2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan

Talbot County residents are invited to participate in a series of Comprehensive Plan Listening Sessions throughout the month of August. These community conversations are an important part of the 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update process, giving residents the opportunity to help shape the future of Talbot County.

Each session focuses on specific topics and regions of the county, allowing residents to share their thoughts directly with County staff and planning representatives. Input gathered during these sessions will inform the development of the updated Comprehensive Plan—a long-term roadmap that guides land use, housing, transportation, infrastructure, and more.

“These sessions are designed to listen, not lecture,” said Brennan Tarleton, Talbot County Planning Officer. “We want to hear directly from the people who live and work in Talbot County. Your input is vital to making sure the Comprehensive Plan reflects our shared vision for the future.”

Listening Session Schedule:

• Thursday, August 7 | 12:00–2:00 p.m.
  Talbot County Free Library, 100 West Dover St Easton, MD 21601
  Topics: Economic Development and Tourism; Community Services and Facilities (Housing, Healthcare, and Social Services); Transportation and Utilities
• Monday, August 18 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
  Royal Oak Community United Methodist Church, 6968 Bellevue Rd Royal Oak, MD 21662
  Topics: Historic and Cultural Preservation; Community Services and Facilities (Healthcare and Social Services, Hazard Mitigation); Community Design and Appearance
• Thursday, August 21 | 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
  St. Michaels Community Center, 103 Railroad Ave St. Michaels, MD 21663
  Topics: Economic Development and Tourism; Community Services and Facilities (Healthcare and Social Services, Hazard Mitigation); Historic and Cultural Preservation; Community Design and Appearance
• Friday, August 22 | 12:00–2:00 p.m.
  Trappe Volunteer Fire Company, 4001 Powell Ave Trappe, MD 21673
  Topics: Community Services and Facilities (Housing, Healthcare and Social Services); Agricultural and Rural Conservation; Transportation and Utilities; Land Use
• Monday, August 25 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
  Cordova Volunteer Firemen’s Association 11864 Kittys Corner Road Cordova, MD 21625
  Topics: Agricultural and Rural Conservation; Community Services and Facilities; Transportation and Utilities; Land Use
• Wednesday, August 27 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
  Talbot County Community Center, 10028 Ocean Gtwy Easton, MD 21601
  Topics: Natural Resource Conservation; Agricultural and Rural Conservation; Community Services and Facilities (Hazard Mitigation, Healthcare and Social Services); Land Use
• Thursday, August 28 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
  Talbot County Free Library, 100 West Dover St Easton, MD 21601
  Topics: Land Use; Community Services and Facilities (Public Facilities, Education)
• Thursday, September 4 | 5:00–7:00 p.m.
  Tilghman Island Volunteer Fire Company, 5979 Tilghman Island Rd Tilghman, MD 21671
  Topics: Natural Resource Conservation; Community Services and Facilities; Historic and Cultural Preservation; Community Design and Appearance

All sessions are open to the public, and no registration is required. Residents are encouraged to attend the session most relevant to their community or interests.

To learn more about the Comprehensive Plan Update and how to get involved, visit www.talbotcountymd.gov/compplan.

• Economic Development and Tourism
• Community Services and Facilities (Housing, Social Services, Public Facilities)
• Transportation and Utilities

The Planning Commission on July 2nd in the Bradley Meeting Room at the Talbot County Courthouse reviewed with staff a presentation on the results of the 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan Community Survey Results.

A copy of the document is available here on Engage Talbot as well as the agenda for the July 2 meeting of the Planning Commission in Granicus.

Additional opportunities to share feedback will be available at future Listening Sessions and Work Sessions, which will highlighted on the 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan page. Written comments can also be submitted at any time to CompPlanComments@talbgov.org.

For those who couldn't attend in person and would like to hear the Planning Commissioners discussion of the results, you can watch the live stream recording here:
https://talbotcountymd.gov/meetings

Join the Planning Commission on July 2nd (meeting starts at 9 a.m., but presentation is not first agenda item) in the Bradley Meeting Room at the Talbot County Courthouse (11 N Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601) for a presentation on the 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan Community Survey Results.

