS IS IMPORTANT? THEN WE CAN USE THAT LANGUAGE IN THE DOCUMENT ITSELF, THAT THIS IS MEANINGFUL TO THE CITIZENS OF THE COUNTY AND IT IS AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE AND VALUABLE RESOURCE TO THE RESIDENTS OF CAROLINE COUNTY.
STEWART, I DON'T KNOW HOW SUCCESSFUL THAT IS IN AN ARGUMENT ANYMORE AFTER KENT COUNTY, BUT THAT WOULD BE ONE REASON TO REDO A SURVEY WITH THOSE POINTED QUESTIONS SO THAT WE CAN INCLUDE THAT IN THE NARRATIVE OF THE PLAN TO SHOW THAT THE MAJORITY OF CITIZENS, WHICH I THINK WILL BE THE RESULT, FEEL VERY STRONGLY ABOUT THE PRESERVATION OF AG LAND FOR ECONOMIC REASONS, FOR THEIR CHILDREN, FOR THE NATURE OF WHY THEY LIVE HERE, AND SHOW THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS NOT JUST THE POLITICAL REPRESENTATION SAYING WE DON'T WANT IT.
THIS IS THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.
ANOTHER POTENTIAL SUBJECT WOULD BE HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
DO WE NEED MORE APARTMENTS? DO WE NEED MORE ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS? IF YOU WERE TO CHOOSE, WHAT WOULD YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE BEST ADDITIONAL HOUSING? TRY AND GET A READ ON WHAT THE HOUSING NEEDS ARE FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ANSWERING THE SURVEY.
>> I'M SURE IT WAS MADE CLEAR THE FIRST TIME.
I THINK I DID THE SURVEY, BUT MAKE A POINT THAT THIS IS FOR COUNTY RESIDENTS.
>> WE ARE STICKING THAT ON EVERYTHING.
>> I WAS JUST READING AGAIN DUNKIN' DONUTS AND WALMART.
THAT DOESN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH IT.
>> NO. THE PIZZA COMMENTS ABOUT TOO MANY PIZZA PLACES IN TOWN, OBVIOUSLY.
YOU CAN LOOK AT EVEN NOW WITH THE HOUSING QUESTIONS AND THE MULTI-FAMILY, EITHER TOWN HOME, APARTMENT, ALL OF THOSE WERE HEAVILY WEIGHTED AS POSITIVE.
I DON'T REMEMBER IF WE HAD ACCESSORY.
WE DO. ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS.
>> I MAY BE TOTALLY WRONG HERE, BUT PART OF OUR COMP PLAN WHEN YOU START, CAN IT BE WRITTEN IN A WAY THAT IT PUSHES THOSE DEVELOPMENTS TOWARDS TOWNS? [OVERLAPPING]
>> WELL, IDEALLY, THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE IN OURS NOW.
THAT DENSE DEVELOPMENT WE RECOMMEND GO TO THE TOWNS.
BUT WE'RE ALSO THIS ITERATION BECAUSE COUNTIES AND TOWNS ARE BEING ASKED IN THE NEW HOUSING LAWS TO LOOK AT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADDITIONAL DENSER DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE RURAL VILLAGES WHERE WE'VE ALREADY CHANGED THE ZONING TO VILLAGE NEIGHBORHOOD AND ALLOWED A SLIGHTLY DENSER LAYOUT OF HOUSING.
THEY WOULD BE THE LOGICAL PLACE IF WE WERE GOING TO LOOK AT DUPLEXES OR FOURPLEXES.
IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO POINTEDLY PUT THAT IN A SURVEY IN OUR RURAL VILLAGES, BETHLEHEM AND HARMONY.
I CAN'T RIGHT NOW. THEY'RE NOT POPPING OUT OF MY HEAD.
BUT WOULD THAT BE A GOOD LOCATION TO HAVE THESE MULTI-FAMILY OPPORTUNITIES, AND SEE WHAT THE RESPONSE IS.
[00:15:05]
>> I KNOW TRAVIS DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR IT, BUT THE COUNTY BEING IN THE WATER BUSINESS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL THING.
>> OR THE SEWER BUSINESS, I KNOW THEY DON'T WANT TO HEAR THAT BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO FORWARD WITH IT.
IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO RIDE THROUGH DELAWARE AND [INAUDIBLE] IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD OR IN ANY OTHER STATES.
>> WELL, IN THAT DISCUSSION, WE'LL HAVE, IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT AND THE WATER RESOURCES ELEMENT AND THE COMMUNITY FACILITIES ELEMENT, THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PROVIDING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE TO BACK UP BETTER HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES.
YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE WITHOUT THE OTHER.
>> YOU CAN'T MAKE ALL [INAUDIBLE]
>> WELL, IF YOU PUT IT DOWN ON PAPER, IT'S JUST A MATHEMATICAL NUMBER.
IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT WORK, WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN? IF YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MINIMUM OF 10,000 SQUARE FOOT SUBJECT RECOVERY AREA, THAT, LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER TODAY, ENDS UP BEING 17, 20,000 SQUARE FEET BECAUSE OF THE SOILS.
I THINK LESLIE AND CRYSTAL, BOTH WERE SAYING YOU END UP WITH A FOUR ACRE LOT WHEN IN REALITY, IF YOU HAD THE PUBLIC WATER, PUBLIC SEWER, YOU COULD DO A ONE ACRE LOT OR EVEN LESS.
THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT TOO IS IN YOUR AREAS THAT YOU WANT TO PRESERVE, IF YOU HAD TO DO A FOUR-ACRE LOT OUT OF A FARM, YOU'VE LOST THREE ACRES OF LAND THAT YOU WERE FARMING.
IT'S THE CLASH, AND HOW DO YOU FIX THAT?
>> I'M GUESSING IT'S ALL OVER THE PLACE, BUT I DON'T SEE MY KIDS BEING ABLE TO BUILD A HOUSE ON 5A, THEY CAN'T AFFORD 5A.
THAT'S ANOTHER PROBLEM THAT WE HAVE.
>> WELL, IT'S ALSO IF YOU'RE FORCED TO BUILD A LOT OF HOUSES ON SEPTIC, YOU SWALLOW UP SO MUCH MORE LAND.
YOU CAN USE A QUARTER OF THE LAND.
>> EVEN RIGHT NOW WITHIN OUR MINOR SUBDIVISION RIGHTS, IF YOU COULD DO FOUR LOTS, YOU COULD EASILY BE LOOKING CLOSE TO 16-20 ACRES.
>> FOUR HOUSES, WHERE YOU COULD DO EIGHTH OR A HALF ACRE OR QUARTER ACRE OR BUILD UP, IF WE WERE WILLING TO GO TO TWO OR THREE STORY MULTIFAMILY, AND USE A FRACTION OF THE LAND BUT HAVE THE HOUSING UNITS.
BUT THEN YOU'RE LOOKING AT CHANGING THE NATURE OF THE LANDSCAPE, AND THAT GIVES EVERYBODY PAUSE.
THEN THE FOLLOW-UP OF HAVING TO PROVIDE THAT INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEN MAINTAIN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE GOING FORWARD.
>> WE WERE LEARNING A LESSON IN GREENSBORO BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.
IN THE EASTON, THERE'S SEWER TREATMENT PLANT BASED IN ST. MICHAEL'S AT OXFORD.
>> EASTON UTILITIES RUNS A LOT OF THE TOWN SEWER SYSTEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF TALBOT COUNTY OWNS THEM AND EASTON.
>> THEY GET SEWER FROM OUTSIDE OF TOWN.
>> NOT EASTON, THE SEWER PLANT.
>> WELL, EASTON UTILITIES RUNS EASTON WASTEWATER, THE TREATMENT PLANT.
BUT PARTNERING, THAT'S THE WAY, BUT YOU HAVE TO HAVE A GOOD AGREEMENT AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT KNOW HOW TO RUN IT.
>> [OVERLAPPING] YOU NEED USERS, YOU NEED GREAT PAYERS.
YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO BUILD A SYSTEM BELOW A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE BECAUSE THE COST TO RUN IT AND PAY YOUR SEWER BILL IS TOO ASTRONOMICAL.
SO THAT'S THE OTHER THING IS ECONOMIES OF SCALE.
YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE POPULATION, IT NEEDS TO BE AT A CERTAIN NUMBER TO MAKE IT AFFORDABLE TO USE AND RUN AND MAINTAIN.
>> I DON'T THINK THEY WILL EVER HAVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, YOU GOT TO DEFINE WHAT'S AFFORDABLE HOUSING?
>> [OVERLAPPING] THE GENERAL MARKET.
>> THE MEDIAN INCOME AND THEN 35% IS WHAT YOUR HOUSING ALLOWANCE SHOULD BE.
