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DRAFT, 9-17-22
VIII. Community Facilities
8.1 Introduction
Community facilities are the part of municipal development that most depends on coordination
between multiple agencies and units of government. Because of their complexity and the efficiencies
that must be obtained, public facilities are provided to all residents within designated service areas.
Often this means residents of separate jurisdictions are served by the same facilities and services.
Community facilities, at least when they are operated optimally and provided fairly are delivered in such
a way that one person’s enjoyment is not diminished by another person use.
This section of the report focuses on municipal water and sewerage services, public education, libraries,
parks, and police and fire protection. These are the primary community facilities and services that
benefit Town residents. This section of the report provides a summary and evaluation of existing
conditions, a list of objectives, and recommended policies.
8.2 Existing Conditions
Public Water
Centreville operates a municipal water supply and distribution system. It consists of three operating
wells (in the North Brook Subdivision, the Centreville Business Park and near Queen Anne’s County High
School). The Town also has three water storage tanks with storge capacities of 100,000, 200,000 and
300,000 gallons. The Town plans to construct a fourth elevated tank near MD Route 304 along the
eastern edge of the Town’s current limits with a capacity of up to 600,000 gallons.
The Town has two water treatment facilities. The facility at North Brook has a treatment capacity of
750,000 gpd. The facility at the Business Park has a treatment capacity of 720,000 gpd. Both include the
removal of arsenic. The entire municipal limits are served with municipal water as is the Queen Annes’
County High School and Centreville Middle School which are located just outside the Town’s eastern
limits.
The systems’ maximum permitted extractive capacity is 645,000 gallons per day (gpd). Current average
daily use approximates _____ gpd, therefore, there is an existing excess capacity of _________ gpd. For
comprehensive planning purposes, this excess capacity can be converted into equivalent dwelling units
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(EDUs) where dwelling units are assumed to demand water at a rate of 250 gallons per day1. Assuming
250 gallons per day per EDU, the Town has excess capacity for ___ EDU’s.
Public Sewerage
The Town operates a public sewerage system. It consists of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP), five
pumping stations and distribution lines2. The WWTP is permitted to discharge an average of 542,000 gpd
of treated domestic wastewater but only between December 1 and March 31. The plant is located
within Town limits on Johnstown Lane and discharges to Gravel Run which the Maryland Department of
the Environment (MDE) classifies as a “Use 1 Waterway” where water quality is protected for human
contact and nontidal warmwater aquatic life. The MDE permits the Town to operate a spray irrigation
system for effluent disposal year round, which the Town is required to do in combination with discharge
to Gravel Run to provide this essential service.
For the purposes of capacity estimating, because wastewater flows fluctuate year to year and can be
impacted by weather conditions, a three-year average is used for estimating “current” flows. The
current average annual daily flow of the plant for the period 2018 through 2020 approximates 477,000
gpd, meaning the plant is said to be operating at 88% of permitted capacity, leaving 65,000 per day
remaining. For context, this remaining capacity is equivalent to the flow generated by 260 equivalent
dwelling units (EDUs). The Town has made commitments to provide service to other potential users,
which when considered, leaves an effective capacity of about 195 EDU’s.
It is important to note that flows at the WWTP have been increasing each year. The WWTP recorded an
average daily flow of 506,000 gpd in 2021, which is well above the three-year average, and represents
93% of permitted capacity, leaving a remaining capacity of 36,000 gpd. For context, this is equivalent to
the flow generated by 144 more households. The Town is in the process of actively evaluating and
assembling funding for an upgrade and expansion of the WWTP including effluent discharge and spray
irrigation capabilities, which is discussed later in this chapter and elsewhere in this report.
1 This demand factor is higher than that actual per household daily use so that it provides a conservatively higher estimate of demand given the
critical nature of water infrastructure.
2 As noted in the 2021 Centreville Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion, Preliminary Engineering Report, which is available for review at
Town Hall, the WWTP was upgraded and expanded in 2003 to achieve biological nutrient removal (BNR) levels of treatment. The plant’s
treatment process consist of a two-tank sequencing batch reactor with chemical addition for phosphorous precipitation and cloth media
filtration. The plant treats wastewater as designed and within in NPDES permit limits.
