Calvert County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Calvert County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Town center histories and voluntary historic districts
Staff presented deep-dive histories of the Owings and Huntingtown town centers and floated the idea of voluntary historic districts there, which come with exterior design rules but also a 25% state preservation tax credit. The idea may be pitched at upcoming Huntingtown master plan work sessions.
Water and Sewer Comprehensive Plan December 2025 Update
A resident presented a three-year timeline arguing the county's water and sewer rate model quietly baked in future growth — including thousands of EDUs from developments like Benedict — and that residents were never told how much the rates depended on new connections.
Board of Appeals litigation and appointments
The county is in court over the Board of Appeals' decision to add tolling to a property dispute. Commissioner Grasso sought to pause appointments until the litigation resolves; the Board approved the appointments 3-2 anyway, with warnings that a quorum shortage could delay projects and invite legal challenges.
Cannabis Policy Enforcement
Chesapeake Beach is now enforcing cannabis rules on town property—light up there and you could get fined. It's a local crackdown tied to Maryland's new weed laws, so visitors should know the town's public spaces aren't a free-for-all.