SO WHATEVER THAT IS, AT 35%, AND IF YOU CAN PAY A HOUSE PAYMENT.
>> THAT'S YOUR TARGET. THAT'S AN EXERCISE WE'LL BE DOING IN THE HOUSING DISCUSSION IS HERE'S OUR MEDIAN INCOME,
[00:20:01]
HERE'S WHAT THE AVERAGE PRICE OF A TWO BEDROOM, THREE BEDROOM HOUSE.HOW DOES THAT FIT ON THE AFFORDABILITY SCALE? ARE YOU HITTING THAT TARGET OF 35% OR BELOW? HOW MUCH OF OUR HOUSING IS PRICED BEYOND AFFORDABILITY? THEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WHAT YOUR NEEDS ARE AND WHAT YOUR GOAL IS.
>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU AS A LANDLORD, THE NEED IS DIRE.
I GET 3-5 CALLS EVERY WEEK FOR PEOPLE LOOKING FOR HOUSE, THE RENT.
THERE'S NOTHING OUT THERE, AND THE TOWNS DON'T MAKE IT EASY TO WORK WITH, AND THE COUNTY.
>> WELL, AND NOT ALL THE TOWNS HAVE A LOT OF CAPACITY IN THEIR SYSTEMS TO ADD.
>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE AFFORDABLE, IF I HAVE A HOUSE THAT I WANT TO WORK ON TO MAKE IT A DUPLEX, IF IT'S ELIGIBLE FOR DUPLEX, IT'S GOING TO COST ME $9,000 BEFORE I EVER DRIVE ONE NAIL BECAUSE I GOT TO PAY A SCHOOL TAX ON MY BUILDING PERMIT OF FIVE GRAND.
I GOT IMPACT FEES OF NINE GRAND.
>> THAT'S BEFORE A WATER AND SEWER CONNECTION. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THEY'RE GOING TO MAKE YOU TAP ANOTHER ROOM.
>> IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT COMES IN AND BUYS A HOUSE AND THEY START FIXING IT UP, JUST YOUR AVERAGE PERSON CAN'T.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT DRIVES THE AFFORDABILITY IS BUILDING CODES.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, EVERY YEAR, THE ENERGY CODE HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE COMPLEX.
SOMETIMES IT'S LIKE, WELL, IT'S $500 HERE.
IT'S $2,000 HERE, BUT WHEN YOU ADD ALL OF THAT UP, IT'S A SIGNIFICANT COST, WITH GREATER INSULATION REQUIREMENTS, THE SPRINKLERS.
THE LATEST IS EVEN THOUGH IT'S A SMALL COST, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT INDIVIDUALLY, YOU HAVE TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL FOR ELECTRICAL VEHICLE CHARGING.
YOU GOT TO HAVE A OUTLET TO ACCOMMODATE THAT NOW, EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE AN ELECTRICAL VEHICLE.
IT'S GOT TO BE PUT IN WHEN YOU BUILD A NEW HOUSE, SO ALL THOSE LITTLE THINGS DRIVE THE COST UP TOO.
>> [OVERLAPPING] ARE MULTI-FAMILY STRUCTURES REQUIRED TO HAVE AN EV CHARGING STATION?
>> THEY GOT SOME ACCOMMODATIONS FOR PARKING SPACES.
IF IT'S NOT A SINGLE FAMILY, DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS YOU HAVE, YOU WOULD HAVE TO HAVE A DEDICATED PARKING FOR A EV.
>> IS THE ANSWER THAT YOU CAN'T DO SMALL DEVELOPMENTS, IT HAS TO BE A DEVELOPER WHO'S GOT THE MONEY AND ENOUGH HOUSES TO BUILD THAT HE CAN MAKE THEM AFFORDABLE BECAUSE HE'S GOT SO MANY TO SELL, AND THEN WHERE WOULD WE PUT SOMETHING WITH THAT?
>> HE MAY HE MAY BE ABLE TO DO IT CHEAPER BECAUSE HE'LL BUY IN BULK, BUT THEY'RE STILL NOT AFFORDABLE.
>> [OVERLAPPING] NO WATER AND SEWER HERE TO SUPPORT THAT BIG OF A DEVELOPMENT, THE OTHER PROJECT.
>> HE'S GOING TO PLAY THE MARKET, AND IF HE TAKES AND SAYS RENT, YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK AT THE MARKET.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ALL THINK THAT 12 OR $1,500 A MONTH RENT IS AFFORDABLE.
THAT'S NOT AFFORDABLE FOR MOST.
>> WELL, WHAT I THOUGHT YOU WERE ALSO GOING TO SAY IS IF YOU'RE A DEVELOPER AND YOU'RE GOING OUT THERE AND LOOKING AT THE PROPERTY AND HOW MANY LOTS YOU CAN GET, HOW MUCH ENGINEERING WORK YOU PUT IN WAY BEFORE YOU EVEN PUT A BLADE IN THE GROUND AND THEN YOUR PUBLIC WORKS AGREEMENT, YOUR ROADS, YOUR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT, ALL OF THAT.
UNLESS YOU ARE BUILDING SPECIFICALLY UNDER THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ACT AND GETTING FUNDING FOR THAT, WHY WOULD YOU BE BUILDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING? YOU'RE GOING TO GO FOR THE 500 600, $700,000 HOUSES BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT WILL PAY THAT, AND IT'S THE PROFIT AT THE END.
>> LET'S BE HONEST, THE INCOME CONTROL DEPARTMENTS.
I HAD A GENTLEMAN TAKE ME TO SCHOOL, IT'S A WAY TO LOSE MONEY, IT'S A WAY TO GET RID OF MONEY.
THAT'S HOW PEOPLE WITH MONEY CAN GET RID OF MONEY, WRITE MONEY OFF, BECAUSE I WAS SPECIFICALLY TOLD THAT YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO PLAY THAT GAME.
EVEN BUILDING THEM, YOU GOT TO HAVE PEOPLE WITH DEEP POCKETS THAT BUILD THEM AND THEY'RE THERE TO LOSE MONEY.
THEY'RE DESIGNED TO LOSE MONEY.
THEN WHO WANTS THAT? THE OTHER THING IS THIS IS MY QUESTION.
[00:25:04]
I LOOK AT MY KIDS, WHY DO I WANT THEM LIVING IN AN INCOME-CONTROLLED APARTMENT COMPLEX SOMEWHERE? AFTER THEY'VE GOT THEIR FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE AND TWO YEARS OF GRAD SCHOOL, WHY CAN'T THEY GO OUT AND BUY A HOUSE ON TWO ACRES A GRAND AND LIVE IN IT? BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE A HALF A MILLION DOLLARS IN CAROLINE COUNTY.>> HOUSING WILL BE A CHALLENGE.
>> WE'RE SAYING THAT MOST OF THE TOWNS WILL BE THE IDEAL SPOT.
>> DENSE HOUSES. BECAUSE THAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST.
>> WHAT WE WOULD RECOMMEND, [OVERLAPPING] AND WHAT WE WOULD BE LEFT WITH LOOKING AT IS WHAT OPPORTUNITIES DO WE HAVE, WHAT LOCATIONS? THE VILLAGES ARE THE FIRST THAT SPRING TO MIND BECAUSE THEY'RE ALREADY MINI POPULATION CENTERS, AND THERE IS ADEQUATE LAND IN MOST OF THEM TO DO SOME SMALL SCALE DUPLEX, FOUR-PLEX DEVELOPMENT.
SOME OF THIS WOULD REQUIRE SOME CODE CHANGES.
AS USUAL, AS WE GO THROUGH THE COMP PLAN, SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE'LL BE LOOKING AT IS HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR ZONING CODE TO ALLOW FOR THAT TO HAPPEN? BECAUSE IN A LOT OF CASES RIGHT NOW, THE WAY OUR ZONING CODE IS, IT'S NOT EVEN ALLOWED, SO YOU CAN'T EVEN CONSIDER IT AS AN OPTION.
THAT'S SOME OF THE DISCUSSION WE'LL BE HAVING IN THE HOUSING ELEMENT IS WHAT IS OUR CODE ACCIDENTALLY PREVENTING US FROM DOING? IT COULD BE NOT A HUGE OPPORTUNITY, BUT IN THE CONDITIONS WE HAVE TODAY, EVEN SMALL OPPORTUNITIES CAN HELP, AT LEAST SOMEWHAT PUT A DENT IN THE PROBLEM.
WHERE DO WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES TO DO THAT, AND HOW CAN OUR ZONING CODE HELP US DO THAT? WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THAT TODAY WITH MOBILE HOMES AND WHERE THEY'RE ALLOWED RIGHT NOW AND THE NEW HOUSING LAW THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY WHERE MOBILE HOMES ARE NOW REQUIRED TO BE ALLOWED IN ALL ZONING DISTRICTS THAT ALLOW SINGLE FAMILY HOUSING.
