[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6358297,"mediaKeyId","2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e","parentId",2212667,"title","County kicks off North County Town Center plan; first public meeting set for May 18","audioSeconds",271,"startMs",3032780,"endMs",3304395,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e&start=3032&end=3304","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e/thumbnail_3032780.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6358297/St-Marys-County/Maryland/County-kicks-off-North-County-Town-Center-plan-first-public-meeting-set-for-May-18","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358297-33b68c6edfadecb9c1863a6b552f6146/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158579&Signature=jTWd9vLPDjCurM8fsiCoHm6J8Dmb1RKOAMu164F6ucRKXtuqL4Hy-mdHhDkZABrlHuoi4HD938V9ge2zQKAYSpxT5NPLYjGbvvUf72-HI2zAK02j4voeDI0STEzlFNFayqeBD6PsYtzqUoA56qJHZA2LkreZXiMz3gZOk2dqQAh-JBO7h0iZAPaQT1HRyoN5U5TGjbIvcEcWlHDD~YEFl5hHWPIOVxWVB~ChO-cp7aCPlpW21aMESk6OQ4zXRDXvF9JPzfH6LjNQu6vouRDUdRh-Zd98d7Xg2aa1~wtIyVwa3Xa3bql-ksUpneFvXxyS1EpqGKtvCcLh4kF9kwk~ng__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-02-02T19:29:43Z","article","St. Mary's County planning staff announced the kickoff for a North County Town Center small-area planning effort covering Charlotte Hall, Mechanicsville, New Market and Golden Beach, and said the first public meeting is scheduled for May 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Hall Library.

Bill Hunt, a county staff member, said the project will begin by examining the feasibility of a parallel road east of 3 Notch Road as requested previously by the Board of County Commissioners. The county selected Morton Thomas & Associates as the traffic consultant; staff said the consultant will evaluate potential routes, prepare traffic modeling and estimate order-of-magnitude construction costs (but will not estimate property-acquisition costs at this stage).

Grace (last name not specified), a staff member organizing outreach, said the kickoff meeting will present existing maps and ask residents for local knowledge about environmental constraints, historic resources and places where a new road would be infeasible. Staff said the project team hopes to establish a recurring meeting time and a permanent local meeting location (school or community building) so residents know where and when to provide input.

Staff described an existing east-side corridor segment that begins near Mount Wolfe Road in front of the Food Lion shopping center and continues through parcels near the Charlotte Hall Farmers Market; staff said that eastern route already has some built segments and was preferable to a west-side service road that would bisect a historic neighborhood. The consultant will examine whether a new road would shift traffic off 3 Notch or become a new arterial that generates additional trips; staff said modeling will address those scenarios.

Why it matters: The small-area plan and the parallel-road feasibility study could shape future development, local traffic patterns and capital-project priorities in the Charlotte Hall area. Staff emphasized the kickoff is a listening session and that no preferred alignment has been chosen.

Meeting and outreach details: the kickoff listening session is scheduled for May 18 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Hall Library; staff said the notice would be posted on the county website as soon as possible and that future meetings are intended to include representatives from MetCom, Public Works, Economic Development and the health department.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/25/2016 St. Mary's County Planning Commission","oneSentenceSummary","St. Mary's County planning staff announced the kickoff for a North County Town Center small-area planning effort covering Charlotte Hall, Mechanicsville, New Market and Golden Beach, and said the first public meeting is scheduled for May 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Charlotte Hall Library.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6358301,"Planning staff presents 2015 annual report and first cut at countywide capacity analysis",665,2028495,2694430,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e&start=2028&end=2694","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e/thumbnail_2028495.jpg","/articles/6358301/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Planning-staff-presents-2015-annual-report-and-first-cut-at-countywide-capacity-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358301-9b62e4acf317a95358c3259af2bf0ee9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158579&Signature=lqUMCSkX5TBGQ4Slv-5n0gbBwlTvoTHCJKzphPkEVwvZBXFIukDLp8lkCPwgYljxr9bniYMGZQBhRBCoDHwWZpf~aIrHuqQm1kQwVvjVffIcO8sMBEBryM-SJxLg7BBFKYRwQuqLy0e7rVQGywnK592H82cs4pPurhASY8-I~E7DVXome~RKGL6ktxKqmGAs10L2-FuSdqdzHh7NSiq2T7lxGlQrz4IGUBx5OvOkrsMw5uEPS4djJCmH9foiIHElPElCUHrX0HvU4ICsCiIhm0sVhZxeHgLy9RXRESfPQCknd43MDRfdWJGGdN364Q6i9mku19XetUwuXT6b~EN0Pw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Planning staff distributed the Planning Commission's 2015 annual report and outlined a work program for 2016 that includes a countywide development capacity analysis and a complete revision of the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan (CWSP).

