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Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting

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August 27, 2025

3:00 PM

Comprehensive Plan Update

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  • SP&D staff will be assisting both the Allegany County staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission in the Comprehensive Plan Update
    • Established 2004 & Located at 76 Baltimore Street
    • History of working with Allegany County- Department of Emergency Services, and the Department of Planning and Zoning for the past 20 years
    • Virginia Smith, Michele King and Eric Messick from SP&D will be working directly with the county.

Comprehensive Plan Update

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  • The planning commission generally oversees the drafting of the comprehensive plan and amendments thereto, holds public hearings and advises the governing body as to whether to adopt. The plan has legal significance in that zoning, provision of water and sewer, and other local actions must be consistent with its recommendations. 

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Source: https://planning.maryland.gov/Pages/OurWork/compplans/background.aspx

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Comprehensive Plan Update

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Numbered list

  • Consistent branding
  • Continuous public communication & engagement
  • Use of a Technical Committee
  • Presentation of working draft chapters at Planning & Zoning Commission meetings
  • Integration with Municipal Planning initiatives

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Strategies for updating the plan.

Comprehensive Plan Update

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  • Name, logo, design, colors, and a consistent message… to build recognition

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  • Coordinated with Public Relations & Communications

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Branding

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  • Tagline for plan update - A tagline is a brief, to-the-point phrase or sentence. 
    • 2014 Plan – Ideas for Today and Tomorrow

Branding

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  • Continuous Public Communication & Engagement
    • Project Website
      • Continuously updated with new content throughout plan development process.

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Public Engagement

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  • Continuous Public Communication & Engagement
    • Online Public Survey
      • Offers both structured and open-ended questions and allows for general comments.
    • Planning & Zoning Commission Meetings
      • Working draft chapter presentations.

Public Engagement

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  • Continuous Public Communication & Engagement
    • Municipal Plan Integration
      • Meetings and coordination
    • Meetings and Workshops
      • Offering both in-person and virtual
    • Planning & Zoning Commission Meetings
      • Working draft chapter presentations.

Public Engagement

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  • Comprised primarily of local government staff, however other government agency representatives, as well as topic related organizations will be invited, as appropriate.
  • Not formally used in 2014 Plan, systematic use during this plan update.
  • Meetings are topic specific.

Technical Committee

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  • Coordination meeting(s) with Maryland Department of Planning.
  • Land Use Data & Mapping – Use & Methodology
  • New Plan Requirements & Initiatives
  • Regional Perspective

MDP Coordination

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  • Coordination meeting(s) with municipalities.
  • Plan integration and coordination.
  • Included as a plan chapter.

Municipal Coordination

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  • Maryland's Sustainable Growth Policy and Planning Principles

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New Policy & Planning Principles

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  • Maryland's Sustainable Growth Policy and Planning Principles
    • Replaces 12 Planning Visions
    • Included throughout the plan. Focus on balanced land use and development.

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New Policy & Planning Principles

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  • HB 1045 (2019)
    • Requires a housing element in comprehensive plans for all Maryland jurisdictions. This change to the law requires that jurisdictions include a housing element when developing a new, or updated, comprehensive plan after June 1, 2020. Included as a plan chapter.
    • A housing element shall address the need for affordable housing within the jurisdictions, including:
      • Workforce housing; and
      • Low-income housing

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Housing Planning

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  • HB 90 (2021): Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing
    • Require the housing elements for all Maryland jurisdictions with planning & zoning authority to “affirmatively further fair housing." This adds to the requirements to plan for affordable housing that HB 1045 (2019) initiated in June 2020. 

Housing Planning

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  • The WRE will address the relationship of planned growth to planning area water resources.
  • Initially completed as a separate document. Completed several years prior to 2014 Comprehensive Plan.
  • Update to the WRE included in the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update. �

Water Resources Element

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  • At a minimum, the WRE should be updated to include strategies focused on improving local understanding of expected water-related climate change impacts at the local level, and if sufficient information exists, the WRE should add strategies to address these impacts.
  • An overview of the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) framework for hazard management planning is suggested.
  • Details regarding the various water-related climate change risks to water resources, water infrastructure and to communities are also suggested.

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MDP General Expectations - WRE

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  • Working draft chapters of the plan will be continuously informed by:

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    • Planning & Zoning Commission,
    • Public, and
    • Technical Committee.

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Continuously Informing the Plan

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Numbered list

  • Launch project website
  • Launch public survey
  • Form Technical Committee
  • Hold Technical Committee Kick-Off Meeting
  • Initiate drafting of Water Resources Element
  • Update background data

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Next Steps

Comprehensive Plan Update