>> MANUFACTURED HOMES AND MODULAR HOMES HAVE TO BE ALLOWED TO EXIST IN ANY ZONING DISTRICT THAT ALLOWS SINGLE-FAMILY HOUSING.
RIGHT NOW, OURS ALLOWS DOUBLE-WIDES IN ALL RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS, BUT SINGLE-WIDES ARE ONLY ALLOWED UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, AND THEY'RE PRETTY STIFF.
THAT'S, IN OUR CODE, BEEN THERE FOREVER.
WE'VE NEVER REALLY PAID ATTENTION TO IT, BUT WE COULD BE INADVERTENTLY HURTING PEOPLE WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE A CHANCE AT A HOME IF WE ALLOWED SINGLE-WIDES IN ALL THE RESIDENTIAL ZONING DISTRICTS.
THAT'S A POTENTIAL CODE CHANGE THAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT AS WE TALK ABOUT IT.
THINGS LIKE THAT WILL BE COMING UP IN THE HOUSING CHAPTER WHERE OUR CODE MIGHT BE INADVERTENTLY BLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES.
THEN THE OTHER BIG ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM IS IF SEPTIC DOESN'T WORK, WE'RE DEAD IN THE WATER.
WHAT KIND OF RECOMMENDATIONS DO WE WANT TO MAKE TO MDE AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ABOUT POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT REG CHANGES FOR SEPTICS THAT ARE MORE REASONABLE THAT ALLOW MORE OPPORTUNITIES, EVEN SHARED SEPTICS, IF THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY AND IF THAT'S SOMETHING THAT'S DOABLE, AND THE SRA REQUIREMENTS.
>> WE DISCUSSED TODAY THAT ONE OF THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING THINGS COULD BE, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE LOOK FOR THIS IS TO BUILD AN ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT ON THEIR PROPERTY FOR THEIR PARENTS, THEIR CHILDREN, SOME EXTRA RENTAL INCOME, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
BUT THE CONSTRAINTS WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING.
WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE THE PROPERTY OWNER HAD A HOME, HAD A SEPTIC SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR A FOUR-BEDROOM HOME.
THEY ONLY BUILT A THREE-BEDROOM AND THEY WANTED TO BUILD A SMALL STANDALONE, ONE BEDROOM, ACCESSORY DWELLING UNIT.
BUT THE SEPTIC REGULATIONS REQUIRE A SEPTIC DESIGN MINIMUM TWO.
DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S ONLY ONE, YOU HAVE TO DESIGN IT FOR A MINIMUM OF TWO, WHEN ULTIMATELY, THERE'S ONLY GOING TO BE FOUR BEDROOMS IN THE END.
BUT BECAUSE THEIR SEPTIC WAS FOR FOUR, AND THEY HAVE TO CONSIDER IT FIVE BECAUSE IT'S TWO INDIVIDUAL UNITS, AND THEY REQUIRE TWO INDIVIDUAL SRAS, THEY CAN'T EXPAND THE ONE THEY HAVE, ENLARGE IT TO MAKE IT WORK FOR THE ADU, BUT TWO SEPARATE STANDALONE, AND THEN YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE THE PROPERTY TO DO IT.
THAT TAKES UP A LARGE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TWO MINIMUM 10,000 SQUARE FOOT.
USUALLY, YOU DON'T GET 10,000 SQUARE FOOT, IT'S ALWAYS GREATER THAN THAT.
>> HE HAS AN EXTRA BEDROOM ALLOWANCE IN HIS EXISTING SEPTIC.
[00:30:03]
>> HE COULD SIMPLY ADD ONTO HIS HOME AND IT NOT BE CONSIDERED AN ADU, AND BE FINE.
HE COULD ADD THE EXTRA BEDROOM, THE EXTRA LIVING ROOM, THE EXTRA BATHROOM, AS LONG AS HE DOESN'T ADD AN EXTRA KITCHEN, IT'S OKAY.
BUT THE MINUTE YOU MAKE IT SEPARATE, THEN-
>> YOU TRIGGER THE REQUIREMENT.
>> STATE. HEALTH DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
>> SOME OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS WE WOULD POTENTIALLY INCLUDE IN THE HOUSING CHAPTER IS TO CONVENE MDP AND MDE AND TALK ABOUT HOW THESE ARE LIMITING OUR ABILITY TO PROVIDE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN CAROLINE COUNTY, AND UNDOUBTEDLY IN ALL COUNTIES, AND HAVE A SERIOUS DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT CAN YOU ALL DO.
WE'RE LOOKING AT OUR OWN REGS.
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH YOUR REGS TO MAKE THIS POSSIBLE?
>> THEY HAD ALL YEAR ACCESSORY DWELLINGS, THE COMMITTEE.
>> THE TASK FORCE. I HAVE NOT HEARD. [OVERLAPPING]
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESULT WAS.
>> THERE WAS A DATE THEY HAD TO REPORT OUT.
>> I KNOW I JUMPED ON SEVERAL OF THOSE CALLS, AND IT WAS VERY FRUSTRATING BECAUSE THEY NEVER SEEMED TO GET ANYWHERE.
THEY LOOKED AT EVERY OTHER STATE ACROSS THE COUNTRY'S REGULATIONS AND TALKED ABOUT ALL THE WAYS WHY IT WAS BAD.
>> SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE POURED COMMON SENSE OUT WITH THE BATHWATER.
>> WELL, THE BRICK WALL WE KEPT HITTING IN TERMS OF THIS WAS THE SEPTIC LIMITATIONS, WHICH AREN'T OUR LIMITATIONS.
IT WAS THE STATE SAYING, WELL, HOW DO WE MAKE THESE HAPPEN, AND US SAYING, WELL, YOU NEED TO CHANGE YOUR LAW.
>> WE ALLOW THEM, SO IT'S NOT US.
IT'S THEIR REGS THAT PREVENT US FROM MOVING FORWARD.
>> WELL, IT'S REALLY INTERESTING THAT HOUSING BILL THAT WENT INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
THAT IS DRIVING HARD FOR HAVING ADDITIONAL DENSITY IN AREAS, SMALLER ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS, EVERYTHING TO PROMOTE OPPORTUNITIES FOR HOUSING.
WHERE IN ALL OF THAT WAS ANYBODY TALKING WITH THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BECAUSE THAT'S A STATE AGENCY AND TRYING TO WORK WITH THEM TO CHANGE THOSE REGULATIONS? TO MIRROR AND OFFSET WHAT YOU WANT HERE, YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE CHANGES HERE OR YOU'LL NEVER ACHIEVE THIS HERE.
THAT'S THE CONVERSATION WE WERE HAVING TODAY.
>> IT'S THE ASSUMPTION THAT THEY THINK EVERYONE HAS PUBLIC QUADRANT SEWER, AND THAT'S NOT THE CASE.
>> HENCE THE COMMENT AT THE BEGINNING, THAT THE COUNTY MIGHT HAVE TO REALIZE THAT THEY NEED TO GET INTO THE WATER AND SEWER BUSINESS TO SOME EXTENT BECAUSE OTHER PEOPLE ARE DOING IT.
>> WELL, BUT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER, TO MAKE WATER AND SEWER AFFORDABLE ON OUR END AND THE USER, YOU NEED PEOPLE.
WE DON'T HAVE CONCENTRATED LARGE AREAS OF POPULATION. WE JUST DON'T.
ARE YOU LOOKING AT A REGIONAL SOLUTION? ARE YOU LOOKING AT GOING TO A NEARBY TOWN AND SAYING, CAN WE PARTNER? WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS THAT WE HAVE? WHERE IS THE AVAILABLE LAND?
>> BECAUSE AGAIN, IF YOU GET THE DEVELOPMENTS TOO CLOSE TO THE TOWN, THEN THE TOWN ARE GOING TO WANT TO ANNEX THEM IN SO THEY GET THAT REVENUE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BUMP IT UP AND THEN SHARE THEIR SEPTIC.
THEY'RE GOING TO INVITE YOU INTO TOWN, WHICH IS FINE BECAUSE WE STILL GET OUR COUNTY DWELLINGS.
>> IT'S A LOT OF COMPLEX SUBJECTS.
>> OBVIOUSLY, WHEN WE GET TO HOUSING, IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG MEETING. JUST A WARNING.
>> WE'RE JUST TALKING ABOUT HOUSING.
WE HAVEN'T GOT INTO TRANSPORTATION YET OR ANYTHING ELSE.
>> EVERYTHING IS GOING TO PROBABLY BE A DISCUSSION.
>> IT'S AFFECTING EVERYONE. BUSINESSES IN THE COMMUNITY ARE SCREAMING.
