[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6480296,"mediaKeyId","5683969-10be1af9cb543854cbe5502545bc5ea0","parentId",5683969,"title","Votes at a glance: Chesapeake Beach Planning and Zoning Commission, Aug. 27, 2025","audioSeconds",6852,"startMs",68000,"endMs",6920000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5683969-10be1af9cb543854cbe5502545bc5ea0&start=68&end=6920","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5683969-10be1af9cb543854cbe5502545bc5ea0/thumbnail_68000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6480296/Chesapeake-Beach/Calvert-County/Maryland/Votes-at-a-glance-Chesapeake-Beach-Planning-and-Zoning-Commission-Aug-27-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480296-8ace28ab7c07c1c88f936e53d02ba264/orig.mp4?Expires=1770415141&Signature=Qgk9ahrPw3M3VTeiM5ldmgGuIVKEj-OVs7HufnP17ipFDd9tQlkkciyCVRk3PIzpcKkq~j~aE9xZJScbIZ8gSFntp53g1Ln3R~xTRxopWJPuGORnRHoRcn2LH3O0E9piyMaFK6~zSuVmkJ9VbQVRkSdUSq0nPwCtdO8Hk4sljJnUdKi-1TnXx2MMR6HDuFFaNK~4brA-v3j2TEGEP9Ve2YKHg6nnNFqggH3~Plicnyqo4Z-p6cgbkUvGyDWkzeAChYFgkvp7YFnII2pmV7QJ50xzsQVmBYz~FoklO1HpoYuNB-L~fUsYBSzIV52TDx84ezBc9t~wCY1C9cfy2Z571w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Chesapeake Beach Maryland","date","2025-08-27T18:55:04Z","article","The Planning and Zoning Commission recorded the following formal actions during its Aug. 27 meeting. Where the transcript did not name a mover or record a roll-call tally, the entry notes that the vote count or names were not specified at the time of the meeting.

- Approval of the Aug. 27, 2025 agenda: Motion made and seconded; vote recorded as \"Aye\" and the agenda was approved. The mover and second were not specified in the meeting transcript.

- Approval of minutes for the July 23, 2025 meeting: Motion made and seconded; vote recorded as \"Aye\" and the minutes were approved. The transcript includes a motion and a recorded second but does not show a named mover or a roll-call tally.

- Backyard chickens (new business item): Motion to forward the staff-recommended backyard-hens proposal to the Town Council for consideration and amendment of the town code. Motion was seconded and the commission approved the motion; the transcript records the voice vote as \"Aye.\" The transcript does not include a roll-call vote or the names of the mover and seconder.

- Adjournment: Motion to adjourn was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Notes: The meeting transcript contains voice votes recorded as \"Aye\" for these motions but does not provide detailed named vote tallies. The Planning and Zoning Commission had members absent for this meeting (Commissioners Brown, Reque and Hahn were listed as absent at the start of the session).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","August 27, 2025 Planning Commission","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of formal motions and procedural approvals taken at the Aug. 27 meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission.","taxTitle","Chesapeake Beach, Calvert County, Maryland","taxId",71658,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480301,"Planning commission backs moving backyard hens proposal to Town Council",0,5700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5683969-10be1af9cb543854cbe5502545bc5ea0&start=5700&end=5700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5683969-10be1af9cb543854cbe5502545bc5ea0/thumbnail_5700000.jpg","/articles/6480301/Chesapeake-Beach/Calvert-County/Maryland/Planning-commission-backs-moving-backyard-hens-proposal-to-Town-Council","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480301-250c5c476002dbad1ab388a514c95015/orig.mp4?Expires=1770415141&Signature=ZxL4W0a368TJj~WwJrmFlSVwB9U7GGVTJGom66hrw7LpM4y4vwdzVRtLNpEvVyN6oVnwqVcnXwViXpoOBJ1ZKXXTrROFSvaZRdUQgx7s59wIRyVk1BVwWQD4K~JhoSGHiBVYfZbb7d5Dr~GZGPcSv0ae-cVlTGmTlS25cYDlokP2ElXtgwDA8hFfufR8WlE1EKIA44ZT3~KXkIPyW2Z0hqEFcQw3~DKzZ0KQ98sCM5vxTVdgrAyqugMcg7CaMTEj3lUQvaKvwVOrPHbAdQSpa0~kg~HZGMgNSkMQviQOx9PlwRi~3gDCsLFrTZoDNSkWJdo4V6mLwuRqPGD~tqASlQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chesapeake Beach Planning and Zoning Commission voted Aug. 27 to transmit a draft recommendation on permitting backyard hens to the Town Council for further review and potential ordinance amendments.

