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Community Plans for Queen Anne's County

Town of Centreville

In January, 1995, the Commissioners of Queen Anne’s County and the Town Council of Centreville developed and signed a joint Town/County Planning Agreement that outlined a community-based, cooperative planning effort between the two jurisdictions. The Agreement was developed in an effort to stem further sprawl development and encourage growth in and around existing villages and towns in Queen Anne County.

The Centreville Community Plan evolved from prior work of citizens in the area, including a two-day design charette held in October 1994 in honor of the Centreville Bicentennial. Approximately 60 participants (residents, planners, designers, architects and conservationists) developed a variety of alternative concepts for future development of the Town. The County Commissioners and Town Council next appointed a 25-member Citizens Advisory Committee composed of property owners, elected officials and residents from Centreville and the surrounding area to oversee the preparation of the joint county/town plan with the assistance of Redman/Johnston Associates (RJA) (now Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC).

Working with our firm, the CAC sponsored a public forum in September 1995, and the 50 people who attended discussed planning issues that they felt should be addressed in the development of a community plan. Next, two surveys were conducted with area residents and businesses that expanded on the issues raised in the community forum. These were followed with a visual preference survey.

All of the results of these planning efforts were used to develop the Centreville Community Plan.  RJA assisted the County planning staff in their work with the Land Use, Development, and Environment Subcommittees and the Community Facilities and Infrastructure Subcommittees. RJA developed the initial Land Use, Environmental and Transportation concepts for these groups. These concepts were later refined and became the basis for the elements of the Community Plan.

The Community Plan enabled Centreville to manage anticipated growth in order to preserve its existing character and stability and enhance local economic health.

Town of Queenstown

Queen Anne’s County, Maryland was the first local jurisdiction in Maryland to update its comprehensive plan and development ordinances to be consistent with the Economic Growth, Resource Protection and Planning Act of 1992. In an effort to stem further sprawl development and encourage growth in and around existing villages and towns, the Plan recommended detailed growth management plans for designated "growth sub-areas" around the county. Much of the unincorporated area around Queenstown was designated as a growth sub-area.

In 1995, Queenstown and Queen Anne’s County developed and signed a Joint Town/County Planning Agreement that established the basis for a cooperative planning effort between area jurisdictions, which resulted in the Queenstown Community Plan. RJA worked closely with the County planning staff and a 23-member Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) composed of property owners, elected officials and residents from Queenstown and the surrounding area to develop a Plan for a quality, liveable community that would be attractive to existing and future residents and businesses.

Working with RJA, the CAC met with State and County agencies to discuss issues relative to Queenstown, and held public forums to solicit local residents’ concerns about growth and development in and around the community. An extensive review of the goals and policies described in the Town’s Comprehensive Plan was also conducted.

Based on the information and findings assembled by the CAC, RJA prepared recommendations for changes to existing Town and County policies and regulations, including zoning ordinances, Chesapeake Bay Critical Area ordinances, sewer and water plans, and capital improvements programs, and developed a Land Use Concept, Transportation Plan, and Community Facility and Sensitive Area Recommendations.

The Queenstown Community Plan enabled Queenstown to become a partner in the overall countywide growth management program, thereby reducing development pressures on rural lands and the negative impacts of sprawl.

Peter Johnston & Associates, LLC    416 Goldsborough Street    Easton     Maryland    21601

Telephone 410.822.9630     Fax 410.820.5039    Email plj@peterjohnstonassociates.com