I WORK FOR THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND WE HAD A NICE YOUNG MAN WE HAD BEEN INTERVIEWING AND FOR THREE MONTHS GROOMING HIM AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN JUST BEFORE WE OFFERED HIM THE JOB HE SAID, I CAN'T FIND A PLACE TO LIVE AROUND HERE.
>> HE TURNED THE JOB DOWN BECAUSE HE KEEPS COMING FROM ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY.
[00:35:05]
HE LEASED THREE OR FOUR MONTHS WORKING, AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE JUST SAID, I TRIED TO FIND SOMETHING AROUND HERE, I COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT I COULD AFFORD.WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU GET PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE? WHAT DO YOU DO? THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THEY USED TO MAKE ALL THAT A LITTLE BIT OF FUN, BUMP YOUR SALARY UP, GIVE YOU A LITTLE MORE TRANSPORTATION, CALLS, AND DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE THAT.
>> HOUSING ALLOWANCE. WHEN I WAS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WHEN I WAS OVER THERE AND I WAS TRAVELING BACK AND FORTH FROM DC TO HERE, MY TRANSPORTATION BASICALLY WAS PAID FOR.
I DIDN'T HAVE TO. WITH THE SUBSIDIZED TRAVEL THAT THEY GAVE ME, PAID FOR TRANSPORTATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN I WAS RIDING THE COMMUTER BUS.
EVEN WHEN PEOPLE START TALKING ABOUT, WE NEED MORE RESTAURANTS AND THIS AND THAT, WHO'S GOING TO WORK IN THEM?
NOBODY'S GOING TO DRIVE 50 MILES FOR $9 AN HOUR WAITRESS JOB. WELL, YOU GET TIPS.
DEPENDS ON WHAT GIVEN NIGHT YOU'RE GOING TO MAKE ANY.
TO ME, I LOOK MORE AT THE SOCIAL ASPECT OF IT ALL BECAUSE YOU LOOK AT CAROLINE COUNTY AND LOOK AT, WHAT ARE WE? NUMBER 22. WE DON'T HAVE THAT.
THE OPTION WE HAVE IN PG COUNTY AND PLACES LIKE THAT.
>> ROGER, THAT'S HOW ONE THING BUILDS OFF THE OTHER BECAUSE WHY DO WE HAVE SCHOOL TEACHERS LIVING IN EASTON? BECAUSE THERE'S PLACES TO LIVE AND PLACES TO EAT AND PLACES TO GO TO THE MOVIES.
WHY LIVE HERE? OUR YOUNGER PEOPLE ARE RUNNING TO DC WHEN THEY'RE GOING OUT AT NIGHT.
FOR THEM TO HAVE TO DRIVE 60 MILES TO GO TO A SOCIAL EVENT.
SOME PEOPLE IN CAROLINE COUNTY, I'M FROM THIS AREA, A LOT OF PEOPLE GO TO SCHOOL AND LAID BACK, I DON'T WANT ANY BRIGHT LIGHTS.
I WANT A LAID BACK ATMOSPHERE THAT THE PLACE HAS.
I LOVE TO DRIVE BY DOWN THE ROAD AND SEE CORNFIELD.
>> THAT'S FINE. YOU CAN'T HAVE A FANCY LIBRARY. [OVERLAPPING]
>> YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL CORNFIELDS, BUT YOU'RE ABOUT TO NOT EVEN HAVE THAT.
>> WELL, WE'LL BE LOOKING AT TALL PINE TREES SOON.
YOU GOT TO GIVE IT FOUR, FIVE YEARS.
THEY'LL BE UP THERE. PEOPLE STILL THINKING THAT THEY'RE BUILDING SOME SUBDIVISION.
>> WE KNOW WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A REAL SERIOUS DISCUSSION HERE.
EVEN WHEN YOU BUILD A LOT OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN SOME OF THE SMALLER TOWNS, IT DEPENDS ON HOW CLOSE.
DENTON WOULD DO FINE, IF THERE WAS OUTSKIRTS OF DENTON, BECAUSE WE GOT WALMART RIGHT HERE FIVE MINUTES AWAY FROM YOUR HOUSE. PEOPLE LIKE THAT.
BUT WHEN YOU GET INTO PLACES FURTHER AWAY, AND IF YOU TALK ABOUT HARMONY AND THOSE PLACES OUT THERE, WELL, THAT'S OUT REALLY.
A PERSON NEED TO RUN TO THE STORE, THAT'S 20-MINUTE RIDE EITHER TO FEDERALSBURG, AND THAT'S NOT EASTERN.
YOU'RE OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF SOMETHING.
HARMONY, THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT OF OPEN SPACE OUT THERE.
>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION FOR THE SURVEY.
>> HOW FAR AWAY WOULD YOU WANT TO LIVE?
>> BECAUSE I KNOW IN TALBOT COUNTY, I THINK THEY ACTUALLY SURVEYED THAT BACK IN 2005.
BECAUSE THERE IS A LARGE FLOCK OF PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BE NOT IN THE HUB OF THE SUBURBAN URBAN AREA.
THEY'RE FINE WITH DRIVING 20 MINUTES TO GO GET THEIR GROCERIES BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BE OUT IN THE PEACEFUL QUIET COUNTRYSIDE.
>> I FEEL LIKE THERE'S LESS CRIME OUT THERE TOO.
THEY DON'T WANT WALK UP CRIMINALS.
THAT'S WHAT I USED TO CALL THEM. THEY DIDN'T WANT WALK UP CRIMINALS.
WALK FROM THE BAD SIDE OF TOWN OVER HERE.
MOST GUYS, IF THEY DON'T HAVE A CAR, THEY'RE NOT WALKING 15 MILES OUT TO ROB YOU.
I'LL BE HONEST, I LIVE WAY OUT THE BOONIES.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I LIKE IT, THOUGH.
I'M THE KIND OF GUY WHO LIKES THAT.
>> I CAN'T EVEN GET MY POST OFFICE TO DRIVE DOWN THERE.
>> WHEN I WAS A SINGLE MAN, I HAD GIRLFRIENDS GETTING LOST.
[00:40:03]
THEY SAID, I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU CAN LIVE WAY OUT HERE.I LOST A FEW OF THEM THAT WAY.
[LAUGHTER] BUT I'M JUST SAYING THAT'S THE LIFE WE LIVE IN THE RURAL AREA.
>> SO ONE THING TO CONSIDER IS, OBVIOUSLY, THE MORE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT YOU HAVE, BUSINESSES LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT'S THE POPULATION THERE? WHAT'S THE HOUSING LIKE? MARKET RESEARCHERS LOOK AT THAT.
YOU HAVE TO HIT A CERTAIN NUMBER OF PEOPLE BEFORE SOMEBODY'S GOING TO COME AND SAY, WE CAN MAKE MONEY IN THAT MARKET BECAUSE THERE'S PEOPLE IN THAT MARKET.
BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME, BUT IT'S IMPORTANT WHERE YOU BUILD IT.
>> BECAUSE EVEN IF WE BUILD OUR RURAL VILLAGES, WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD THEM TO A NUMBER THAT'S GOING TO ATTRACT A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS LIKE A SMALL RESTAURANT OR A COUNTRY STORE THERE BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO FEEL IT'S PROFITABLE.
BECAUSE THEY'RE ONLY GOING TO FEEL LIKE THEY'RE SERVING THAT SMALL COMMUNITY, AND IT'S NOT GOING TO BE PROFITABLE FOR THEM TO INVEST IN BUILDING THAT BUSINESS.
>> BUT YOU MAY HAVE A SMALL LOCAL RESTAURANT OPEN, AND THAT HAS HAPPENED A LOT IN RURAL VILLAGES.
I KNOW IN TALBOT COUNTY THERE'S GREAT LITTLE RESTAURANTS AND GREAT LITTLE SHOPS.
>> WE'RE HAVING ALL THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT BUILDING.
WE COULD JUST KEEP EVERYTHING THE SAME AND KEEP PEOPLE OUT.
>> YOU CAN'T BUILD A HOUSE HERE UNLESS YOU'RE PUTTING ON 10 ACRES.
LIKE YOU SAID, MAKE THEM GO SOMEWHERE ELSE, AND THEN ROGER CAN LIVE IN PEACE OUT IN THE COUNTRY.
MAYBE THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF CAROLINE COUNTY WANT.
MAYBE THEY DON'T WANT IT HERE.
I'LL RIDE TO EASTON AND GO TO THE RESTAURANT.
>> I LIVE IN THE BOONIES ENOUGH.
MY MAIL LADY, SHE HANGS MY PACKAGES ON THE MAILBOX.
SHE WON'T EVEN DRIVE TO MY DRIVEWAY.
>> I KNOW. I'M LIKE, REALLY? THAT'S SCARY.
