California residents in the area of Shady Mile Drive scored a victory Monday night at the St. Mary’s County Planning Commission meeting, when the board voted unanimously to keep further commercial development from occurring on the north side of Rt. 235.
As with all planning commission items, the vote is considered a recommendation, which is sent to the St. Mary’s Board of County Commissioners for final approval.
The Shady Mile decision was part of a packet of proposals under consideration that seek to make numerous changes to the county’s zoning maps, as part of the recommendations in the newly-adopted Lexington Park Development District (LPDD) master plan.
The meeting room at the governmental center in Leonardtown on Monday night was overflowing into the hallway, with residents cheering and applauding as planning commission members stated their opinions and ultimately voted to reject the commercial zoning change.
The proposal in the spotlight seeks to rezone a large section of acreage owned by developer P.F. Summers that fronts the north side of Rt. 235 in the North Town Creek area of California, from residential mixed use to commercial mixed use.
Tammy Sebacher, who said she speaks for many affected residents, rattled off a list of reasons why area residents are opposed to the change, including noise and light pollution, reduced property values, loss of habitat, loss of character and detrimental effects to the endangered water table.
Sebacher said it is a “disgraceful and inconsiderate” proposal that was not adequately advertised before the affected public.
“We love our neighborhood and surrounding communities,” Sebacher said. “We are requesting there be a well advertised public testimonial hearing.”
The crowd let out a great applause and shouts at the end of Sebacher’s comments.
Planning commission members did not need much convincing.
Member Shelby Guazzo pointed out that on the opposite side of the road where First Colony and the other shopping centers are, residential development came after the stores went up.
Prior to the big box stores there was only open land and a trash dump, “not a decades-old neighborhood like we find on the east side of Shady Mile Drive,” Guazzo said, garnering a huge applause from the crowd.
Planning Commission Chair Steve Reeves issued similar comments, which were duly answered with another round of cheers and applause.
Guazzo made a motion to reject the request to modify the residential zones of Town Creek, which was approved unanimously.
“I want everyone to be fully advised that this is a recommendation to the board of county commissioners, this will be decided at a regular Tuesday meeting,” Land Use Director Denis Canavan said amid the celebration.
“This is not the end of the road, you’re at the half-way point,” Guazzo added, getting even more applause.
