← Back to Worcester County meetings
Worcester County · County Commissioners · 2026-07-21
Recap
This page was drafted automatically from the official meeting minutes and has not been reviewed by a human editor. Minutes are a condensed record of formal actions and may omit discussion or public comment that occurred in the room. The linked minutes, agenda, packet, and video are the record — not this summary.
Spotted something wrong? Tell us and we will fix it.
The Worcester County Commissioners spent most of this meeting on land use. They unanimously adopted Resolution No. 26-18, imposing a twelve-month moratorium on data center and cable landing station applications while staff drafts Zoning Code language for those uses, and they introduced a text amendment bill that would allow larger residential accessory structures on lots without a principal structure.
The scheduled public hearing on Rezoning Case No. 453 — a request to rezone roughly 14.72 acres on Racetrack Road in Berlin from R-2 to R-3 for 88 townhomes — ended without a vote after the applicant's attorney withdrew the request mid-hearing, following opposition from the Ocean Pines Association and skeptical comments from several commissioners about traffic and infrastructure. The commissioners also approved a ten-item consent agenda covering grants, equipment purchases, and a letter opposing a proposed community solar project near Pocomoke City. Commissioner Bertino was absent.
The commissioners met in closed session at 9:00 a.m. to discuss legal and personnel matters and to perform administrative functions. Actions taken there included hiring Jeffrey Lank and Amari Quevedo as communication specialist trainees in Emergency Services and promoting License Permit Clerk II Savannah Guy to DRP specialist I in Development Review and Permitting. The closed session adjourned at 9:41 a.m., after which Commissioner Elder announced the topics discussed in open session.
After a prayer by Reverend Keegan Brown of Bates United Methodist Church and the pledge of allegiance, the commissioners approved the July 7 minutes and presented a proclamation recognizing Agriculture Appreciation Week to tourism officials and farming community representatives. During public comment, Stephen Katsanos of South Point spoke about smart growth versus sprawl and said the change proposed in Rezoning Case No. 453 would further strain infrastructure on MD Rt. 589.
On a motion by Commissioner Mitrecic, the commissioners unanimously approved consent agenda items 2-11. Those included an FY25 Emergency Management Performance Grant agreement of $68,974.05 and an FY25 State Homeland Security Program agreement of $90,460.49; $1,653.30 in lodging for jail staff who attended a Maryland Correctional Administrators Association conference; scheduling a public hearing to update the County's Critical Area Maps; out-of-state travel for Sheriff's Office personnel to the International Association of Chiefs of Police conference in Orlando October 23-28; a $34,508.20 interview room recording system from Axon Enterprise; a $554,310.85 lease with Infrastructure Solutions Group for a Water & Wastewater Division vacuum truck; a letter opposing a proposed 4.95 MW community solar project adjacent to Pocomoke City's designated growth area and denying a requested setback modification; a $77,918 contract with Data Integrators for tax and utility bill printing and mailing; and development of a memorandum of understanding for shared technology and cybersecurity initiatives.
DRP Director Jennifer Keener presented a text amendment application from Attorney Mark Cropper that would keep the current 500 square foot limit on residential accessory structures on lots without a principal structure but add a special exception allowing up to 1,600 square feet where the lot is within 100 feet of the applicant's primary residence. Keener said the Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation as revised to include a deed restriction. Commissioner Fiori introduced the amendment as a bill entitled Zoning – Accessory structure size and agreed to schedule a public hearing.
Keener also presented the draft data center and cable landing station moratorium. Commissioner Mitrecic sought confirmation that it would apply to pending applications, and County Attorney Roscoe Leslie said the intent was to pause all such applications. Commissioner Fiori said data centers are not an appropriate use in the County's C-2 district and stressed relying on county planning and legal staff to develop regulations. On Fiori's motion, the commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution No. 26-18.
After a recess, the commissioners opened the public hearing on Rezoning Case No. 453. Following testimony from the applicant's team, property owners, and opponents, attorney Hugh Cropper IV advised that his clients were exercising their right to withdraw the request. Commissioner Elder closed the hearing and the commissioners took no further action.
Finally, Commissioner Fiori asked for an update on the proposed volunteer firefighter property tax credit. Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young said no significant progress had been made but that the County has additional time after previously missing the implementation window, and that staff continues work on Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP) language. The commissioners answered press questions and adjourned to meet again on August 4, 2026.
The discussion focused on how broadly the pause would apply. Commissioner Mitrecic asked for clarification that the moratorium would reach pending applications, and County Attorney Roscoe Leslie confirmed the intent was to pause all data center and cable landing station applications for its duration. Commissioner Fiori said data centers are not an appropriate use in the County's C-2 zoning district and emphasized relying on the County's planning and legal experts to craft regulations for these emerging land uses. The resolution passed unanimously and runs twelve months or until rescinded.