>> IT TRULY IS. OUR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS GOING TO DEFINE WHO WE ARE, WHAT WE WANT.
>> WHAT YOU WANT AND WHERE YOU WANT IT.
>> IF WE DON'T WANT TO GO THERE, WE DON'T GO THERE.
HOW MANY EXTRA BARS DO WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTY? I SAY BARS. WE DON'T HAVE A CLUB.
>> THAT'S IN THE WHOLE COUNTY.
>> I'M GLAD YOU CAN ANSWER THAT QUESTION BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW THE ANSWER.
>> THERE USED TO BE THREE, FOUR.
>> WE'VE HAD PROBABLY EIGHT AT ONE POINT IN TIME.
>> WE HAVE TWO THAT ARE TRUE BARS.
>> WE HAD A CLUB AT ONE TIME OUT ON 404.
>> LIKE YOU SAID, IS THIS SURVEY GOING TO BE FOR THE CAROLINE COUNTY RESIDENTS, OR ARE WE GOING TO ASK PEOPLE SURVEY, SAY, WHAT WE CALL PEOPLE COME FROM ACROSS THE BRIDGE AND THEY'VE BEEN HERE FOR FOUR, FIVE YEARS AND THEY'RE PRETTY FRUSTRATED WITH THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE TEXAS ROADHOUSE?
>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW IF PEOPLE REALIZE IT, BUT WHEN THEY SAY THAT, THEY'RE OBLIQUELY WANTING MORE PEOPLE TO BE HERE BECAUSE TEXAS ROADHOUSE ISN'T COMING UNLESS THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE PEOPLE HERE.
BUT THOSE SAME PEOPLE TEND TO ALSO SAY, I DON'T WANT ALL THESE PEOPLE HERE.
I DON'T WANT ALL THIS TRAFFIC.
I DON'T THINK PEOPLE THINK IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH THAT IF TEXAS ROADHOUSE IS GOING TO COME HERE, WE NEED 5,000 MORE PEOPLE OR MORE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE CAN DISCUSS IN THE PLAN.
>> WE HAVE TO HAVE THE BALANCE.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT OLIVIA'S WORKING ON.
>> WE'LL MOVE FORWARD WITH THE SURVEY THEN.
LIKE LESLIE SAID, WE'LL BRING IT BACK TO YOU ALL AND GET YOUR BLESSING ON WHAT THE QUESTIONS ARE.
>> ARE YOU GOING TO ASK ABOUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AGAIN OR GO BACK TO THE PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED LAST TIME?
>> WELL, THAT'S ONE THING THAT WE WERE DEBATING.
>> YOU'RE DOING ALL THESE OUTREACH THINGS.
>> I THINK THEY WILL BE INVITED.
OLIVIA WILL WALK YOU THROUGH THE PIECES THAT SHE'LL HAVE FOR PEOPLE.
IT'S AN ODD COMP PLAN CYCLE BECAUSE ONE THING WE'VE LEARNED IS THAT OUR LAND USE GOALS, WHEN PUSH COMES TO SHOVE,
[00:45:01]
THEY GET SHOVED OUT THE WINDOW.I HATE TO HAVE SOMEBODY COME IN STARRY-EYED THINKING, WE SET OUR OWN FUTURE, WE MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS ABOUT OUR FUTURE, AND THAT'S THE WAY WE'RE GOING TO GO.
WHEN IN REALITY, THAT'S NOT HOW IT'S WORKING OUT, AT LEAST IN THE LAND USE REALM.
THE OUTREACH, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT THESE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF THE PLAN.
PLEASE COME AND GIVE US YOUR INPUT.
THEN THERE WILL BE DRAFT REVIEWS THAT WE'LL HEAVILY PUBLICIZE FOR PEOPLE TO COMMENT ON IF THEY SEE GOALS THAT THEY WANT CHANGED.
WE'LL BE TAKING INPUT, BUT THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ASPECT OF IT, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE'RE UNDER THE GUN NOW TO TRY AND GET THIS THING IN THE DOOR EARLY NEXT YEAR.
>> THE OUTREACH WILL BE MAKING CONTACT WITH PEOPLE AT EVENTS AROUND THE COUNTY ON THE WEBSITE THROUGH THE SURVEY, AND I THINK IT MIGHT BE WORTH TALKING ABOUT A BUSINESS COMPONENT OF THE SURVEY.
WHAT IS THE NUMBER ONE REASON YOU'RE HAVING TROUBLE HIRING PEOPLE? IS IT HOUSING? IS IT LACK OF THINGS THAT ARE HERE FOR PEOPLE TO DO? THAT OUTREACH AND INPUT WE'LL BE DOING VIA ALL OF THOSE OPPORTUNITIES, SURVEY, ONE-ON-ONE.
THESE MEETINGS WILL BE POSTED AS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE COMP PLAN AND THE PARTICULAR ELEMENT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT.
PEOPLE WILL KNOW, IF HOUSING IS THEIR HOT-BUTTON ISSUE, COME TO THE MEETING WHERE WE'RE DISCUSSING THE HOUSING GOALS.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS, LESLIE, IF WE DO A BUSINESS SURVEY OUTREACH, IF YOU REMEMBER OUR DAYS IN THE EOC IN COVID, WE BUILT OUT A DATABASE THAT I BELIEVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STILL HAS OF ALL THE BUSINESSES IN CAROLINE COUNTY THAT WE HAD OBTAINED EMAIL ADDRESSES AND ADDRESSES FOR.
WE HAVE THE MEANS TO SEND INFORMATION OUT.
>> ON THE SURVEY HERE, THE LAST QUESTION, WOULD YOU BE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING? WE HAVE 94, 40 SAYS YES, 54 SAYS MAYBE.
I WOULD SAY IT WOULD PROBABLY BE PRETTY GOOD IDEA TO AT LEAST MAKE SURE THAT THOSE PEOPLE GET A SURVEY WITH A LETTER SAYING, HEY, WE'RE BACK ON.
>> SORRY, JEFF. I SAW THAT BIG YAWN.
THE BEAUTIFUL FLYER THAT GEN PREPARED, SHE'S DONE A REALLY NICE JOB.
THIS IS GOING TO BE FOR THE APRIL 30TH MEETING, WHICH IS IN A FEW WEEKS.
THIS IS NOT A PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING, BUT IT WILL BE HELD HERE IN THIS SAME ROOM, 6:00 PM.
I WILL BE WITH A FEW OTHERS' HELP, I'M SURE, PLASTERING THIS ALL AROUND EVERYWHERE THAT I CAN, IN BUSINESSES, LIBRARY, DIFFERENT AGENCIES OF THE COUNTY, COURTHOUSE, WHEREVER WE CAN TO GET PEOPLE INTERESTED.
THE QR CODE, IF YOU SCAN THAT, IT TAKES YOU RIGHT TO THE DESIGNATED COMP PLAN PAGE ON THE WEBSITE.
WE ALSO HAVE THE DESIGNATED EMAIL DOWN AT THE BOTTOM THAT COMES TO MYSELF AND LESLIE.
IF PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, THEY CAN'T MAKE THE MEETINGS, THEY STILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE'RE GOING TO CHANGE THIS FLYER UP FOR EVERY EVENT THAT WE DO PRETTY MUCH A COUPLE OF TIMES, JUST TO KEEP IT FRESH, JUST TO KEEP IT MORE INTERESTING.
LIKE LESLIE WAS SAYING, WE'LL BE GOING AROUND TO DIFFERENT EVENTS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY.
WE'LL HAVE A LITTLE BUSINESS CARD, WE'LL HAVE THIS, AND ALSO THIS FLYER AND THE REST OF THEM AS THEY'RE PRODUCED.
WE WILL ALSO HAVE ONE IN SPANISH AND ONE IN HAITIAN CREOLE THAT WE WILL GET TO THOSE AREAS OF THE COUNTY WHERE WE KNOW THAT ENGLISH IS NOT THE PREDOMINANT LANGUAGE SO THAT WE CAN GET INPUT FROM THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING IN THOSE AREAS THAT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO READ EVERYTHING THAT'S ON HERE IN ENGLISH.
I THINK THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
GEN'S DONE A GREAT JOB OF REACHING OUT TO GET THOSE TRANSLATIONS.
WE'LL HAVE DIFFERENT AREAS, I THINK ON THE ACTUAL WEB PAGE THAT WILL HAVE THAT INFORMATION AS WELL TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT TRANSLATED.
SHE'S GOING TO BE PUTTING THESE OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA BLAST, EVERYWHERE AND ANYWHERE THAT WE CAN BASICALLY TO GET THE WORD OUT.
>> THE PUBLIC MEETING ON THE 30TH,
[00:50:02]
WE'VE ASKED JEFF TO ATTEND.HOW MANY OF YOU CAN WE HAVE WITHOUT THERE BEING A QUORUM? TWO?
