Last month the Queen Anne’s County Planning Commission issued the update to the Queen Anne’s County Comprehensive Plan for 60-day public review. This update to the County’s Comprehensive Plan also provides an opportunity for property owners to have the land use designation of their property re-evaluated. Now is the time to submit requests for consideration of a change in the zoning of any property.
Zoning is one of the tools to implement the land use objectives of the Comprehensive Plan and has to be consistent with the land use plan. Once adopted, the Comprehensive Plan charts the direction of the community’s long-term goals, which includes identifying a pattern of desired land uses. Therefore, there is a link between the land use map in the Comprehensive Plan and the zoning of every parcel.
A property owner who wants to have their property rezoned following the adoption of the updated Comprehensive Plan must make their intentions known during this 60-day review. After the new Comprehensive Plan is adopted, there will be a process of County-wide rezoning. The rezoning of any parcel will be evaluated against the land use designation it received in the Comprehensive Plan. For instance, a property owner who wants to pursue a business venture on their property might seek a commercial zoning as part of the County-wide rezoning process. However, if the Plan designates the property for a residential or agricultural use, then the rezoning request for commercial would be inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan and would not be approved.
The rezoning application form is available on the county website at www.qac.org. In the left column quick link go to the “60-day Review – 2010 Comprehensive Plan” and then scroll down to and click on “Rezoning Information and Application.” Open the “Rezoning Application” form, then print complete and return to:
Queen Anne’s County Department of Land Use, Growth Management & Environment
Community & Environmental Planning
Attn: Helen Spinelli, AICP
160 Coursevall Drive
Centreville, Maryland 21617
These “Comprehensive Rezoning Requests” must be received by 4:30 p.m. on July 6, 2010. No applications will be accepted after that date. All applications submitted will be presented to the Planning Commission for their review in the context of the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan.
If you have no intention of seeking a rezoning in the next six (6) to eight (8) years, then no action is necessary.
For further information or assistance in completing the application form, please contact Community and Environmental Planning at 410-758-1255 and ask to speak to one of the Community Planners.