Jeff Jackman, planning staff, told commissioners the capacity analysis contractor provided an initial “first cut” that estimates county residential capacity at roughly 25,000 dwelling units under the county’s interpretation of the Sustainable Growth Act (the septic limitation). Jackman said the contractor’s alternate calculation, without the septic-law limitations, showed a slightly larger potential yield (about 27,000 units).

Jackman explained key modeling assumptions and the difference between the two columns in the contractor's table: one assumes areas not planned for sewer are limited by septic law and the other does not. He clarified the metric used in the contractor’s tables is dwelling units, not households, and said, “So it's counting new dwelling units, whether they're bachelor 1 room things or … 4 bedrooms?” — an exchange that staff confirmed counts dwelling units of any size.

Staff said the model was initiated as an MVP project that began with a pilot in 2004–05 and has been updated; the county asked the contractor to calibrate the model to include the new Lexington Park zoning intensities once the rezoning language is adopted. The contractor included Leonardtown as a benchmarking municipality. Staff said the analysis is an initial run and that staff will return with refinements and possibly a work session to go through the assumptions and exhibits in more detail.

The annual report section of the meeting also flagged several ongoing tasks: revising the CWSP (a comprehensive revision not undertaken since 1993), preparing a small-area plan for the 5th district (Charlotte Hall), and incorporating certain road- and capital-project recommendations into the planning work program. Staff reminded commissioners of statutory submittal requirements for the annual report and said the report will go to the Board of County Commissioners and then to the Maryland Department of Planning.

Why it matters: The capacity analysis informs growth-management decisions, priority funding-area delineations and future infrastructure and sewer planning. Staff asked commissioners to identify additional analyses they want included in the capacity model and said they will provide updated exhibits that reflect adopted zoning changes when available.","Planning staff distributed the commission's 2015 annual report, discussed a work program and described an initial countywide housing-capacity model that estimates roughly 25,000 new dwelling units under current septic limits; staff offered to refine assumptions and present follow-up analysis to commissioners.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6358306,"Planning Commission introduces ordinance to implement Lexington Park rezoning and schedules public hearings",1844,74935,1919825,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e&start=74&end=1919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e/thumbnail_74935.jpg","/articles/6358306/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Planning-Commission-introduces-ordinance-to-implement-Lexington-Park-rezoning-and-schedules-public-hearings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358306-e2405e4cf4cfab52e33f77514d11f7dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158579&Signature=jGlUV0GPgo2EDvka4UbGExKcmK0lRd7L13AwYHphhZZhB6wQtKS0JXGtjqxkskXpiFOAc14JvKFnt44tm1kCHmB5HwEdWKTgcY9r3vLJUggkCAdjXTAkn5vlhqAR4vOpAT9~WW9c9ROW8YgNsBUjnckDJntOQdNXb5A8YbtFq9rigdNEN5tRqJUcPi9sevZeqE93Dm7YqjcPLuSWDfMACwZUEzZeGHjeVOHfJjI84xW72uwiAXO5V-FM2Kqnp3ycW3nfwul3WGiOtd0ETLPlP5nylWAjejOY06PBpf4UIViOOUo0aEyDkOek3EV0~1NlDomoLKxTCPi6kg5ART~-FA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","St. Mary's County Planning Commission members heard a staff introduction to an ordinance intended to implement the Lexington Park Development District plan and to insert Navy compatibility tables and a noise map into the county's comprehensive zoning ordinance. Planning staff presented an implementation schedule that would lead to a public hearing on June 27 and transmission to the Board of County Commissioners in late August.

The introduction explained that the 2015 Lexington Park plan divides the development district into subareas — north, central and south — and identified a central focus area where staff and the consultant recommended more-detailed mixed-use, limited commercial-industrial and neighborhood design guidance. Phil Shire, a county planning staff member, told commissioners the draft maps replace the existing DMX (downtown mixed-use) and CC (community commercial) categories with a mixed-use regime and a limited commercial-industrial classification to better reflect underlying uses and Air Installation Compatibility Use (ACU) restrictions tied to the adjacent naval facility.