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Public Schools
There are four public schools in Centreville. As shown in Table 4, current (2020) full time enrollment
approximates 89% at Centreville Elementary, 89% at Kennard Elementary, 83.5% percent at Centreville
Middle and 96% at Queen Anne’s County High. Elementary school enrollment is split between
Centreville and Kennard Elementary Schools. Centreville houses Kindergarten through second grade
while Kennard houses grades three, four, and five. The Middle School houses grades six, seven, and
eight and the High School houses grades nine through 12. There are nine portable classrooms at Queen
Anne’s High School.
The Queen Anne’s County School Educational Facility Master Plan projects full time enrollment through
the 2030-31 school years as follows: Centreville Elementary, including Pre-K (517); Kennard Elementary
(485); Centreville Middle (528); and Queen Anne’s High School (1,210). With the exception Kennard
Elementary School (grades three, four and five) enrollments are expected to be lower in 2030 than in
20203. Kennard would operate at 96.4% of capacity in 2030.
Public Library
3 Queen Anne’s County Public School Educational Facilities Master Plan, July 2021.
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DRAFT, 9-17-22
Queen Anne’s County operates a library system including the central library at 121 Commerce Street in
Centreville, which serves a population extending well beyond Town limits of about 20,000. The
Centreville location has an estimated floor area of 10,480 square feet. The residents of the Town are
well served by the library and no capacity expansions to the building are currently planned, though it is
recognized that future expansions may be needed to serve the area’s growth4. The County also operates
one branch location in Stevensville.
Parks
A community’s parks and recreational land resources are best viewed as a system: a system of parts that
can function together to provide a full suite of recreational amenities. There are three main levels of
municipal parkland: Mini Parks; Neighborhood Parks; and Community Parks. A fourth type, Natural
Resource Areas, can also fit into a larger system of recreational assets and this is certainly the case in
Centreville.
Mini-Parks
A mini-park is a small park that usually addresses specific needs within less than one-quarter mile
walking distance or serves as a memorial or other special place with a town. A mini-park is typically less
than one acre in size and can be either passive or active. The Queen Anne’s County Courthouse Green—
the quintessential courthouse square is an example. Owned by Queen Anne’s County, it provides
passive amenity open space for residents and employees and visitors to Downtown, benches, and
sculptures. The property includes the historic courthouse building, which was built in 1793. Nickerson
Park, at 420 N. Commerce Steet along the banks of Gravel Run is also a mini-park and serves as public
memorial space.
Neighborhood Parks
Neighborhood parks generally serves residents within a distance ¼ to ½ mile, which is synonymous with
a 5 to 10 minute walk. These parks contain active recreational amenities like ball fields, tennis or
420-year Facilities Master Plan for the Maryland Eastern Shore Libraries, Queen Anne’s County, 2013.
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DRAFT, 9-17-22
basketball courts, and playgrounds. The Town does not own any neighborhood parks. The Northbrook
Phase II Homeowners Associations owns and maintains open space tracts within the Subdivision of
which about 4.5 acres are dedicated to recreational space including a soccer field and playground. The
Symphony Village Homeowners also owns and maintains neighborhood level improved parkland and
open space amenities.
Community Parks
Community parks are larger than neighborhood parks and serve residents drawn from a larger area5.
Generally, community parks contain multiple fields for team sports and amenities including courts,
walking trails, playgrounds, and picnic pavilions. The Whitemarsh Park located just north of Town along
MD Route 213 is a community park owned by Queen Anne’s County. The property contains 318 acres.
Though not fully improved, it contains multiple athletic fields and baseball diamonds.
Natural Resource Areas
A fourth type of park, the natural resource area, are located where natural and sensitive environments
exist and encompass areas that cannot or should not be developed because of their resource value or
development constraints. The principal function of natural resource areas is resource preservation and
allowing human interaction with and connection to the natural environment through low impact
activities such as hiking, beachcombing, swimming, boating, fishing, wildlife photography, and
picnicking.
Mill Stream Park is the Town’s major natural resource area park. It encompasses the park improvements
directly accessible at MD Route 213 and the riverine buffer that extend westward along Mill Creek. The
Mill Stream Trail has been constructed through this area. The Town’s Wharf Park (2.4 acres) also
qualifies as a natural resource area and it lies adjacent to the Centreville Landing, which is owned by
Queen Anne’s County. In the same vicinity, all but one waterfront property located between Front
Street and the Corsica River has been acquired by the Town or County and improved for parkland. There
is a near continuous park resource extending between Corsica Neck Road and Wharf Park.
