Business Park Zoning Amendment Approved in Charles County, MD.

The Charles County Board of Commissioners has unanimously approved Zoning Text Amendment #19-153. With the passage of the amendment, an array of amenity uses are now permitted in all sites zoned BP in Charles County, including gas stations, convenience stores and restaurants.

The need for the legislation arose following very low private-sector investment in properties zoned BP, or Business Park in the County. The requirements for developing in the zone were previously challenging and outdated, resulting in only 3.9% of BP-zoned land being developed in the County since the zone was created in 1994. In a recent survey conducted by Towson University, it was found that nearly 70% of existing businesses in Charles County wanted to locate to a contemporary business park in the County, with proximate amenities ranked as one of the top desired features. Those contemporary amenities were generally prohibited under the previous code.

“This is the type of win-win that we love to see between the private- and public-sector,” said Steve Proctor of G.S. Proctor & Associates Inc., the firm that led the effort to gain broad-based support for the legislation. “Passage of this ZTA shows the County Commissioners’ dedication to growing Charles County’s commercial tax base and its commitment to promoting economic development.”

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact David Cohen