The hearing drew testimony on both sides. Attorney Hugh Cropper IV said the R-3 designation would allow 88 townhomes as workforce housing, and that only 59 single-family homes could be built under existing zoning, which he said would be cost prohibitive once water and sewer costs were factored in. Commissioner Mitrecic responded that the developer, Ryan Homes, is advertising the townhomes as luxury units rather than affordable housing, and Commissioners Bunting, Fiori, and Mitrecic all said the added traffic would burden already strained infrastructure. Landscape architect Steve Engel of Vista Design testified that single-family homes historically generate more traffic than townhomes, and traffic engineer Joe Caloggero of the Traffic Group said impacts to MD Rt. 589 would be minimal during peak hours. Property owner Mary Claire Consorte asked for approval so her family could sell the property, and environmental consultant Chris McCabe said no impacts were proposed to two nontidal wetlands and their buffers.
Ocean Pines Association President John Latham said the OPA "adamantly opposes" the rezoning, citing overtaxed water and sewer infrastructure and MD Rt. 589, and asked the commissioners to deny it. Brian Mostek, an engineer and Ocean Pines resident, described adverse infrastructure impacts and argued the applicant had failed to demonstrate any substantial change in the neighborhood to warrant the rezoning. Cropper then withdrew the application.
DRP Director Jennifer Keener explained that the existing 500 square foot cap on accessory structures on lots without a principal structure would remain, with a new special exception path allowing up to 1,600 square feet when the lot sits within 100 feet of the applicant's primary residence. The Planning Commission recommended it favorably as revised to include a deed restriction.
Responding to Commissioner Fiori, CAO Weston Young said no significant progress had been made on the proposed volunteer firefighter property tax credit, but the County has additional time to act after missing the earlier implementation window. Staff also continues work on Length of Service Award Program language.
The commissioners voted unanimously to meet in closed session at 9:00 a.m. under GP Sections 3-305(b)(1) and (7) and to perform administrative functions under GP 3-104. Actions included hiring Jeffrey Lank and Amari Quevedo as communication specialist trainees in Emergency Services and promoting License Permit Clerk II Savannah Guy to DRP specialist I. The commissioners also received legal advice from counsel and discussed potential board appointments. The session adjourned at 9:41 a.m.
The commissioners presented a proclamation recognizing August 1-9, 2026 as Agriculture Appreciation Week. It was received by tourism officials and representatives from the farming community.
Stephen Katsanos of South Point spoke about smart growth versus sprawl and said the change proposed in Rezoning Case No. 453 would further impact strained infrastructure on MD Rt. 589, which he said does not reflect smart growth. No other members of the public spoke, and Commissioner Elder closed the floor.
Approved unanimously on a motion by Commissioner Mitrecic. The package included an FY25 Emergency Management Performance Grant sub-recipient agreement of $68,974.05, an FY25 State Homeland Security Program agreement of $90,460.49, $1,653.30 in jail staff lodging, scheduling a Critical Area Maps public hearing, out-of-state travel to the IACP conference in Orlando October 23-28, a $34,508.20 Axon interview room recording system, a $554,310.85 Infrastructure Solutions Group lease for a vacuum truck, a letter opposing a 4.95 MW community solar project adjacent to Pocomoke City's growth area and denying a setback modification, a $77,918 Data Integrators contract for tax and utility bill printing and mailing, and a memorandum of understanding for shared technology and cybersecurity initiatives.
DRP Director Jennifer Keener presented a text amendment from Attorney Mark Cropper to allow a larger residential accessory structure on a lot or parcel without a principal structure. The existing 500 square foot limit would remain, with a special exception permitting up to 1,600 square feet where the lot is within 100 feet of the applicant's primary residence. The Planning Commission gave a favorable recommendation as revised to include a deed restriction. Commissioner Fiori introduced the amendment as a bill and agreed to schedule a public hearing.
The commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution No. 26-18, imposing a twelve-month moratorium on establishing data centers and cable landing stations in Worcester County, or until the commissioners rescind it, while zoning legislation is drafted. County Attorney Roscoe Leslie confirmed the intent was to pause all such applications, including pending ones. Commissioner Fiori, who made the motion, said data centers are not an appropriate use in the County's C-2 district.
A public hearing was held on an application by Hugh Cropper IV for Ocean Pines Plaza Partnership and the James B. Vito Revocable Trust to rezone approximately 14.72 acres on the north side of Racetrack Road in Berlin from R-2 Suburban Residential to R-3 Multi-family Residential. The applicant said the change would allow 88 townhomes as workforce housing; the Ocean Pines Association and a resident engineer opposed it on infrastructure and change-in-neighborhood grounds, and several commissioners raised traffic concerns. Cropper advised that his clients were exercising their right to withdraw the request, the hearing was closed, and no action was taken.
At Commissioner Fiori's request, Chief Administrative Officer Weston Young reported that no significant progress has been made on the proposed volunteer firefighter property tax credit, but the County has additional time to move forward after previously missing the implementation window. Young added that staff continues work on language related to the Length of Service Award Program (LOSAP).
land use zoning data centers housing public safety grants county administration solar
Based on the official minutes of the July 21, 2026 Worcester County Commissioners meeting. Minutes are a condensed record of formal actions and may omit discussion or public comment that occurred in the room; the linked agenda, packet and video are provided for additional context.