Commissioners reviewed a staff-prepared proposal that would allow backyard chickens by conditional use in specified residential zones. The draft recommendation included limiting poultry to single-family detached dwellings, applying existing yard-setback rules so coops and runs do not project into minimum yard setbacks, and restricting coops from front yards. It also proposed a numeric limit on the number of hens per lot and said coops and runs should be sited to minimize impacts on neighboring properties.

Planning staff cautioned the commission that many operational details commonly associated with backyard poultry'such as handling of droppings, composting, and specific enclosure standards'fall under other sections of the town code (for example, the animal-health provisions and waste-management rules). Staff told commissioners those sections would need to be revised by the Town Council or other departments to create a full regulatory framework; the commission lacks authority to change unrelated code chapters.

Commissioners expressed concern about setbacks on small or nonconforming lots and noted homeowner association covenants would still restrict poultry where applicable. The commission discussed whether an 8-foot side-yard offset would be workable in the town'given many older lots have small or irregular setbacks'and recognized that HOAs could prohibit poultry in their covenants even if the town code allows them.

After discussion, a commissioner moved to forward the backyard-chickens recommendation, as presented by staff, to Town Council for consideration and ordinance amendment. The motion was seconded and approved by the commission.

Ending

The commission voted to forward the staff recommendation to the Town Council. Council staff and town attorneys will review other code sections that must be amended if the council adopts the change; the commission and staff expect public comment during the council process.","The Planning and Zoning Commission voted to forward its recommendation on allowing backyard chickens to the Town Council; commissioners limited their technical recommendations to setbacks and residency rules and noted other ordinance sections (animal health, waste) must be updated by council/staff.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6480306,"Chesapeake Beach planning panel finalizes structure for revised sign ordinance, schedules public hearing",5575,111000,5686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5683969-10be1af9cb543854cbe5502545bc5ea0&start=111&end=5686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5683969-10be1af9cb543854cbe5502545bc5ea0/thumbnail_111000.jpg","/articles/6480306/Chesapeake-Beach/Calvert-County/Maryland/Chesapeake-Beach-planning-panel-finalizes-structure-for-revised-sign-ordinance-schedules-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6480306-bf8de92b0e707849f87c4fc5672a6e88/orig.mp4?Expires=1770415141&Signature=WBymu9PxkDzfYR4p4kXLeW0c8VJSK1cJq8aYXhjiIAskPEafzaZsYNmEKSRnQgEZia9TQ77MOZa2BRMp3kQ~5nbguM1CzHMygCNLAffYmcc1sdBZ5j2nFp~2iYR6n22M-zKGzJwR3oK0QY9-nIXYEwqfwv4jicIJFNzVyNuF2u9u0nJnAKOsXkzAn6KVEJyMlk5CVb2EYvkazooY~4vIxsffJTSzIfBDcPkSkRB20K5eijiZnDoVWrmxd5q5afY~6pjMmx~Y6HRmcoOaE5kcpYWjirxG5YS1drF05n9kiN8P83OiD2gDyBBD0Oe67Fjq9sWZ~OrXBbV05KhDRjm6Dg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Chesapeake Beach Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed a near-final draft of the town's sign ordinance on Aug. 27, focusing on document organization, definitions, temporary and portable signs, and enforcement language ahead of a planned public hearing next month.

