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How Can I Help?

So, you’ve acquired property in Charles County. You know that you need to get a Preliminary Plan approved. You know that you need to have a Development Services Permit prior to beginning site work. You know that you need to have final plats approved before you can sell your lots to a builder or future homeowner. But, what about all the steps in between? Here is a list of ways that I can help you navigate through these development-related approvals:

• Are you working toward Preliminary Plan approval? Consult your engineer about a desired layout based upon topography, environmental features, and access constraints. Then, I can resolve issues that may arise as the result of County staff comments (stormwater management, roadway access, lot layout, etc.).
• Applying for a Development Services Permit? I can prepare the required dedication documents (and title reports), assist you with issues that may arise in bonding the site work, and coordinate with County staff to ensure that your Development Services Permits are issued according to your construction deadlines.
• Obtaining Final Plat approval? I can assist you in responding to issues that may arise as the result of County staff review and coordinate with County staff to ensure that the plats have been approved by the inter-agency reviewers and scheduled for Planning Commission approval according to your building contracts.
• Think you need to execute a Developer’s Rights & Responsibilities Agreement (DRRA)? I can review your development and business plans to determine appropriate proffers to the County Commissioners that will ensure that the project complies with adequate public facilities requirements.
• Have you been told that you need to obtain a Special Exception, Variance, or Waiver? I can prepare the application and a statement of justification and present your case to the Board of Appeals and/or the Planning Commission.
• Do your development and business plans require a change in zoning for your parcel? I can counsel you on appropriate uses of your property and help you to obtain a Zoning Map Amendment (change in base zoning or application of an overlay zone), if required. Depending upon the scope of the application, I can recommend engineers, land planners, traffic consultants, and others that can provide valuable assistance, too!
• Has experience demonstrated that there is a provision in the Zoning Ordinance, Subdivision Regulations, Road Ordinance or other County regulation that simply does not work? I can assist you in proposing a Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA), Subdivision Regulations Amendment (SRA), or changes to other County policies or procedures.

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