South county wants zoning eased

More flexibility for development rules suggested

Friday, June 26, 2009

In addition, residents of a California neighborhood wanted their area out of the development district, and a prominent landowner sought to keep zoning on a Mechanicsville property.

About 1,000 property owners were notified by mail that their lands could eventually see zoning changes if recommendations by the St. Mary's County Department of Land Use and Growth Management are adopted.

Boundaries could be reduced in the Leonardtown Development District, Mechanicsville and Hollywood town centers and the St. Inigoes village center.

New Market would be reclassified as a village center and Loveville, Clements and Valley Lee would be discontinued as village centers.

The plan anticipates the county's population will reach 150,000 in 20 years, an increase of 50 percent. "That's substantial," said consultant Milton Herd. Another 19,300 homes are anticipated in the same time, also an increase of 50 percent. The Leesburg, Va., consultant was awarded a $29,700 contract for his work, which includes five community meetings last year and another meeting with officials.

"We only do this once every six years. We need to do it right" by bringing in an objective party, said Derick Berlage, director of land use and growth management.

At the public hearing, Christy Henderson, representing the South County Business Association, said there is "a nightmare of regulations," in that area because most of the zoning is rural preservation district, which discourages dense development.

Opportunities for new lodging and campgrounds are needed and the secondary roads need to be expanded in the south, she said. The Hendersons own Buzz's Marina in Ridge.

John Levay, also a member of the association, said his family owns more than 300 acres south of Hermanville. "Maybe there's something we can do to help with camping," he said, but options are currently restricted. He also suggested that Park Hall be designated as a growth area. Park Hall is currently designated a rural service center, which limits new growth.

John Parlett, a developer based in Charlotte Hall, said in order to preserve rural lands, farming needs to be productive and growth needs to be directed into designated areas.

He said he was concerned that potential growth in Charlotte Hall may be too much. "Let's not allow Route 5 … to become [Route] 301 in Waldorf," he said.

There should be a break in the permissive zoning between Lexington Park and Hollywood, he also said. As allowed now, there could be one long commercial strip zone from Great Mills Road up Route 235 to Sotterley Road in Hollywood, without any breaks.

Blight should be addressed, Parlett said. County government doesn't have the authority to remove or clean up blighted or abandoned structures. Charles County does.

He cited the two long-abandoned gas stations at the intersection of Chancellor's Run Road and Great Mills Road as examples of eyesores.

Also, "we've got sign issues," he said, especially at liquor stores with banners and other large signs. "This is our county. We ought to take it back."

Several residents of Mill Cove Road in California asked the neighborhood be taken out of the Lexington Park Development District to prevent public water and sewer lines from being built, which would allow dense development on the waterfront near Myrtle Point Park. There are proposals for two new residential neighborhoods there now, and developers are seeking water and sewer approval for them.

Sang Oh, attorney for the Millison Family Trust, asked the planning commission not to downzone a 21-acre undeveloped parcel between Route 5 and Old Village Road in Mechanicsville. A sign that advertised a coming shopping center for years has been obscured by trees and underbrush.

Frank Taylor, president of Taylor Gas on Great Mills Road, said his business, which has been there since 1950, shouldn't be considered as a non-conforming use as it is now.

Four county commissioners attended the planning commission's public hearing — Thomas A. Mattingly Sr. (D) was at a Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland meeting.

At Tuesday's county commissioner meeting, Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R) said the 192 acres at Myrtle Point Park should come out of the development district. "I'm going to be looking at that real strong."He also said "to downzone commercial properties just doesn't seem right." If Myrtle Point Park were downzoned, "we can say we're doing it ourselves, but we're not asking businesses to do it," he said.

jbabcock@somdnews.com