Worcester County Names New Zoning Administrator

Worcester County, MD - Worcester County has a new zoning administrator. The county commissioners appointed Betsy Jackson to the role within Development Review and Permitting.

Jackson brings 20 years of planning and zoning experience to the job. Eight of those years were spent working in government.

DRP Director Jennifer Keener said Jackson was a strong fit for the position. "Betsy brings an excellent combination of technical expertise, management experience, and a collaborative approach to problem-solving," Keener said. "Her broad understanding of planning, zoning, and development review will help us provide consistent guidance and responsive service to property owners, applicants, and the broader community."

Before coming to Worcester County, Jackson worked as the city planner for the City of Salisbury. She led a team of associate planners there and handled development plan reviews, rezoning requests, and text-amendment requests.

She also worked closely with the Planning Commission and the Historic District Commission during her time in Salisbury. Before that job, Jackson worked remotely as a town planner for a private development firm based in New South Wales, Australia.

Jackson said she is looking forward to her new role. "It's a privilege to serve Worcester County in this capacity, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to be part of the DRP team," Jackson said.

Jackson holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from St. Mary's College of Maryland. She also holds a Master of Science Degree in Public Administration from Wilmington University and is a certified planner through the American Planning Association.

As zoning administrator, Jackson will oversee the county's zoning activities. That includes planning, licensing, permitting, code enforcement, and the interpretation of land-use regulations.

She will also chair the Technical Review Committee. Jackson will serve as an advisor to both the Planning Commission and the Board of Zoning Appeals.