About two dozen Mathews residents showed up for a joint public hearing of the Mathews County Planning Commission and Mathews County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, Sept. 20 in the historic courthouse.

At issue were proposed zoning ordinance changes governing vacation rental homes, and many of those in the audience owned such homes themselves.

Following the public hearing, the board of supervisors adjourned and the planning commission convened to consider whether to recommend the changes to the board of supervisors. However, because planning commission member Danette Machen owns a vacation rental, she recused herself, leaving the commission without a quorum, and the matter was tabled until its October meeting.

Planners will consider the matter beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the historic courthouse on Court Street. They will also consider a request from Robert E. and Gail C. Short of Rockville for a conditional use permit for a tourist home in the Misti Cove subdivision in Hallieford...