Lastly it is worth noting that Nickerson Park, while located on N. Commerce street lies adjacent to Gravel
Run being part of a major Town land holding that extends about 800 feet eastward encompassing the
Gravel Run stream buffer. This Town property lies adjacent to the Turpin Farm which when developed
could help create a much larger public greenway.
5 A source for more information on the community level parks in Queen Anne’s County, and other parks throughout the County, is the Land
Preservation, Parks, and Recreation Plan (LPPRP) which the County maintains and periodically updates. The County adopted the current version
of the LPPRP in 2018.
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Summary
Among the park types noted above, the Town is deficient in neighborhood parks and mini-parks. There
are no neighborhood level parks in Town apart from the private HOA-owned parks in North Brook and
Symphony Village. It is important to note that the Town is home to four public schools whose grounds
may hold potential for park programming, which may be especially beneficial to the residents that live
within walking distance of them. Lastly the Town Planning Commission recently approved development
plans for a YMCA at Vincit Dive. While, the YMCA operates as a private fee based membership
organization, it will be an important recreational asset to the greater community and include athletic
fields.
The Town has developed nature-based recreational resources including the Mill Stream Park and Wharf
Park and these are significant amenities, unique within Maryland’s municipalities. The County has
developed the boat landing and the White March community is located park just to the north of the
Town. These projects represents substantial progress on the Town’s long term objectives of securing
recreational greenways and trails.
Queen Anne’s County Land Preservation, Parks, and Recreational Plan
Queen Anne’s County prepares and updates (every five years) the Queen Anne’s County Land
Preservation, Parks, and Recreational Plan (LPPRP). The LPPRP is required by the State of Maryland for
counties, and the municipalities within them, to remain eligible for local Program Open Space (POS)
grants. POS is a statewide program that funds the acquisition and improvement of land for parks. In
coordination with the County, each year Centreville can submit land acquisition and development
projects for the State’s consideration under the Open Space Annual Program, which the County submits
to the Maryland Departments of Natural Resources and Planning.
Police and Fire Protection
The Town of Centreville operates a municipal police department with 14 sworn officers. The department
is located on a 2.5 acre town owned lot at 420 N. Commerce Street. The police building is a two-story
structure with approximately 2,800 square feet of floor area.
The Goodwill Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company provides fire protection in Centreville and within a
larger service area in central Queen Anne’s County. The company’s station, constructed in 1948, is
located at 212 Broadway.
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7.3 A Plan for Community Facilities
Section 3.2 of this report discusses the impacts that planned growth would have on the Town’s facilities
through 2040 and notes that the capacity of municipal water and sewer facilities will need to be
expanded. The Town’s basic goal with respect to community facilities is that they be expanded,
maintained, and managed such that they remain sized and equipped to deliver exceptional service to
existing and future, residents, institutions, and businesses.
Objectives
 To upgrade and expand the Town public water and sewer systems.
 To ensure the Town’s community facilities are accessible to and provide benefit and value to all
members of the community.
 To develops a system of interconnected parks and open spaces built on a foundation of natural
resource areas with special emphasis on neighborhood parks.
 To ensure that developers contribute to providing and enhancing community facilities and
essential public services at least commensurate with the expected impact of their proposed
projects.
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Recommendations
Upgrade and Expand Wastewater Treatment Capacity
The highest priority for community facilities is to modernize the Centreville wastewater treatment plant
(WWTP) and its effluent discharge capacity. This Plan recommends that the plant be expanded as well
modernized to meet the Town’s development goals and the demands generated by planned growth.
The decision to expand the WWTP will depend on the availability of funding, and options under current
consideration include replacing the plant at about its same capacity of 542,000 gpd to 750,000 gpd, 1
million gpd, or 1.25 million gpd. As discussed in Chapter 3, Municipal Growth, a capacity of 1.25 million
gpd would be necessary to serve the Town planned residential and employment growth through 2040.
