HAGERSTOWN – As the Washington County government updates its comprehensive plan for the second quarter of the century, officials will seek to balance growth with preservation, manage environmental impacts from development and align infrastructure with sustainable development goals.
Maryland mandates that all counties and municipalities prepare and adopt comprehensive plans, reviewed and updated at least every decade. The Board of County Commissioners has announced a public hearing for the draft Comprehensive Plan 2040 Update at 6 p.m. on June 3, offering residents a final opportunity to shape the county’s future.
The meeting will be held at the Washington County Public Safety Training Center, 18350 Public Safety Place. Planning staff members will be available to answer questions starting at 5:30.
The plan outlines land use policy and is routinely updated to reflect changes in land use, new technologies and more accurate data, and provides recommendations based on analysis of factors influencing land use, including population growth, economic trends and environmental priorities.
Washington County Spokeswoman Danielle Weaver said key topics addressed in the plan include historic preservation, transportation, economic development, environmental resources, community facilities and infrastructure and agricultural resources.
Ann Aldrich with Washington County Historical Trust said the plan will help preserve the historic resources that help provide the county its sense of identity.
“The recommendations in the plan will help ensure historic resources are on equal footing with other resources as we attempt to balance the needs of expanding populations and land uses,” Aldrich said, explaining that creating a separate historic preservation ordinance and updating the demolition and neglected properties guidelines are critical to retaining the country’s history and historical context.
“It is only through measures such as these along with public dialogue that Washington County can retain what is left,” she said. “We have lost substantial built resources through the years. It is important to me that we retain our historical sense of place.”
The county faces growing demands on local infrastructure like roads, schools and utilities as the population and economy evolve, requiring strategic management of growth, balancing urban and rural development, to meet projected demands over the next decade and a half.
“The plan anticipates continued urbanization around Hagerstown and neighboring towns, while also emphasizing the importance of preserving rural landscapes to limit urban sprawl and protect our agricultural heritage,” Weaver said. “Ultimately, (it) supports our core vision: to ensure Washington County remains a great place to live, work and play.”
The document seeks to reconcile the need to accommodate population growth and economic development while at the same time preserving its agricultural, natural and cultural resources. To that end, the county has already protected over 25,000 acres permanently and 18,000 acres temporarily through programs like the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program and Rural Legacy Program, aiming for a projected total of 50,000 acres.
But demand for housing and commercial development, particularly near urban areas like Hagerstown and along the U.S. 64 corridor, creates tension with preservation goals, since development pressure threatens the county’s rural character and agricultural economy.
The plan delineates “smart growth” principles to concentrate development in urban areas while maintaining rural community viability in line with state land conservation goals, which call for conserving an additional 600,000 acres statewide, potentially limiting developable land. For the county to avert over-development, boosting of infrastructure capacity like water, sewer and transportation must not overwhelm rural areas, a challenge given public sentiment favoring slower growth and historic preservation.
Environmental protection, particularly addressing agricultural runoff affecting the Chesapeake Bay, is another focus. The Nearshore Farm Finance Act underscores the need for increased setbacks and conservation practices. Conservation practices near waterways are six times more effective than those further inland, but stronger regulations must balance environmental goals with the needs of the agricultural economy.
The update has been in the works since July 2023 when officials released a first draft. Throughout the year, feedback was collected and incorporated into a final draft, released in October of 2024 with a 60-day comment period from various stakeholders, such as business owners, civic organizations, real estate developers, agricultural groups and state review agencies.
The plan must also align housing, transportation and public services with the state’s clean energy goals, while addressing potential biological hazards that could impact land use near agricultural or disposal sites. Investments must support growth without overburdening taxpayers or exacerbating environmental impacts, the plan says.
Historic areas like Sharpsburg and Boonsboro are targeted for preservation through the Rural Legacy Program, but economic pressures from tourism and commercial activity could threaten these culturally significant areas, requiring careful planning to protect the county’s identity.
The June 3 hearing is the final opportunity for residents to make their voice heard regarding Washington County’s future over the next 15 years.
