Prince Frederick, MD – It’s a small segment of the actions needed to be taken before the plan to finally locate a Chick Fil A in Calvert County can gain momentum. The Calvert County Commissioners did their part during their Tuesday, July 25 meeting. in a memo from Calvert County Department of Planning and Zoning Director Mary Beth Cook, it was noted the department was contacted by Dan Kelsh of Collinson, Oliff and Associates regarding the submittal of an administrative variance to the county’s Forest Conservation requirements for his client, CG Properties. The submitted request for approval of the removal of nine-specimen trees during the project, is for the purpose of constructing an “adequate access and required utilities” for the proposed restaurant in Prince Frederick. One of the adjacent parcels is owned by the Calvert County Commissioners.

“This county is doing everything we can to keep this project on schedule,” said Commissioners’ Vice President Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R – District 3], who added that since becoming a commissioner many of the county’s youth have indicated bringing Chick Fil A to the community should be a major priority. “We have bent over backwards, helping this project.”

Recently, the Calvert County Planning Commission voted to grant a special exception to the Prince Frederick Zoning Ordinance allowing for the grading and clearing of the property prior to the submission of a site plan. The clearing process has begun.

“I know there was a discussion going on,” said Commissioner Mike Hart [R – District 1], about a “discrepancy about when the trees were taken down.”

Commissioners’ President Tom Hejl [R – At large] stated that he learned from the Department of Planning and Zoning that a “stop work order” was going to be placed on the site work until concerns about whether requirements are being met were addressed.

The project site is located on two parcels totaling 1.76 acres just off southbound Route 2/4 in Prince Frederick. The proposed restaurant building will be 4,995 square feet and have a drive-up facility. There is a planned alternate access via Costley Way. The applicants are also seeking a reduction in the number of required parking spaces at the site.

The county commissioners voted unanimously to support administrative variance regarding the removal of the specimen trees.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com