Leonardtown, MD — After four years of meetings and deliberations, the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County have formally adopted the Lexington Park Development District Master Plan. In the end the only bone of contention was 15 acres on Indian Bridge Road in Great Mills.

At a Dec. 8 public hearing the Cecil family, owners of the historic mill and country store, asked that their 100-acre tract of land be included in the development district so that they could use the water and sewer available for the property to create an historically-themed residential village behind the country store.

At the Feb. 9 decision making meeting, Director of Land Use and Growth Management Phil Shire presented a compromise worked out with the Cecil family to bring in only the15 acres into the development district, leaving the remainder in agricultural preservation. Development rights would have been transferred from the larger tract to allow for 50-60 townhomes, Shire said.

But Commissioner Mike Hewitt [R – 2nd District] noted opposition from neighbors along Indian Bridge Road. The opposition was characterized by Hewitt and Shire as to the spread of growth and questioning why they weren’t afforded the same growth opportunity.

Hewitt observed that the state had criticized the size of the development district as being too large but the planning commission stuck with it in their recommendation. In light of that he said it didn’t make sense to enlarge the district.

Commissioner Tom Jarboe [R – 1st District] spoke in favor of the Cecil proposal, calling it a reasonable compromise. But when Jarboe made a motion to include the 15 acres in the development district it failed the gain a second. Commissioner John O’Connor [R – 3rd District] was not at the meeting because of the funeral of a family friend.

The commissioners did, however, unanimously accept a request by the Kenneth Gerred Local Trust that family property on Old Rolling Road behind the Target be put into a mixed-use, medium-density category instead of the proposed residential medium density category. At the public hearing a family representative said the mixed use category was more in keeping with the neighborhood which will be adjacent to FDR Boulevard when it’s built.

With the two motions out of the way, the four commissioners formally adopted the oft-delayed plan, praising the work of the planning commission and noting the north county plan is next on the agenda.

In a Power Point presentation at the December public hearing, Shire said the plan’s overall vision for Lexington Park included transforming the downtown area and supporting existing neighborhoods. The downtown transformation would include:
• A distinct and recognizable character;
• A concentration of community facilities;
• Mixed-use development;
• Housing choices, and
• A balanced transportation system.

Included in the plan are 16 new downtown street connections that will improve the ability of residents to more easily move from their neighborhoods to shopping and work. Shire said some of the proposals could be easily accomplished.

Contact Dick Myers at dick,myers@hebaynet.com