Myrtle Point residents ask for slower pace of growth

Want area removed from intense development district

Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009

Residents in and around Mill Cove Road spoke at the first of three public hearings to update the county's comprehensive growth plan.

Robert Willey said, "The community is trying to get out of the development district," and added that land within 1,000 feet of tidal waters shouldn't be included in the development district either.

Two projects are proposed in his neighborhood seeking water and sewer upgrades in the area near the shoreline dubbed the Critical Area by eh state.

After a set of public hearings the planning commission decided to leave the Myrtle Point area in the development district, but suggested a residential transition zone of one home per acre instead of five homes per acre.

Debbie Shields of Mill Cove Road said the placement of the Myrtle Point peninsula in the development district "was a mistake made many years ago," and presented a petition with the signatures of 518 people supporting the area's removal from the development district.

"As you can see, we care about the development of our area," said Gregory Shields. "Revising the boundary now makes sense."

"The area I'm referring to is not suitable for development," said Raymond Dudderar of Swan Fall Way.

Carleen Downs moved to Mill Cove Harbor Road in 2001 and said she's seen the runoff from the Woods at Myrtle Point project muddy Sam Abell Cove. The Woods at Myrtle Point was approved for 358 homes, but only 19 have been completed.

"The Woods at Myrtle Point is a disaster," said Joseph Cullison of Sypher Road. Water clarity has suffered because of runoff, he said. After one rainfall, "it wasn't clear for about several weeks," he said.

The Lexington Park Development District is made up of Lexington Park, Great Mills and California.

There are 229,710 acres in St. Mary's County. In this proposed update to the comprehensive growth plan, 643 acres are added to growth areas and 2,213 are removed. The Lexington Park Development District is about 17,000 acres.

The commissioners' next two public hearings will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Cole Cinema at St. Mary's College of Maryland and on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at 6:30 p.m. at the Northern Senior Activity Center in Charlotte Hall.

jbabcock@somdnews.com