Neighbors object to 54 homes

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009

Waterfront residents on and around Mill Cove Road in California assembled Monday evening to oppose two residential projects that would sit among them between Mill Creek and Sam Abell Cove.

The area is part of the Lexington Park Development District Plan, which allows for connection to public water and sewer lines, but those lines don't run down Mill Cove Road yet. Mill Cove Road is off Patuxent Boulevard, which runs to Myrtle Point Park.

Developer Guy Curley, who built Hickory Hills in Great Mills and proposed the massive Glazed Pine project near Patuxent River Naval Air Station in 2007, seeks to speed up the process to bring in public water and sewer in order to serve the proposed Mill Cove Harbor and Mill Cove Manor.

Mill Cove Harbor is 10.4 acres and has 21 lots proposed, while Mill Cove Manor is 13 acres with 33 lots.

Nearby neighbors shared their opposition for almost three hours, arguing that the local roads are too narrow for more traffic, that the adjacent creeks and coves are environmentally sensitive and that some homeowners would be mandated to connect to public water and sewer lines at personal cost.

Once public water and sewer lines run immediately past a property in the development district, homes within 200 feet of it must connect. For those beyond 200 feet, it's voluntary.

But it is not free. A property owner would pay $1,744 for the sewer connection and $774 for water, in addition to the $14 monthly fee.

"It's been that way for 30 years" in the regulations, said Steve King, director of St. Mary's County Metropolitan Commission.

MetCom doesn't decide where the lines go. The planning commission makes recommendations to the county commissioners, who have the ultimate say. After a developer builds lines, MetCom then takes the system over.

"This is basically a legislative process, correct?" said Steve Reeves, chairman of the planning commission, on Monday.

"It is," said planner Dave Chapman.

After the planning commission's public hearing, a recommendation is made and the county commissioners hold a public hearing to make a decision. Then the project goes back for actual site plan approval.

"There's no need for sewer and water there now," said Brooks Jackson, a resident of Mill Cove Harbor Road.

Earlier that day, he said, "This is going to double the population on this neck and increase the density 10-fold [with] a stroke."

Paul Downs, also a resident of the area, said, "We feel truly blessed to be living on the water" and said he has personally tried to prevent runoff from his property. But more impervious surfaces from any new development would mean more runoff. "We are all here tonight to plead with you [to] at least visit the proposed areas again," he said.

"It's going to be an eyesore and I'm going to have to look at it," said neighbor Paul Dibenedetto.

The Sypher family owned much of the property in the area and Jane Sypher of Cove Manor Road said the area is designated for growth and defended Curley, who did not make a presentation or any comments during the public hearing that evening.

"This is the development district," Sypher said. "That's what the county did in its comprehensive rezoning. That's a given. It is expected you will develop."

Nearby Myrtle Point Park, with its 192 acres, will provide any displaced wildlife with a place to live, she said.

She said Curley "will not do a development that will not be doing anything other than following the letter of the law."

"Ah, come on now," said John Tifford, who actually asked if his property could connect to water and sewer access.

"This is not PF Summers," Sypher said. "This is someone you'll see in the store … on boards and commissions," she said of Curley.

PF Summers started development of The Woods at Myrtle Point on Patuxent Boulevard, which was not finished.

The planning commission did not make a decision on the matter; it continued the public hearing process.

jbabcock@somdnews.com