SOLOMONS, Md. – “Until we get leadership that has vision for where the future is headed, Calvert County will suffer. I don’t think having 55+ apartments and a brand new hotel in Solomons is a bad thing, and I also don’t think the majority of the population thinks that it is either.” That’s real estate expert and Calvert County Chamber of Commerce business advisory chair Mark Frisco’s stance on the controversial revitalization plans for the former and now vacant Holiday Inn in Solomons.
The original plan, submitted to the Department of Planning and Zoning back in March of 2022, included a proposal for an assisted living facility. When that didn’t seem to get much support, the developers returned to the drawing board, proposing to keep & renovate the original conference center and restaurant. They also proposed renovating a section of the hotel that would be a new 150-room hotel while the other portion would be 150 units of 55+ apartments.
The county commissioners don’t support it.
“The commissioners ran on the idea of no growth in Calvert County. But no growth is not an option. No growth means no tax revenue. No growth means dying businesses. Growth should be controlled, but not eliminated entirely,” said Frisco.
The property currently has a value of $16 million. If the proposal is approved, the property could be revalued at $32 million after phase one is complete and another $20 million after the second phase is finished. This would be a substantial increase to the county in Real Estate taxes alone, not including the additional revenue generated by the day-to-day utilization of the property.
Right now, the zoning in that area is seven units per acre. When the hotel was fully functioning, there were 40 units per acre. That’s because there’s no cap on how many hotel rooms you can have. They are now requesting 14 units per acre for this new plan. The commissioners don’t seem to be budging.
“People live here for the rural character.” That’s what Vice Chairman of the Board of County Commissioners at Calvert County, Mike Hart, said at a recent meeting that discussed the proposal, saying the town’s infrastructure is fragile.
“I was elected for no apartments, no high density. This is a gateway to apartments,” Hart said. The other commissioners agreed.
“People don’t want it. For me I can’t go against what my constituents put me in here to do,” said Commissioner Catherine Grasso when discussing high density.
Commissioner Todd Ireland said it would potentially change the total future of Solomons. While Commissioner President Early F. “Buddy” Hance noted there is no appetite to up-zone.
Planning and Zoning director Mary Beth Cook and Zoning planner Rachel Oshay justified their requests by stating that redevelopment of aged and outdated assets would create jobs, aid in economic development and noting that there is a need in the Solomons community for assisted living and memory care facilities.
John Simpson, who operated the Holiday Inn for 35 years, attended the August 1st meeting. He suggested that the commissioners consider making the changes.
“You’ve got a chance for a really nice development in Solomons that addresses a lot of needs – hotel room, conference center, senior living, memory care and a huge increase in the tax base – or it could potentially be a blighted building,” Simpson said. The commissioners voted to allow the proposed text amendments to go in front of the planning commission but stated they had no intention of making these changes when they were proposed to them after the review.
“It is utterly shocking that we have a group of county commissioners that would consciously choose to allow a 330-room waterfront hotel in one of our most prized tourist locations to sit vacant vs. being developed into something that would support the community, increase tax revenue, & bolster economic development in the Southern end of the County. All in the name of stopping growth, change, & development. I am not sure when the citizens will realize that these decisions are being made at their expense, not to their benefit.”, stated Frisco.
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The RINO Commissioners don’t want to do that In Solomons, they have plans on doing it where old Calvert High was at Rt 4 and Dares Beach Rd.
Calvert County commissioners want to stop growth should have did that 30yrs ago when they allowed all these subdivisions here. The days of keeping Calvert country is over we have people sleeping in tents with a 330 room hotel sitting vacant. It’s time Calvert residents stop voting for all GOP controlled government
Well, Calvert republicans voted for these idiots so you get what you vote for.
Remember the next election.
Cancel culture.
You obviously haven’t seen what “GROWTH” has done to St. Mary’s county residents, check the crime rate and lower income housing areas and Access the nature you want to bring to your beloved tourist location area of Solomons, as a Calvert County Resident I applaud the decision, unless your trying to make Solomon’s island a sus pool of crime.