>> JUST TWO, I THINK. IS THAT RIGHT, STEWART? JUST TWO. HOW MANY CAN WE HAVE WITHOUT IT BEING A QUORUM? JUST TWO.
>> I WOULD SAY SINCE THEY'RE NOT DOING ANY ACTION ITEMS OR VOTING ON ANYTHING, IT'S JUST OPEN HOUSE, ASK QUESTIONS.
>> WHICH IS THE FORMAT FOR THIS.
>> IF WE ALL DECIDED TO GO ATTEND COMEDY NIGHT, I DON'T THINK WE'D HAVE TO TAKE QUORUM.
>> WELL, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT THE COM PLAN AND EXPLAINING IT.
>> NO DECISIONS OR VOTING WILL HAPPEN.
>> NO VOTING, NO DECISIONS, BUT YOU WILL BE TALKING ABOUT IT.
>> I WISH THAT WAS THE DEFINITION OR THE TEST, BUT IT'S NOT.
IF YOU'RE DISCUSSING PUBLIC BUSINESS AND THERE'S A QUORUM OR MORE, THAT'S AN OPEN MEETING THAT HAS TO BE ADVERTISED.
>> WOULD THAT BE CONSIDERED ADVERTISED?
>> NO. A REGULAR MEETING OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION.
>> IF WE WERE TO ADD IT ON THE COUNTY WEBSITE IN THE PLANNING COMMISSION SPECIAL PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETING.
>> THEN THEY COULD ALL ATTEND?
>> BECAUSE WE'RE PLANNING ON LIVE STREAMING ANYWAY.
>> IT'S GOING TO BE A FORMAL MEETING.
>> WELL, WE'RE TRYING TO DO A CASUAL WORKSHOP, OPEN HOUSE.
IT'S 6:00-8:00, WITH INFORMATION AROUND THE ROOM-LIKE STATIONS, AND IT MIGHT BE ABOUT EACH ELEMENT.
WE'RE STILL PUTTING TOGETHER THE IDEAS.
THEN OLIVIA, AND JEFF, AND ANY OF YOU ALL THAT WANT TO SAY ANYTHING ABOUT WHAT THE COM PLAN MEANS, THE IMPORTANCE OF IT, HOW IMPORTANT PUBLIC INPUT IS, YOUR VISIONS FOR THE COUNTY, WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU IN THIS COUNTY, WHAT MAKES YOU LOVE IT.
>> WHY IT'S IMPORTANT TO PAY ATTENTION AS WE GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS.
WE'VE PLASTERED EVERYWHERE ON WHAT'S GETTING PRINTED, WHAT'S GOING TO BE ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THAT THIS PLAN APPLIES TO AREAS OF CAROLINE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN LIMITS.
I'M ACTUALLY TRYING TO GET A MAP, I'M SURE THERE IS ONE SOMEWHERE AND I HAVEN'T FOUND IT, THAT SHOWS VERY CLEARLY WHAT IS CAROLINE COUNTY OUTSIDE OF THE TOWN CENTERS.
I'VE FOUND A COUPLE OF MAPS, BUT THEY'RE NOT CLEAR ENOUGH IF I WAS SOMEBODY LOOKING AT IT GOING, LET ME UNDERSTAND WHAT ARE THE TOWNS, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS DISCUSSION.
>> WE HAD MAPS THAT HAD THE TOWNS IN DIFFERENT COLORS.
>> WE DO, BUT THE ONLY ONES THAT I'VE SEEN, I TRY TO LOOK AT IT NOT FROM SOMEBODY WHO'S DONE THIS FOR DECADES, BUT SOMEBODY WHO JUST, IF I LOOKED AT THIS MAP, CAN I REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THIS MEANS? I'D LIKE TO GET A BETTER COLORED ONE. WE'LL SEE IF WE CAN.
BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE BIGGEST THINGS PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, WELL, WHAT'S REALLY JUST THE COUNTY THAT'S UNDER THIS DISCUSSION?
>> THE GOOD NEWS IS WE CAN TELL THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE TOWNS THAT YOUR TOWN IS WORKING ON THEIR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN RIGHT NOW TOO.
CALL YOUR TOWN OFFICE AND FIND OUT.
>> EVERY SINGLE TOWN, WHICH WE'LL BE WORKING WITH THEM AS WELL AND VICE VERSA.
>> DEPENDING ON THE TURNOUT FOR THIS, WE MAY SCHEDULE A SECOND PUBLIC OUTREACH MEETING LATER IN THE SUMMER, IF THERE'S A GOOD RESPONSE TO THIS.
ALSO TO FIND OUT WHAT ARE THE HOT TOPICS PEOPLE WANT TO TALK ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE COMP PLAN AND ZONING.
>> I THINK TOO AS WE GO THROUGH THESE OUTREACH EVENTS WHERE PEOPLE ARE SHOWING UP FOR ONE THING THAT'S FUN AND WE HIT THEM WITH A FLYER OR THE CARD AND THEY LOOK AT IT, WE'LL SEE THE RESPONSE TOO THAT WE GET FROM THERE BECAUSE SOME PEOPLE, YOU'RE ZONED OUT.
YOU'RE CLUED IN TO GOING TO WORK, COMING HOME, MAKING DINNER, TAKING CARE OF THE KIDS, GOING TO SOCCER PRACTICE, BOOM, YOU WAKE UP AND DO IT ALL AGAIN THE NEXT DAY.
THEN YOU DECIDE TO HAVE SOME FUN ON THE WEEKEND AND HERE WE ARE PASSING THIS OUT, AND YOU'RE GOING, WHAT? I NEVER KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS.
IT'S JUST A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO GET MORE PEOPLE.
>> MAYBE, GENEVA, WHAT WE CAN DO FOR THE MEETING IS DO A PRINT OUT.
>> WE CAN PRINT OUT A LARGER MAP THAT SHOWS CLEAR WHERE THE TOWNS ARE AND HAVE THE TOWN CONTACT PHONE NUMBER
[00:55:01]
SO THAT IF SOMEBODY DOES SHOW UP, THEN WE CAN SET THAT UP.>> CARE MORE ABOUT THE TOWN. LIKE I SAID, I'M SURE A GOOD MAP OUT THERE EXISTS.
I'M THE NEWBIE. I JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO FIND IT YET.
I'M TRYING NOT TO BUG THESE TWO AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIND THESE THINGS.
YOU ALSO HAVE IN YOUR HANDOUT OR IN FRONT OF YOU EXTRA TONIGHT.
WE PUT TOGETHER FAQ ON THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN JUST TO HAVE THIS PLASTERED ON THE WEBSITE, PUT IT OUT THERE ON SOCIAL MEDIA A COUPLE OF TIMES.
>> WE MAY WANT TO ADD A SECTION THAT SAYS THIS IS FOR THE COUNTY, NOT THE TOWN.
>> WELL, THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS. THIS IS NOT FINISHED.
YOU DON'T SEE IT PLASTERED ON HERE YET, BUT THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER QUESTIONS.
I WAS HOPING TO GET 10 QUESTIONS AT LEAST.
I DON'T KNOW WHY I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO HIT THE NUMBER 10, BUT WE'LL SEE.
WE MIGHT EVEN COME UP WITH SOME MORE QUESTIONS AFTER THE 30TH IF WE HEAR A LOT OF PEOPLE ASKING THE SAME THING THAT'S NOT ON HERE.
BUT I THINK IT'S GOOD TO HAVE AN FAQ SO THAT IF I HAND YOU THIS AT AN EVENT AND YOU ACTUALLY GO AND YOU LOOK EVERYTHING UP AND YOU FIND THIS, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT YOU MIGHT HAVE EMAILED OR CALLED IN AND ASKED, BUT IT'S A GOOD SOURCE JUST TO EDUCATE PEOPLE.
>> IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY IDEAS ABOUT WHAT COULD BE ADDED EITHER TO THE FLYERS, GO CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE, GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK.
IF YOU THINK THERE'S STUFF WE SHOULD ADD, LET US KNOW.
>> DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS?
>> NO QUESTIONS, NO COMMENTS? GOOD. THANK YOU ALL.
>> IF NOTHING ELSE, I WILL LEARN HOW TO GET AROUND MAYBE A LITTLE BIT BETTER IN CAROLINE COUNTY.
>> 404, ANNAPOLIS TO THE BEACH.
IT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT ROAD. MS. LESLIE, ARE YOU DOING THE CLEARINGHOUSE PROJECT REVIEW?
[Clearinghouse Project Review: MD20250325-0212]
>> THAT IS THE NEXT THING THAT'S UP.
>> WE GOT A REQUEST FROM MARYLAND STATE CLEARINGHOUSE TO REVIEW A PROJECT THAT DENTON IS UNDERTAKING AS PART OF A FEMA GRANT THEY'RE WORKING ON.
