Charles planning commission pushes back on subdivision amendment
Residents at a recent Charles planning commission meeting were concerned about how an amendment to the county’s subdivision regulations would affect Falcon Ridge, a housing development along Mason Spring Road in Indian Head. “Development regulations should balance the interest of property owners and developers with the long-term interests of the community,” Christine Cline of Indian Head said at the Nov. 2 meeting. “Charles County should be encouraging responsible development.” The subdivision plan for Falcon Ridge, which has been under development for almost 30 years, is going through an appeals process with the Charles board of appeals. A meeting is scheduled for January 2027. The planning commission recommended denial of the subdivision amendment and asked K. Hovnanian Homes of Maryland, the applicant that proposed the amendment, to add more accountability measures and remove the retroactive provision for projects that have a preliminary plan as of Jan. 1, 2026, including Falcon Ridge. The recommendation moves to the Charles County commissioners. Planning board members Semia Hackett and Jeffrey Bossart expressed concerns about the lack of accountability and oversight in the amendment, and most board members were concerned about the retroactive provision. “It’s becoming ever more challenging to find available areas to develop,” Erin
