St. Mary’s County Commissioners finalized a complete overhaul; a trashing and rebuilding of the Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan, which governs where and when water and sewer development will take place.

 The county Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted on particular sections of the document, which have proved to be controversial sticking points for one reason or another during the last two years of discussions.

 Land Use and Growth Management Director Denis Canavan said the water/sewer plan changes, and other changes in the works, are designed to streamline the county’s Land Use maps and documents into a synoptic unit.

 The county uses separate maps for zoning designations, water/sewer classifications and development districts, with the largest development district being the Lexington Park Development District (LPDD).

 Two properties that have caused heated debate and division during the last two years are two parcels that lie just outside the north end of the LPDD, dubbed the Johnson Property and the Beavan Property.

 In the past, decisions on these properties were lumped in with larger plan changes, which resulted in delays to the large scale revisions Canavan’s office is orchestrating.

 The Johnson property, which is also known now as St. Mary’s Crossing, consists of 87 acres that is wedged between state land, county land and the remainder of St. Mary’s Crossing, which is within the LPDD.

 That 87 acres is part if the larger St. Mary’s Crossing development, which is in the planning stages. The board expressed concern about the overall St. Mary’s Crossing project, but a majority said those issues need to be addressed when the PUD (planned unit development) request comes in.

 Both the Johnson and Beavan properties are with the Rural Preservation District, in which large-scale development is prohibited.

 
Commissioners Tom Mattingly, left, and Dan Raley

 Commissioner Larry Jarboe (R-Golden Beach) mentioned twice before the vote was cast that the St. Mary’s Planning Commission voted 7-0 against changing the Johnson property from the “no planned service” water and sewer designation.

 “Staff really did us a disservice some time ago,” said Commissioner Dan Raley (D-Great Mills), pointing out that on two occasions the commissioners were told the Johnson property was already in the LPDD.

 “I too believe that if we’re going to have development on it, we’re better to have it with public facilities than with separate private individual septics or wells,” said Commissioner Tom Mattingly (D-Leonardtown).

 “I think it’s an injustice to our community, to dump all these people out onto St. Andrews Church Road, or Route 4, whatever you want to call it,” said commissioner president Jackie Russell (D-St. Georges Island).

 “I agree, and I’m prepared to address that when and if the PUD proposal makes it to this table,” Raley added.

 When it came to a vote for the Johnson property, Russell and Jarboe voted “no”, and the water/sewer issue was approved.


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