I'M ACTUALLY ON THE, IT'S A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE FOR IT.
FEMA HAS A HUGE GRANT PROGRAM CALLED BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES.
IT'S CALLED THE BRIC GRANT PROGRAM, AND IT'S BEEN UNDERWAY FOR A FEW YEARS NATIONWIDE.
IT'S ONE OF THE HARDEST GRANT APPLICATIONS I HAVE EVER TRIED TO DO.
IN FACT, MOST PEOPLE GIVE UP HALFWAY THROUGH.
VERY DENSE, A LOT OF INFO, AND WE'VE ALL, EVERYBODY AROUND THE COUNTRY TOLD FEMA, IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM, BUT IT'S TOO MUCH AND TOO DIFFICULT TO EVEN SUBMIT AN APPLICATION BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE SO MUCH.
FEMA CAME UP WITH SOMETHING CALLED THE DIRECT TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHERE IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR FUNDING THROUGH THIS GRANT PROGRAM, THEY WILL SEND YOU A TEAM OF FEMA EXPERTS TO HELP YOU DO THE APPLICATION BECAUSE THEY HAD LOTS OF MONEY AND NOBODY WAS ABLE TO EVER MAKE IT ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND GET AN APPLICATION.
>> THEY SEND PEOPLE VERSUS CHANGE THE APPLICATION.
>> THEN WE JUST ROLLED WITH IT.
FEDERALSBURG IS ALSO DOING THE SAME THING, AND GREENSBORO AND RIDGELY ARE INTERESTED BECAUSE IT FUNDS STORMWATER PROJECTS, IT FUNDS INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS.
THE BIGGEST PART OF IT IS RISK PROTECTION FROM HAZARDS, AND HAZARDS CAN BE NATURAL DISASTERS, MAN MADE DISASTERS, PANDEMICS, EPIDEMICS.
THERE'S A LOT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMPONENTS IN THIS, BUT IT'S ALSO DEALING WITH STORMWATER FLOODING, AND COASTAL FLOODING, IMPROVING ROADS.
FOR INSTANCE, IN FEDERALSBURG, THEY'VE GOT PUMP STATIONS RIGHT ON THE MARSHY HOPE THAT ARE INUNDATED CONSTANTLY.
[01:00:02]
THIS PROGRAM WOULD FUND MOVING THOSE OUT OF THE FLOODPLAIN.>> THEY'RE GETTING READY TO REHAB.
>> THEY'RE GOING THROUGH STATE. I KNOW WHERE THEY ARE.
>> BUT THAT WAS A DIFFERENT FUNDING.
>> THAT'S THROUGH THE MDE AND I THINK USDA.
DENTON AND FEDERALSBURG ARE BOTH GOING THROUGH THIS DTA PROGRAM RIGHT NOW WORKING ON THEIR APPLICATIONS.
DENTON STARTED ABOUT SIX MONTHS BEFORE FEDERALSBURG DID.
THEY'RE A LITTLE AHEAD OF THE GAME.
THEIR FIRST URGENT NEED AND THIS DTA TEAM COMES IN AND JUST SWARMS ALL OVER THE TOWN AND LOOKS AT EVERYTHING IN THE TOWN, AND THEY START PRIORITIZING FOR COST AND NEED AND POTENTIAL IMPACT TO THE PUBLIC.
THE VERY FIRST TWO THINGS THAT WERE EASILY DONE, OBVIOUSLY NECESSARY, WERE THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD ESSENTIALLY NON-WORKING GENERATORS.
THIS FUNDING REQUEST IS THEIR FIRST ONE THROUGH THIS PROGRAM AND IT'S TO GET NEW GENERATORS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INSTALLED.
>> THEY HAVE MANY OTHER PROJECTS LINED UP THAT THE DTA TEAM IS WORKING ON WITH SCOTT GETCHELL AND KATIE AT THE TOWN OFFICE.
THEY HAVE TO PRIORITIZE AND THEN FEED THEM INTO THE FEMA BRIC GRANT PORTAL AS THEY GO.
THE CLEARINGHOUSE REVIEW BECAUSE IT'S FEDERAL FUNDING, COMES TO US, AND THEN ALL OF THE STATE AGENCIES LIKE MDE, MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, HISTORICAL TRUST.
I THINK THAT'S IT TO REVIEW AND RESPOND THAT THIS PROJECT IS CONSISTENT WITH COUNTY PLANS AND GOALS AND POLICIES.
THE COUNTY HAS A HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN.
THE NEW ONE WAS COMPLETED LAST YEAR OR ACTUALLY, I THINK IT WAS JANUARY OF THIS YEAR.
MOST OF THE TOWNS JUST ADOPT OUR HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN AS THEIR OWN, WHICH DENTON DID EARLIER THIS YEAR.
THE GOALS IN THAT PLAN ARE EXACTLY WHAT THE GOALS OF THIS PROJECT IS, IS TO MAKE SURE YOUR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IS PROTECTED AND YOU'RE MAKING SURE THAT ANY RISK TO PUBLIC SERVICES IS MINIMIZED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
OUR RECOMMENDATION IS THAT YOU ALL PENDING QUESTIONS OR PROBLEMS, GIVE IT THE C1 CONSISTENT WITH COUNTY PLANS POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES.
THE GRANT AMOUNT HERE IN THE BRIC PROGRAM, DEPENDING ON A COUPLE OF DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHICS IS 75% FEDERAL FUNDED, 25% LOCAL MATCH.
THE TOWN WILL HAVE TO PUT IN 25% OF THE COST OF THIS THEMSELVES, WHICH THEY'RE GOING TO BE DOING FROM THEIR GENERAL FUND.
>> THEY HAVE THE MEANS TO DOING IT FORWARD.
>> IT'S JUST A CRAZY QUESTION.
>> WELL, AS A MATTER OF FACT, THE WHOLE THING GOT SHUT DOWN FOR ABOUT A MONTH. IT'S BACK UP AGAIN.
THEY'RE SUBMITTING THIS AND THE REVIEW THEY HAVE TO GO THROUGH, IT COULD BE TURNED DOWN.
IT'S A 50/50 CHANCE AT THIS POINT.
I THINK THEY HAVE A GOOD CHANCE BECAUSE IT'S VERY STRAIGHTFORWARD.
IT'S FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT GENERATORS.
THEY'VE DEMONSTRATED THE NEED.
THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO AND THIS MONEY EXISTS.
THIS IS FOR EXISTING FUNDING IN THE PROGRAM. BUT WE'LL SEE.
>> YOU'RE FORESEEING MAYBE ANOTHER APPLICATION COMING THROUGH FOR OTHER.
THEY DO LIKE A WHOLE ASSESSMENT OF ALL AREAS?
>> THEY ASSESS INFRASTRUCTURE THREATS, BOTH FROM STORMWATER FLOODING, COASTAL FLOODING, AGING INFRASTRUCTURE, DO THEY NEED UPDATED SEWER LINES, THINGS LIKE THAT? THAT REQUIRES ENGINEERS, I THINK THERE'S AN ARCHITECT ON THE TEAM.
THEY'RE LOOKING AT EVERYTHING AND THEN RANKING IT IN TERMS OF SEVERITY OF THE PROBLEM, COST EFFECTIVENESS.
[01:05:06]
THEY DO A LOT. IT'S ALMOST LIKE A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS FOR EACH THING.THEN ALSO THEY HAVE TO LOOK AT WHAT THE TOWN CAN BEAR IN TERMS OF LOCAL MATCH, WHAT THE TOWN CAN AFFORD.
I THINK THE MATCH NUMBERS ARE DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHAT AREA YOU'RE PLUGGING INTO AND APPLYING FOR, IN SOME CASES IT'S 75/25, IN SOME CASES IT'S 90% GRANT, 10% MATCH.
SOME PROJECTS YOU CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR 100% MATCH.
THIS PARTICULAR ONE WAS 75/25.
>> STEWART. I HAVE A BID IN ON THIS PROJECT.
DO I NEED TO RECUSE MYSELF FROM ANY DISCUSSIONS?
>> YOU CAN STAY IN THE AUDIENCE SECTION IF YOU LIKE.
>> IS THAT IT? I GUESS WE'RE GOING TO GET ONE EVERY TIME.
>> EXPLAIN TO ME AGAIN WHY THEY NEED US TO TELL THEM IT'S OKAY.
>> OH, WHY THE CLEARINGHOUSE REVIEW?
>> THE TOWN WILL SUSPEND YOUR MONEY ON JANUARY, SEC.
>> BECAUSE WE ARE A NEIGHBORING JURISDICTION.