Staff and consultants will share a summary of the feedback received through the community survey and provide an update on how this input will inform the next phases of the Comprehensive Plan Update.

Please note: This is a presentation only.

Additional opportunities to share feedback will be available at future Listening Sessions and Work Sessions, which will highlighted on the 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan page. Written comments can also be submitted at any time to CompPlanComments@talbgov.org.

For those who cannot attend in person, you can follow along on the live stream or watch the meeting afterward here:
https://talbotcountymd.gov/meetings

The 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update is just getting started, and we’re grateful to everyone who has participated so far. Here’s a look at where we are in the process and what’s coming next:

• April 25, 2025: We launched our Community Survey to gather input from residents about the issues and priorities that matter most. Your feedback is helping to shape the foundation of this plan.

• June 4, 2025: Staff and Consultants (Wallace Montgomery) presented the plan’s proposed timeline and process to the Talbot County Planning Commission.

• June 2025 – October 2026: The Steering Committee will begin meeting monthly to identify specific focus areas for the update.

• Public Hearings and Listening Sessions are scheduled throughout the process, including:

  • August 2025

  • November 2025

  • March 2026

  • July 2026
    (Specific dates and locations will be announced.)

Looking ahead:

• June 2026: The Steering Committee will present a final draft of the updated Comprehensive Plan to the Planning Commission.

• July 2026: The plan will enter the State of Maryland’s 60-day review period.

• August–September 2026: County staff will review comments from the State, make any necessary revisions, and prepare the final version for County Council review.

• October 2026: The Talbot County Council is expected to enact the 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan.

We invite you to stay involved and continue sharing your voice as the process moves forward. For more updates and opportunities to participate, check back regularly, and sign up to receive updates(External link).

Join us on June 4^th at 10:30 am in the Bradley Meeting Room at the Talbot County Courthouse (11 N Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601) for our 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan Kickoff Meeting.

Consultants Wallace Montgomery will be in attendance to do a presentation on the Comprehensive Planning Process and the next steps moving forward with the Comprehensive Plan Update. The agenda for the meeting can be found here: https://talbotcountymd.gov/meetings. Public Comment will be limited to questions related to the Comprehensive Plan process itself.

Additional public comment will be welcomed at future Listening Sessions and Work Sessions which will be scheduled and advertised on the 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan page. Written comments can also be submitted to CompPlanComments@talbgov.org.

For those that cannot attend the Kickoff Meeting follow along on the live stream or watch the meeting after here: https://talbotcountymd.gov/meetings

Reminder, Comprehensive Plan Community Outreach Survey is open until June 18, 2025. /The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B83RG3X

Did you know? Talbot County is currently working on two major planning efforts, and while they’re both important, they serve different purposes:

The 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan is a long-term guide for land use, growth, housing, infrastructure, and environmental planning. It’s a roadmap for how the County will develop over the next 20+ years. Learn more ➜ https://engage.talbotcountymd.gov/compplan

The Economic Development and Tourism Strategic Plan focuses specifically on boosting our local economy and tourism industry. It outlines short- and mid-term goals to support businesses, attract visitors, and strengthen our workforce. Learn more ➜ https://www.talbotworks.org/strategic-plan/

Both plans are informed by community input—but they tackle different parts of Talbot County’s future!

Talbot County is inviting residents, business owners, and community stakeholders to take part in shaping the County’s future by completing a new community survey. The survey is part of the County’s update to its Comprehensive Plan, a guiding document that will set priorities for growth, development, and conservation over the next two decades.

"The Comprehensive Plan belongs to the people of Talbot County," said Brennan Tarleton, Talbot County Planning Officer. "Public feedback is vital to ensure that the Plan reflects the community’s vision and addresses real needs."

The Comprehensive Plan will influence land use, housing, transportation, parks, recreation, natural resources, and more. The County is seeking input from people of all ages and backgrounds to help shape a shared vision for the future.

The survey is available online at Talbot County 2026 Comprehensive Plan Update - Community Feedback Survey and will remain open through May 23rd. It takes approximately 15 minutes to complete.

For more information about the Comprehensive Plan process and upcoming engagement opportunities, visit 2026 Update to the Comprehensive Plan | Engage Talbot County.