Somerset County's Comprehensive Plan getting good public input, comments still welcome

PRINCESS ANNE — Somerset County’s draft Comprehensive Plan is nearing completion with the consultants from Smith Planning and Design “very happy” with the public’s response during the year-long process.

Michele King said the website https://www.plansomersetmd.org has been seeing a lot of traffic and “getting a lot of comments” with the public survey yielding over 360 responses.

“We wanted to at least get 300 so we’re very happy,” she said, adding “We achieved our goal” with most of them online but others were through the paper questionnaires setup at libraries and other public places around the county.

That information will be incorporated into the chapters, with seven of the 10 chapters now online. They are Community Profile, County and Municipal Plan Integration, Economic Vitality, Affordable Housing, Community Facilities, Transportation, and Sensitive Areas.

Water Resources is nearly complete for posting, and it will be followed by Land Use.

While the survey is now closed, comments on each chapter is possible through the comment form online. There is also a way to comment on the visioning statement which after public input was modified to read:

“Somerset County’s rich history and traditions, along with its tidal bays, farm fields, lush woodland, and seafood bounty will be preserved. Affordable housing, meaningful employment opportunities, and emphasis on both technical and higher education will help ensure an excellent quality of life for residents in the years to come.”

The Comprehensive Plan is a long-range guide for the county over the next 20 years, the current one dating to 1996. The Somerset County Planning and Zoning Commission is leading the effort with the help of the consultants to also include Eric Messick, who presented to the board on June 6 updates to water and sewer plans.

The final plan will be presented to the County Commissioners in the coming weeks for final approval.