Shire said the proposal co-locates Navy guidance tables (noise and accident potential zones) into chapter 43 of the county zoning text and adds a map that will let staff and applicants apply those standards in one place. He said the county has used Navy guidance informally for years, and the ordinance would formalize that guidance in the zoning ordinance as compatibility guidelines, not as automatic prohibitions. Staff emphasized that the Navy would continue to review projects that fall within Approach/Accident Potential Zone (APZ) or ACU areas and make recommendations, but that the county retains final authority on land-use decisions.

Commissioners and staff discussed the boundaries of the Lexington Park district, noting the commission had restored certain growth-area boundaries that staff and the consultant had earlier recommended removing. Shire said the commission favored keeping those lands in the growth area so property owners could plan for future development. Jeff Jackman, a planning staff member, pointed to map details showing where the downtown ends and the Great Mills Road corridor begins, and he identified several focus corridors and “pearls” where more intense mixed use or corridor upgrades are intended.

Staff gave a draft schedule for the next month of work: an initial work session on May 2, a second work session on May 16, introduction of the second set of articles (maps and remaining text) on May 9, a June 8 deadline for final language to release to the public, and a public hearing targeted for June 27. Shire cautioned that the schedule could shift if additional work sessions are needed, but said staff intends to finish the rezoning and supporting zoning text by the end of the calendar year if the schedule holds.

Why it matters: Lexington Park is the county’s largest growth area and includes neighborhoods, commercial corridors and properties affected by naval flight zones. Formalizing the Navy compatibility tables and adding a noise map into the zoning text will change how staff and developers locate uses inside APZ/ACU areas and how the county presents that guidance to the public.

Details commissioners asked staff to provide included a written timeline for the 2007 and later Navy–county encroachment agreements and copies of the agreement the commissioners previously signed with the Navy. Staff said they will provide the timeline and related material at a future work session. The commission requested that the zoning intensities for the new Lexington Park categories be incorporated into the countywide capacity model so the housing-yield analysis will reflect the new zones.

The introduction concluded with no formal vote on the ordinance itself; staff said subsequent work sessions and the public hearing would be the next opportunities for formal action.","St. Mary's County Planning Commission members heard a staff introduction to an ordinance that would translate the 2015 Lexington Park Development District plan into new zoning categories, incorporate Navy compatibility tables and noise maps into the county zoning ordinance, and adopt a schedule of work sessions and a June public hearing.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6358292,"Planning Commission approves April 11 minutes and adjourns",0,135895,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e&start=135&end=135","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2212667-386119830967b46885f855e9929c057e/thumbnail_135895.jpg","/articles/6358292/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Planning-Commission-approves-April-11-minutes-and-adjourns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6358292-c5b8843c056567c3f3190189e0c2fd4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158579&Signature=jVB0YZmcPRMrwZcd0V8FBABZaWA8NKG4j498GLs92mUACrVQ8JGCBf4KnVEiH6AnOP2HHQcAFx73aISGupVsBjShNgbQtM89laVwLCaLOWg8fm4qCcF3epMOdv2kXRy0P1ZiR398ghJX0PZlGaNmua6yIoqFtsHzCk2Ej7VkQ83~~4lKnelxR-cYu~SZS-9QVhpCeS7Mroz9wkSpTMe4q4KpzAo0fPNs4ZrLuV2ZpNqQmzVSTybtuZ2m9drblODH0pZn-w7UyHiJ1ib1p47ubCCqMO0WOTnLYM0gUEkcRGCljgBeKNO7pQuESgt0h-jpHbsoK3fNXhHk348Zf6QRwA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary's County Planning Commission approved the minutes for its April 11 meeting and later approved a motion to adjourn.

A motion to approve the April 11 minutes was moved and seconded; the chair called for the ayes, and the motion carried (recorded in the audio as “Aye”). The transcript records the motion as moved by a commissioner identified in the meeting record and seconded; no roll-call vote or individual vote tally was provided in the transcript.

At the meeting’s close a motion to adjourn was moved and seconded and the chair recessed the meeting; the transcript records the motion and its second and the meeting adjourned. No additional substantive business occurred after those actions.","The St. Mary's County Planning Commission approved the April 11 minutes and later approved a motion to adjourn; both actions were recorded without roll-call tallies in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

County kicks off North County Town Center plan; first public meeting set for May 18

Planning staff presents 2015 annual report and first cut at countywide capacity analysis

Planning Commission introduces ordinance to implement Lexington Park rezoning and schedules public hearings

Planning Commission approves April 11 minutes and adjourns