Town Council Discusses Zoning, Urban Forest, and Home Occupation Ordinances Chesapeake Beach Town Council held public hearings on three ordinances related to zoning, urban forestry, and home occupations; discussions also covered a new bakery opening. The Chesapeake Beach Town Council convened on September 17, 2026, to hold public hearings on three proposed ordinances. The ordinances addressed accessory dwelling units, urban forest management, and regulations for home occupations. The meeting also included the approval of previous meeting minutes and a special presentation celebrating the grand opening of a local bakery.
The first ordinance, O-26-15, aims to amend town code Chapter 290, specifically section 290-11 concerning conditions and standards for conditional and special exception uses. This amendment is driven by state preemption requirements for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and will allow for larger ADUs, with updated parking and water/sewer allocation considerations.
Next, Ordinance O-26-16 seeks to amend Chapter 263 of the town code, relating to urban forests. The proposed changes focus on limiting restrictions for property owners managing trees on private property when their actions do not significantly impact the town’s tree canopy. Key proposed adjustments include allowing the Public Works Administrator to approve permits for the removal of one or two trees, thereby streamlining the process and reducing the necessity for full Tree Board meetings for minor tree removals. During the discussion, a council member raised concerns about an automatic approval clause and a 45-day timeframe. Sue Alexander, Chair of the Tree Board, clarified that the 45-day period was a placeholder and that the primary objective was to exempt permits for one to two trees from full Tree Board review.
The third ordinance, O-26-17, proposes amendments to town code Chapter 290, Section 290-11, to permit the sale of certain items incidental to a home occupation. This ordinance seeks to remove the word “regulated” from previous language, allowing any item to be offered for sale on the premises as long as it is incidental to the services offered by the home occupation. A council member expressed concern regarding the potential for regulated businesses, such as firearm sales, in residential neighborhoods. The planner clarified that the ordinance would only allow items incidental to a permitted service, not the establishment of a retail business selling items without an associated service.
Following the public hearings, the council moved to approve the agenda and minutes from previous meetings, including the August 20th public hearing, the August 26th town council meeting, and the September 8th work session. The meeting also featured a special presentation recognizing the grand opening of Ser Novel Bakery, with council members congratulating owners Mike and Josie Bazo on their new establishment.
