LA PLATA, Md. — Just a month after Rivers Edge Restaurant won a key zoning appeal allowing its nonconforming use to continue in Benedict, Charles County is asking the Board of Appeals to reconsider that decision.
The Board of Appeals approved Rivers Edge’s administrative appeal to allow the restaurant’s nonconforming use to continue despite the zoning officer’s determination.
The Board of Appeals approved Rivers Edge’s administrative appeal April 14, voting 3-2 to allow the restaurant’s nonconforming use to continue despite the zoning officer’s determination. The board later adopted its formal decision and order July 14.
Now, the Charles County Attorney’s Office, acting on behalf of the zoning officer, has filed a motion asking the board to reconsider that approval — creating another bump in the road for the restaurant’s long-running effort to rebuild in Benedict.
The new hurdle surfaced publicly during the Board of Appeals’ Tuesday, Aug. 11, meeting, when members discussed the county’s request.
Board legal counsel Stan Brown explained that the county attorney, acting on behalf of the zoning officer, had formally asked the board to reconsider its earlier approval.
“The county attorney on behalf of the zoning officer has filed a motion for reconsideration of the board’s approval of the nonconforming use under our zoning ordinance and the rules of procedure,” Brown said.
Board members had been sent a two-page document from the county requesting reconsideration before the meeting, according to the chair. Members initially appeared prepared to vote on whether they were willing to reconsider the case.
Brown, however, advised the board to wait.
He said the county filed its motion Aug. 3, and under the zoning ordinance and Board of Appeals rules, parties of record have 15 days to file an opposition.
“They have until the eighteenth to file an opposition,” Brown said.
Brown recommended that the board wait until that deadline passes so members can review any response from Rivers Edge or other parties before deciding whether they want to reconsider the case.
“If they do file one, we’ll have all of the information in front of us to make a decision on whether or not we want to consider the motion for reconsideration,” Brown said.
A motion to reconsider Docket No. 1459 was initially made during the meeting but was later withdrawn after Brown explained the process. The board therefore took no action Aug. 11 to reverse or reopen its previous approval.
The board discussed returning Aug. 25 to decide whether it wants to reconsider the case, giving members roughly a week to review any opposition filed by the Aug. 18 deadline.
Board members settled on Aug. 25 after checking their availability. All of the regular members indicated they could attend, while the alternate member said he would not be available. The board noted that could become an issue only if another member were absent and the alternate were needed to fill out the panel.
If members agree to reconsider the case, the board could hear arguments from the county and the applicant before deciding whether its earlier ruling should remain in place.
If the board decides not to reconsider the case, Brown said the county’s motion would effectively end there.
“Then that would be the end of it,” Brown told the board.
For now, the board’s earlier approval of Rivers Edge remains in place while the reconsideration request moves through the process.
Fire Destroyed The Restaurant In 2018
River’s Edge Restaurant was destroyed by fire April 19, 2018.
The Benedict Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad said Benedict and surrounding units, including crews from Charles and Calvert counties, were dispatched at about 4:30 p.m. Firefighters arrived to find flames coming through the roof of the waterfront building.
Crews initially entered the restaurant but moved to exterior operations as conditions worsened and part of the structure collapsed.
The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes. Firefighters remained at the property for about three hours to extinguish hot spots and complete overhaul work.
The department said improperly discarded smoking materials were believed to have caused the fire. Damage was estimated at about $1 million.
Read The BayNet’s July 14 coverage of the Board of Appeals’ approval and Rivers Edge Restaurant’s rebuilding plans here.
Watch the full August 11, 2026, Charles County Board of Appeals meeting on CCGTV.
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