North Beach, Maryland
Project Background
North Beach is located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. The area was long inhabited by Native Americans, then by early Europeans starting in the 1600s who most likely grew tobacco there for European markets. The area would have provided a front row seat to the Chesapeake Theater of the War of 1812.
It wasn't until the 1890s that development of today's coastal community began after a rail line connecting Washington, D.C., was established in 1899. Boasted as a high-class seashore resort, the town grew into a small, but thriving, summer community with homes, churches, and shops.
A number of events greatly impacted North Chesapeake Beach, as it was originally called, including: the closing of the Chesapeake Railway in 1935; a number of major hurricanes (1933, 1954, and 2003); two disastrous fires (1945 and 1975); the repeal of legalized gambling in 1968; and the opening of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge in 1952.
Despite the town's ups and downs, North Beach continued to grow slowly over the years. Today, it supports a resident population of around 2,000. Still very much a seasonal town, North Beach hosts many summer visitors and programs a variety of well-attended festivals and events on its boardwalk.
The town has made many improvements and has good "bones," including a grid pattern of well-maintained roads and sidewalks, the boardwalk and pier, bike and pedestrian trails, and improved flood control measures. The downtown, however, contains many "holes" of under- and undeveloped land. The town owns several of the key properties and is interested in creating a plan for the downtown that enables all of the town's goals to work together. It wishes to encourage and enhance the summertime tourism, yet create a better year-round place for full-time residents.
North Beach, with no planners on staff, came together with the planning commission and other area planners and architects (including the leadership of the APA Maryland Chapter) to request the CPAT program's assistance.
North Beach Downtown Plan
Community Planning Assistance Team Report
Despite the town's ups and downs, North Beach continued to grow slowly over the years. Today, it supports a resident population of around 2,000. Still very much a seasonal town, North Beach hosts many summer visitors and programs a variety of well-attended festivals and events on its boardwalk.
Project Updates
August 2015
The CPAT visited North Beach August 20-23, 2015. Following a tour of the town, the team facilitated a "mini" visioning session on the first night with more than 60 participating community members. They met with the mayor and council, business owners, town staff and planning commission, local developers, citizen interest groups, and representatives from the State Department of Business and Economic Development. They visited all businesses in the downtown study area and experienced the popular Farmer's Market, Classic Car Drive-in and Arts Fair that draws people to North Beach from around the region. The team worked to create a new downtown plan, which they presented on the final day to a full room of community members, including the mayor and council.
July 2015
Team leader Bob Paternoster, FAICP, and APA project manager Ryan Scherzinger visited the Town of North Beach on July 15, 2015. They met with members of the local ground team, including the two co-chairs of the Planning Commision Patricia Haddon, AICP (incoming president of APA's Maryland Chapter), and Michael Hartman, AIA. They toured the town, including communities to the north and south of North Beach. They met with the mayor, city staff, residents, and local developers to gain a better understanding of the current situation and to assess the needs of the project.
News Coverage of the North Beach Project
The Calvert County Times: "Polishing the Jewel of the Chesapeake"
Southern Maryland News: "Planning team helps North Beach develop its economic visions"
Aerial drone view of North Beach


Meet the Team

Team Leader
Robert J. Paternoster, FAICP

Team Member
Philip Franks, AICP, AIA

Team Member
Wendy E. Moeller, AICP

Team Member
Kannan Sankaran