Extending Municipal Water and Sewerage Services
Chapter 3 of this Plan discusses five tracts of land that have the potential to be converted to residential
use in the future (infill tracts). Generally, there is value in developing lands that are already adjacent to
existing neighborhoods and served by existing roads. However, the intent of this Comprehensive Plan is
not to limit the Town’s community development to the private timelines of the owners of these tracts or
to reserve capacity for them. As a matter of policy, as opportunities arise to develop the Town in a
smart and sustainable way, to achieve environmental, public health, or economic development benefits,
or to obtain contributions to the expansion and financing of the Town’s infrastructure, Centreville will
be open to annexing land, and extending municipal water and sewer services to properties within
Growth Area irrespective of the infill potential within current boundaries. The Town will develop and
maintain a strict allocation policy through 2040 making final allocation commitments only upon final site
plan or final subdivision plat approvals based on the principle of first come first served.
Develop A Town Greenway and Park System
Centreville has natural resource related recreational assets and great potential to secure a system of
greenways throughout the Town and Growth Area. However, Centreville lacks neighborhood parks. This
Plan recommends that the Mayor and Town Council appoint a citizen committee to study the Town’s
recreational needs, develop standards that will shape how parks are provided and improved overtime
including the availability of public schools grounds for recreation, to assemble a park master plan, and to
coordinate with Queen Anne’s County on a regular basis in the update of the County Land Preservation,
Parks, and Recreational Plan.
With or without a more detailed study or plan, as discussed throughout this Plan, the Town aspires to
develop a greenway and trial network along with public neighborhood parks in all future neighborhoods.
Figure __ shows existing parks and the recommended general location of future greenways and parks.
Where greenways are shown on land to be developed within the Town and the Growth Area, such land
should be dedicated by the developer to the Town of Centreville as public resource to be preserved in
perpetuity and improved for public recreational and educational purposes and managed by the Town for
environmental protection.
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DRAFT, 9-17-22
GeneralTown Greenway and Park Plan
Nickerson Park
North Brook,
Courthouse Green HOA Mini Park, Existing
Wharf Neighborhood Park
Park
Existing
Approx.
Alignment, Mill Proposed
Stream Park Trail
Natural Resource Area Park
Mill Stream
Park Existing
Proposed
Public School
YMCA
Trails
Existing Trail
Approx. Alignment, Programmed for
Mill Stream ParkTrail, Phase II Construction
Symphony
Village, Planned
HOA
Greenways
New residential development projects should include the development, improvement, and dedication of
public parks and open spaces as well. This Plan acknowledges that the provision of exemplary park and
open spaces within major infill tracts (see Chapter 3, Municipal Growth) and the Growth Area may
reduce the land available to developers for new housing units and that clustering of houses within the
landscape is one way to free up land for parks and open space. Future neighborhood development in
Centreville will favor creative arrangements of open spaces and neighborhood design that prioritize high
accessibility to parks over the run-of-the-mill platting of lots that maximize the yield of lots. Until such
time as the Town adopts specific regulations, the following standard should stand as the minimum
amount of parkland in new developments: 1,000 square feet of parkland should be provided for each
proposed household in a residential development.
This Plan also recommends that the Town coordinate with Queen Anne’s County Public Schools to
program school grounds for recreational purposes especially in areas that lack neighborhood parks.
Centreville Elementary School and Kennard Elementary School are especially accessible for residents
within their respective neighborhoods.
Consider and Adopt Growth Management Tools
This Plan recommends that the Town systematically study, and if found advisable adopt, regulations
such as adequate public facilities ordinances (APFO), impact fees, street, park, and school ground
dedication requirements, and other growth management tools and programs that could be
administered to ensure community facilities are appropriately funded so that their capacities are
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retained or expanded. This includes police and fire and emergency medical services, whose capital
facilities and services will need to be expanded as development takes place to ensure adequate levels of
service are maintained. It is the Town’s policy that new development contribute to maintaining the
adequacy and indeed improving community facilities.
Protecting and Expanding Local Public Schools
While the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education administers the public school system and a facilities
master planning program, the Town of Centreville—home to four public schools--has a great stake in the
outcome of such planning. This Comprehensive Plan recognizes each school as an essential community
asset that contributes to the quality of life and vitality of the Town. While the Board of Education’s
currently published projections show little change in enrollment through the 2030-1 school year (except
for Kennard Elementary), it is vitally important to the Town that new development is balanced with
available capacity. It is also important to the Town that local children be able to attend schools within
the Town’s boundaries. Therefore, the Town will seek to coordinate with the Board of Education to
ensure adequate capacities exist for the Town’s planned growth and that excellent schools remain in
Centreville for Centreville’s children.
***
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