Commissioners and staff said the draft is close to completion but recommended structural changes to make the ordinance easier for the public and code users to navigate. Planning staff (referred to in the meeting as Miss Franklin) summarized the most recent edits and described four exemptions she removed from a \"permit required\" subsection after cross-checking the draft.

The commission discussed moving an applicability statement into a separate section so the ordinance's opening \"function and purpose\" paragraph can stand alone. \"I want that beautiful statement to stand alone,\" one commissioner said, and the panel agreed to place the negative applicability sentence under a new applicability subsection so the purpose language remains prominent. Miss Franklin said the applicability text in the current code and the proposed text were \"very similar\" and recommended deleting the redundancy.

Members spent substantial time on definitions and cross-references. Commissioners asked staff to add a short cross-reference table (or table of contents) that directs readers from defined sign terms (for example, \"temporary sign\" and \"portable sign\") to the specific sections where regulation appears. Planning staff said the table would make future edits easier and would be included in the final draft for the public hearing.

The panel clarified technical language and units. Commissioners agreed to change \"lineal foot\" to \"linear foot\" in the measurement provision, and to prefer the phrasing \"as determined by\" instead of the more subjective \"in the opinion of\" when describing determinations made by public works or zoning staff.

Temporary and portable signs drew detailed debate. The commission resolved to make time limits consistent across the draft: temporary signs tied to events will not be posted earlier than 14 days before the event and the panel favored a 60-day-per-year cap for recurring or holiday display periods rather than a shorter 30-day cap suggested earlier. The commission also confirmed that portable signs should be secured and \"brought indoors when high wind events are forecast.\" Staff said the portable-sign requirement would be included in the general regulations so it applies to exempt signs as well.

Members also discussed nonconforming signs and enforcement. The draft will continue to treat certain existing signs as nonconforming (allowing the physical sign to remain), while restricting features that the ordinance will not allow going forward (for example, flashing or blinking electronic messaging). Commissioners asked staff to clarify where the new nonconforming language intersects with existing enforcement procedures and whether the town will provide notice before removal. The draft as discussed included language that the town is \"not required to notify\" owners before removing signs on public property or abandoned signs, and commissioners asked that that provision be stated clearly while recognizing legal review by town attorneys is needed.

The commission debated whether to duplicate standards from the residential section into the commercial section for readability versus keeping cross-references to avoid inconsistencies when future amendments are made. Several commissioners recommended copying the residential standards into the commercial subsection with careful editorial tracking to avoid contradictory rules later, while others warned that duplication increases the chance of inconsistency if one subsection is amended and the other is not.

Miss Franklin and commissioners noted minor copy edits and grammatical fixes (for example, rewording \"such order shall be complied with\" to a construction that begins with the person obligated to comply) and said they would make those adjustments before the public hearing.

The commission agreed the document is ready for a public hearing next month with the organization and cross-reference changes discussed at the meeting. Staff will prepare a consolidated, replaced version of pages (as circulated in the meeting packet) so the public and council receive a single coherent draft at the hearing.

Ending

The commission concluded its review after roughly two hours of detailed line-by-line editing and directed staff to prepare the revised draft for the advertised public hearing next month. Members emphasized the next step is a legal review and then formal consideration by the Town Council following the public hearing.","The Planning and Zoning Commission reviewed a near-final draft of the town's sign ordinance, agreed to reorganize sections for clarity, resolved several language and timeline inconsistencies, and set steps toward a public hearing next month.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Chesapeake Beach Planning and Zoning Commission, Aug. 27, 2025

Planning commission backs moving backyard hens proposal to Town Council

Chesapeake Beach planning panel finalizes structure for revised sign ordinance, schedules public hearing