With evidence of property blight in several locations, Calvert County officials are mulling over proposed changes to its county code. During the Calvert County Commissioners’ Tuesday, Dec. 10 meeting the staff of the Department of Community Planning and Building briefed the board on possible amendments the code’s Property Maintenance Chapter.
Chief of Zoning Enforcement Christopher Breedlove said the current measure allows enforcement of property maintenance only in residentially zoned areas. The code allows county government to abate a nuisance within 30 days.
In a memo to the commissioners, Breedlove stated the revisions would expand enforcement authority regarding maintenance to the Rural Community, Rural Commercial, Farm and Forest and Town Center zoning districts.
The process would begin with a written notice followed by a citation. “If the citation for the violation is unresolved, the case is sent to the county attorney’s office to schedule a date with district court,” Breedlove stated. He told the commissioners the county could expect an increase in the number of enforcement cases for property maintenance, which would affect the workload of the enforcement staff.
The current code deems it unlawful for an owner of any lot, tract or parcel “to permit within 100 feet of any house, mobile home or other residence whether occupied or unoccupied, any accumulation of debris, decayed vegetative matter, filth, dangerous trees, rubbish or trash, abandoned vehicles, refrigerators or other household articles, excessive growth of weeds or underbrush, or growth of noxious weeds.”
“There are a couple of situations,” said Commissioner Susan Shaw [R] of the isolated cases of unabated blight. Shaw added some property owners “are finding loopholes” to avoid measuring up to the maintenance standards. She said the eyesores are adversely impacting property values of neighbors.
Breedlove confirmed that having the proposed code changes in effect would have prevented the recent maintenance issues with Southern Memorial Gardens in Dunkirk. The cemetery is now under new ownership.
Department of Community Planning and Building Deputy Director Mary Beth Cook said the proposals do not have to be reviewed by the Calvert County Planning Commission.
The proposed modifications will be forwarded to impacted local and state agencies for comments. A second work session of the amendments will be conducted before the issue is presented at a public hearing.
<!–
–>
