Washington County Commissioners to Consider Zoning Changes, Funding Requests, and Infrastructure Projects

HAGERSTOWN, MD – Residents of Washington County will have the opportunity to hear about several significant local matters during the upcoming Board of County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. The agenda includes public hearings on zoning amendments, discussions on important community initiatives, and decisions regarding infrastructure and public safety. Key topics to be addressed include potential changes to regulations for Accessory Dwelling Units, the adoption of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan, and various contract awards and funding requests. As with other recent meeting agendas, no general public comment period is included, but topic-specific comment will be accepted during the relevant public hearings.

The meeting will commence at 9:00 AM with an invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by Commissioners’ and staff reports. A significant portion of the morning will be dedicated to public hearings. The first public hearing, scheduled for 9:30 AM, will address requests from various organizations seeking to be added to the list of nonprofit organizations eligible for county contributions, as outlined in Section 1-108 of the Code of the Public Local Laws of Washington County, Maryland. Organizations such as Shield for All Seasons, Inc., Senior Services Network, Inc., and the Mt. Aetna Volunteer Fire Department are among those requesting consideration.

Following this, at 10:00 AM, a second public hearing will focus on a Zoning Text Amendment, RZ-25-005, concerning Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). This proposed amendment aims to permit the creation of ADUs by right in various zoning districts, with specific conditions to maintain neighborhood character. The Planning Commission has recommended approval of these amendments, with a proposed increase in the maximum size of ADUs to 1,500 square feet.

Later in the morning, the Board will consider a proclamation recognizing September, October, and November 2025 as “Forget-Me-Not Months” in support of the Disabled American Veterans Organization. Additionally, the Board will convene as the Board of Health at 10:35 AM to discuss the SOR IV Adolescent Clubhouse, before reconvening as the Board of County Commissioners to consider the adoption of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan for Washington County. This long-term strategic document is designed to guide the county’s development, growth, and preservation over the coming years, covering areas such as housing, transportation, and environmental resources.

The afternoon agenda features several discussions and contract awards. These include continued discussions on amendments to the Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) and the Building Excise Tax Ordinance (BETO), a mitigation proposal for Elmwood Farm Section 5D related to the APFO, and a sole-source award for a Vesta 9-1-1 hardware refresh upgrade for the Department of Emergency Communications, estimated at over $2.3 million. The Board will also consider an intergovernmental cooperative purchase for an Automated Speed Enforcement System for the Sheriff’s Office, the purchase of portable law enforcement radios for the Sheriff’s Department, and the acquisition of new trailers for the Highways Department. Other agenda items include contract awards for the East Side Terminal Expansion/Rehabilitation at the Hagerstown Regional Airport, acceptance of grant funding for Senior Citizen Activities Centers and the Emergency Management Performance Grant, and the State Homeland Security Grant Program. A USTA grant for resurfacing tennis courts at various Washington County Public School sites will also be discussed.

Furthermore, the Commissioners will review a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Town of Smithsburg and the Board of County Commissioners, which would transfer building permit responsibilities to the county. A partnership agreement for the Paramedic Program with Hagerstown Community College, an EMS staffing transition discussion for the Volunteer Fire Company of Halfway, and an amendment to the County Real Tax Credit Ordinance for Fallen Heroes are also on the agenda. The meeting will conclude with discussions on a Community Deputy Agreement for Funkstown and a School Resource Officer MOU with the Board of Education, a funding request for Martha’s House in Hancock, and appointments to the Hagerstown Regional Airport Advisory Commission and the Washington County Board of Social Services.

The meeting includes a closed session at 12:55 PM to discuss personnel matters, real property acquisition, business proposals, legal advice, and public security. The Board is expected to reconvene in open session at 3:10 PM.

An evening meeting with the Town of Keedysville is scheduled for 6:00 PM.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from the Washington County Board of County Commissioners.

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