THE STATE AGENCIES ARE REQUESTED TO REVIEW IT BECAUSE THE FEMA PROGRAM, AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER ALL THIS, BUT MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT, MDEM IS A CO-APPLICANT WITH THE TOWN BECAUSE FEMA MONEY GOES DOWN TO THE STATE LEVEL AND THEN FROM THE STATE TO THE LOCALS AND MDEM IS THE STATE RECIPIENT OF THE FEMA MONEY.
THEY HAVE TO RIDE ALONG AS AN APPLICANT.
THE TOWN IS ALMOST A SUB APPLICANT.
BECAUSE IT'S MDEM, THAT TRIGGERS THE REQUIREMENT OF THE OTHER STATE AGENCIES REVIEWING TO MAKE SURE IT'S CONSISTENT WITH STATE POLICIES AND OBJECTIVES.
IN ALL OF THESE PROJECTS, IN ANY OF THE TOWNS, CAROLINE COUNTY IS ALMOST ALWAYS ASKED TO REVIEW IT AS THE COUNTY JURISDICTION THAT THE TOWN IS IN.
>> DO THESE FUNDS THEN COME FROM THE STATE TO THE COUNTY AND THEN GIVE IT TO THE TOWN OR ARE THEY COMING FROM THE STATE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> BECAUSE SOME OF OUR MONEY USED TO COME FROM THE STATE, WENT TO THE COUNTY AND THE COUNTY DID THE DEDUCTING.
>> THAT'S A LOT OF. [OVERLAPPING]
>> A LOT OF FINGERS IN THE POT.
THE POT WAS MESSY WHEN IT WAS DONE.
HAVE I GOT ANY MORE QUESTIONS? IS IT?
>> WELL, THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION.
I'LL MAKE A MOTION THAT WE APPROVE THE CLEARINGHOUSE PROJECT OF DENTON'S TWO GENERATOR FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND GIVE IT A C1 CODE CONSISTENT WITH COUNTY PLANS, PROGRAMS, AND OBJECTIVES.
>> WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? HEARING NONE, ALL IN FAVOR, SAY AYE, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
[Information and Discussion:]
>> YOU CAN COME BACK. WHO IS DOING THE BZA UPDATE?
[BZA Update]
>> MY NAME IS GENEVA BOGS, AND I AM THE BOARD ADMINISTRATOR.
THERE WERE TWO SPECIAL USE EXCEPTIONS IN THE LAST MEETING, WHICH WAS HELD MARCH 18TH, 2025.
[01:10:01]
BIG LOU'S AUTO PARTS REQUESTED SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION NUMBER 24-0045 FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 40 BY 60 POLE BUILDING TO REPLACE ONE DESTROYED BY A FIRE TO BE USED IN SUPPORT OF AN EXISTING NON CONFORMING USE.THE OTHER SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION WAS FOR R&R FARMS, WHERE IT WAS REQUESTED SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION NUMBER 24-0026 FOR A NEW MAJOR MINERAL EXTRACTION FACILITY.
THE BOARD PLACED CONDITIONS ON THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION, WHICH I WILL JUST SUMMARIZE THAT MOST OF THE EXCEPTIONS HAD TO DO WITH TRUCK TRAFFIC.
THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION WITH THE NOTED CONDITIONS FOR R&R FARMS. IF I MAY BACK UP, THE BIG LOU WAS ALSO UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED FOR SPECIAL USE EXCEPTION. THAT'S IT.
>> THE SALVAGE OR JUST WANTED TO REPLACE THE EXISTING BUILDING?
>> THAT WAS DESTROYED BY FIVE. [OVERLAPPING]
>> THAT CONCLUDES THE BZA UPDATE FOR MARCH.
>> WILL BIG LOU'S COME TO US AGAIN OR ARE YOU JUST SIGNED?
>> NO. THEIR NEXT STEP WILL BE A BUILDING PERMIT.
>> OUR NEWEST FARM WILL COME BACK TO YOU FOR FINAL SITE PLAN APPROVAL.
>> THE SETBACK, LIKE REQUIREMENTS, WAS THAT SIMILAR TO WHAT WE HAD SUGGESTED OR DID THEY CHANGE ANYTHING?
>> I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER WHAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION WAS.
>> I THINK THEY HAD THE NEIGHBORS, IF THE NEIGHBORS WERE OKAY WITH IT.
>> WE GAVE THEM. WE BACKED OFF THE 200.
I THINK HE BOUGHT THAT FARM NEXT TO HIM, SO HE IS ENGINEER ON THE MATTER.
>> YES. THEY DID MAINTAIN THE SETBACK ALONG THE FRONT PROPERTY LINE ALONG THE ROADWAY, BUT DID REDUCE IT IN SOME OF THE BACK PORTION, WHICH BACKS UP TO A WOODED PARCEL AND THEN THE TWO NEIGHBORING PARCELS, WHO DIDN'T OBJECT TO THE REDUCTION IN THE SETBACK, THEY GAVE THEM A REDUCTION ON THOSE TWO SIDES.
>> WHEN HE COMES BACK, HE'LL HAVE NEW DROLL?
WHAT DO WE GOT NEXT? DEPARTMENT UPDATE.
>> I FEEL LIKE WE MIGHT BE ABLE TO BREATHE FOR A FEW MINUTES NOW THAT
[Department Update]
THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS WRAPPING UP INSTEAD OF CHASING AFTER BILLS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS.GENEVA, WHO IS OUR BOARD ADMINISTRATOR AS WELL FOR THE LIQUOR BOARD, HAS BEEN DIVING IN AND HANDLING ALL OF THE LIQUOR LICENSE RENEWALS.
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR FOR ALL OF OUR LICENSE HOLDERS TO RENEW THEIR ANNUAL LICENSES.
EVERYONE THAT HAS A CURRENT LICENSE HAS BEEN APPROVED TO RENEW THEIR LICENSE WITH SOME MINOR DOCUMENTATION THEY HAVE TO SUBMIT.
WE DO HAVE, I THINK, ONE NEW BUSINESS, GENEVA, THAT'S LOOKING TO?
>> POSSIBLY OPEN UP AND THEY'LL BE ON THE SCHEDULE FOR MAY, BUT NOT A LOT OF NEW ALCOHOL ESTABLISHMENTS.
WE DON'T REALLY SEE MUCH OF AN INCREASE IN THAT.
WE HAVE ONE MORE POSITION, WHICH IS CURRENTLY ADVERTISED FOR OUR GIS PLANNER, AND WE'RE HOPING THAT'LL BE SUCCESSFUL PARTICULARLY WITH THE GIS PROGRAM AT SALISBURY STATE AND LOOKING FOR MAYBE SOME GRADUATES THAT ARE OUT LOOKING FOR A JOB WHEN THEY GRADUATE.
SO WE'RE HOPING WE'LL BE SUCCESSFUL IN FILLING THAT POSITION HERE SHORTLY.
WHAT ELSE HAVE WE GOT GOING ON? OH, WE HAVE OUR FOUR LEGISLATIVE BILLS.
ON TUESDAY, WE HAD THE THIRD READING AND ENACTMENT OF THE CANNABIS REGULATIONS.
[01:15:03]
THEY WERE EFFECTIVE ON TUESDAY.WE HAD THE PERMIT DENIALS LEGISLATIVE BILL.
THAT'S THE ONE WHERE WE PUT IN THE REQUIREMENT THAT IF YOU HAVE A ZONING OR OTHER VIOLATION ON THE PROPERTY THAT YOU WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO OBTAIN A PERMIT FOR ANYTHING ELSE ON THE PROPERTY UNTIL YOU REMEDIED THE VIOLATION.
THEN NEXT TUESDAY WILL BE THE THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT FOR THE OTHER TWO BILLS, WHICH ARE LIFTING THE BZA TERM LIMITS.
WE DID LET THE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS KNOW IN THE RECOMMENDATION FROM THE PLANNING COMMISSION THAT THEY ALSO LOOK AT REMOVING THE TERM LIMITS FOR THE PLANNING COMMISSION AS WELL.
THEN THE OTHER BILL FOR THIRD READING AND POTENTIAL ENACTMENT IS THE WASTE WATER TREATMENT FACILITY CHANGES TO THE DEFINITIONS AND THE TABLE OF USES. THAT'S IT.
>> THAT'S IT. PLANNING COMMISSION. OPEN DISCUSSION.
[Planning Commissioners Open Discussion]
ANYBODY GOT ANYTHING THEY WANT TO TALK ABOUT? ASK QUESTIONS.[Public Comment]
VACATION, DO YOU WANT TO PLAN? PUBLIC COMMENT. ANYTHING ELSE FROM ANYBODY? NOTHING ELSE.[Adjournment]
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO ADJOURN.
>> THAT WAS THE SECOND. [LAUGHTER] ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
>> AYE.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.