Cambridge, Maryland Comprehensive Plan Update

The Cambridge Comprehensive Plan Charrette was an engaging and collaborative event that brought the community together to shape the future of the city. Over the course of five days, the planning team hosted an open design studio, hands-on workshops, technical meetings, and public sessions. The studio remained accessible throughout the week, allowing the team to work transparently while gathering input and refining ideas in real time.

For Cambridge, the charrette successfully captured the community’s vision through highly interactive design sessions that drew participation from more than 375 residents, business owners, and stakeholders. These sessions brought together diverse perspectives to define priorities, explore creative solutions, and ensure that the emerging plan reflects the needs and aspirations of the entire community.

Community feedback highlighted priorities such as revitalizing Downtown, improving access to the waterfront, creating safe and walkable streets, and ensuring sustainable and equitable growth. The planning team synthesized these ideas into the “Big 5 Ideas,” which can be found in the events page, that will guide the next phase of plan drafting.

With the charrette now complete, the Comprehensive Plan is moving into the drafting stage. The project team is translating community input into strategies and policies for land use, housing, mobility, environment, economic development, and more. The public will have additional opportunities to review and provide feedback once the draft plan is released later this year.

This in-depth process not only strengthened community connections but also created a strong foundation of shared responsibility for Cambridge’s future. By seeing their ideas take shape, participants gained a deeper appreciation for urban planning principles and a stronger sense of ownership in the final vision.

The Work in Progress presentation shared at the end of the Charrette week can be found below:

Charrette Recap

The charrette was not just about creating a plan, but about building a shared future that aligns with the values and aspirations of the Cambridge community.

Timeline: From Community Input to Plan Adoption

The Comprehensive Plan Process

  • How Can Residents Get Involved in the Planning Process?

    Public participation is essential to shaping Cambridge’s future. As we begin updating the Comprehensive Plan, residents are encouraged to get involved in a variety of ways, from attending public meetings and hearings, joining listening sessions, submitting written comments, and more. Your input will help guide the decisions that affect our city’s growth and development!

  • What is a Comprehensive Plan?

    A Comprehensive Plan is an official policy document adopted by the City that outlines how land and resources should be used and developed over time. It serves as a blueprint for future growth, infrastructure, and community development, ensuring that decisions are made in a coordinated and sustainable way.

  • What are the Legal Requirements for the Plan?

    In Maryland, cities like Cambridge use three key tools to manage land use: A Comprehensive or Master Plan, A Zoning Ordinance, Subdivisions Regulations.

    According to state law, every Comprehensive Plan must include:

    Goals and Objectives, Land Use, Housing, Transportation, Community Facilities, Development Regulations, Areas of Critical State Concern, Sensitive Areas, Fisheries, Implementation Strategy, Development Capacity Analysis, Municipal Growth, Water Resources Element.

  • What is the Process for Reviewing and Adopting the Plan?

    The adaptation of a Comprehensive Plan follows a structured process. The draft plan must be shared with state agencies and nearby jurisdictions at least 60 days before the public hearing. The Planning Commission holds a public hearing and recommends the plan to the City Council. The City Council may hold its own hearing and can adopt, modify, or reject the plan. If changes are made and returned to the Planning Commissions, another public hearing is required. Only the original Planning Commission version is reviewed by the Maryland Department of Planning. Once adopted, the final versions must be sent to the jurisdiction’s assigned Regional Planner.

  • How often is the Comprehensive Plan Updated?

    Under Maryland law, local governments must update their Comprehensive Plan at least once every 10 years to ensure that it reflects current community needs, trends and state requirements.