La Plata, MD — It will be at least a year before the Charles County Comprehensive Plan is ready for adoption by the county commissioners, Steven Ball, planning director, Planning and Growth Management told county leaders Tuesday, Sept. 23.

Ball informed the commissioners that there were four options for moving the plan forward now that the new tier map designating development and land resource management elements have been added to it.

The Land Use Map in the proposed plan has been revised to reflect the changes to the Tier Map, Ball added.

For Land Use Map changes to be consistent with the Tier Map, he said, Rural Conservation land uses were adjusted to match to Tier IV areas; Rural Residential land uses were also adjusted to match Tier III areas 1.

Tier Map references were made to clarify in the text that final changes were made to match the tier map and to document that the Tier Map was adopted and included in the plan, which is required by state law.

“We are requesting direction how to proceed,” Ball said. “We have four options for the commissioners to consider for adoption.”

Commissioner President Candice Quinn Kelly suggested that Option III, to adopt the Comprehensive Plan with all the proposed changes in its present form, was inconsistent with state law.

Ball indicated that both Options III and IV failed to meet the law’s mandate.

“Then three and four need to come off the list,” Kelly stated.

Commissioner Reuben Collins moved the commissioners adopt Option I, which sends the long-delayed measure back before the Charles County Planning Commission, and was seconded by Commissioner Bobby Rucci.

When Commissioner Ken Robinson asked how long before the plan could be adopted, Ball responded, “it will take approximately a year to get back to this board.”

He noted there was a 60-day review process, followed by the scheduling of a public hearing and work sessions with the county commissioners.

“It’ll take close to a year,” he said, adding, “so I suggest we all take a deep breath.”

“It’s just so unfortunate on every level that since 2012 we’re still dealing with the Comprehensive Plan,” Kelly said.

Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com