Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay would like to encourage you to support Bona Terra Nursery’s zoning request for on-site nursery sales in its new location in Charles County, Maryland. The Bona Terra native plant nursery is carefully maintained by experts, focusing on growing local ecotypes within 100 miles of the nursery in Charles County, using minimal fertilizer and no pesticides, herbicides or growth hormones.
Bona Terra has native plants available for sale to homeowners, landscape professionals, and conservation and restoration non-profits. They offer delivery and pick-up on orders, either at their nursery in Indian Head, Maryland or at their office in DC. Their goal is to provide stewards of the Chesapeake Bay with native plants, whose lack of availability has historically been a challenge in conservation efforts. The next step is for Bona Terra to be able to host on-site sales at their new location.
On-site sales would support Bona Terra’s commitment to grow 1 million native plants annually for FREE distribution through their philanthropic Plant Grant initiatives, including community-led seedling giveaways. Wild Ones Chesapeake Bay has hosted 9 Bona Terra seedling giveaways in the southern Maryland region from October 2023 through June 2025, distributing over 54,000 native plant seedlings to members of our local community for restoring local biodiversity.
How to Suport the Zoning Request
There will be a Charles County Board of Appeals Public Hearing on Tuesday, September 9, at 6:30 pm at the Charles County Government Building Auditorium located at 200 Baltimore Street, La Plata, MD 20646. The Public Hearing will be held in an “In-person” format only, no virtual option is available.
Visit the Charles County Government Public Hearing: Docket 1471 page for complete details of the Public Notice. The associated documents for Docket #1471, filed on January 3, 2025, are available for inspection in the Department of Planning and Growth Management, Planning Division, Charles County Government Building or online at: https://charlescountymd.info/Docket1471, including the Justification Statement for the Special Exception Request.
Click HERE to submit Public Comment for the Board of Appeals Public Hearing or register to speak.
The following is the letter of appeal from Bona Terra:
“We love our new nursery location in Indian Head, MD but there’s one last hurdle – the current zoning allows for plant production but requires a special exception for on-site sales. Without this, Bona Terra would not be able to host plant sales and seedling giveaways. The County’s planning staff approved our application (https://charlescountymd.info/Docket1471) and there’s a public hearing scheduled on Tuesday, September 9th. In the lead-up to the hearing, public comments have officially been opened. Help us secure this critical zoning special exception by doing one of the following:
Send a letter of support.
Visit https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/boards-commissions/board-of-appeals/board-of-appeals-public-comment-and-speaker-registration-form to submit comments online. We are Docket #1471, Bona Terra Commercial Greenhouse, and the form takes only 5 minutes to fill out and submit. You can also upload files to support your comments using the online form.
Register to be a speaker and voice your support in person.
Charles County residents that come to testify in person will carry will have a strong influence on the Zoning Board’s decision. Anyone can come to testify if you register at https://www.charlescountymd.gov/government/boards-commissions/board-of-appeals/board-of-appeals-public-comment-and-speaker-registration-form.
Speakers will be allotted 3 minutes to speak at the hearing. Citizens with special needs may contact Lisa Cureton, Clerk of Board Appeals, at 240-776-6686 or Maryland Relay Service TDD at 1-800-735-2258. For questions regarding public participation, please contact the Clerk of Board Appeals via email at [email protected].
Sample Talking Points
- I support Bona Terra’s special exception request
- I am a resident of Charles County
- I am not a resident of Charles County but I would visit Charles County if Bona Terra is allowed to do on site sales
- This request is consistent with Charles County’s goals to:
- Protect its natural resources
- Promote awareness of environmental issues
- Diversify the county’s economic base
- Support tourism development in the County, particularly emphasizing opportunities associated with the County’s natural resources
- I have been to Bona Terra’s previous nursery location, and it had no detrimental impacts on neighboring properties, such as noise or traffic
Thank you for your on-going support and commitment to planting natives in our communities!“