Oh yeah, the dreaded 55 and up gangs that will move in? You must be one of the snobs that live along Rt. 4 on the island.
They are going to end up with a bunch of illegal migrants. But that might be the plan anyway
The “growth” in St. Mary’s County isn’t comparable. First, the republicans in charge have allowed any and all development and not smart development. They have created the sprawl and abandoned Lexington Park. Density is what you need – the old hotel (if converted to Condo’s or apartments) you get PEOPLE who pay TAXES. Businesses contribute very little to the kitty (because they avoid paying TAXES).
Great point, all we have to do is look south and take note of what NOT to do. Change and growth is inevitable, HOW it is controlled is the key! Calvery isn’t perfect but one of the better counties in MD. Just wish they’d do more for recreation indoor and outdoors.
Good job to the Calvert County Commisioners! It’s about time you stand up for this county! Keep up the good work, don’t let the “business advisory chair” dictate how you operate!
What?! We live across the creek from the now deserted hotel! If not redeveloped as “Anything” it’s going to become a blight! An eyesore at the very least – a drug & homeless den at worst! many of us who do live here DO support this redevelopment plan! We’ll be at the commissioners meeting!
If the proposals do if fact open the door to high density, I say a big THANK YOU to our elected officials. I appreciate them thinking about the long term impact of such a change and not opting for the quicker tax revenue idea. I say that we need more options for renovations that don’t open the door to unwanted changes. The residents like me who voted for the current leadership are not ignorant to what is good for us as some have suggested. We don’t want these type of changes and Calvert County’s future is a hill worth dying on.
Thank You Commissioners for holding the line. We already have one resort in Chesapeake Beach that has killed our small town feel on weekends. The traffic is appalling.
I lived in Calvert nearly 28 yrs ago and remember it as a quiet and peaceful area… now returning nearly3 decades later it is amazing the amount of drugs and crime, etc.
I’m all for progress and growth; however, I believe the Council to be correct… allowing this area to have an option to save one isolated area by allowing 14+ units/ acre, will only allow someone else to use it as reasoning to build more in and around the area. All you have to do is look across the bridge to the once quiet Lexington Park area and the surge in crime and bad elements that have taken over in the last 30 years… KEEP CALVERT COUNTY / SOLOMON’S as the tranquil space it’s struggling to preserve!
Great job Mr. Hart and the other fellow republicans. Do not give in. Always vote red.
Slo’ Joe has some guests he’d like to let in our country, and this would be another grand spot for them to get established. It would make Solomon Island more diverse.
But I bet you eat the heck out of Plaza Azteca, or Salsa’s or any other Mexican restaurant in the area and never think twice about it.
I applaud the county commissioners controlling the growth but it seems like retirement apartments is what we need for the existing residents and new. The 55+ residents will support our local businesses without adding commuter traffic.
We actually need younger people – boomers have done enough to wreck our economy, burden our social security system and drain our resources. Younger couples/families bring income revenues, and spend more locally. Old republicans can move to Florida where they belong.
In the end OLD MONEY always wins..
I agree with the commissioners. Keep the greedy developers out of Solomons. If you give them an inch, they’ll take a mile.
what happened to the Holiday Inn????? It was always busy?????
You Calvert libs will always remain ignorant of the obvious. Seeing what you lib voters have done to Montgomery, PG & Charles Counties, you should be praising Calvert for holding the line on over building.
Your dear MAGA leadership in Calvert is doing this. There are no “libs” in Calvert.. believe me.
amen
The actual proposed zoning change is to allow 14 residential units per acre (high density) east of Rt 2/4 from Lore Rd all the way to Dowell Rd. The old Holiday Inn site is just a small portion of a much larger area the could then be developed with multistory residences….. condos or apartments. Re-developing the old Holiday Inn site may be a good thing, but allowing high density development of the much larger Back Creek area may not. The Holiday Inn site is being used to justify high density development in a much larger area….. get the facts and don’t take the bait.
If the building is still there, why can’t it be refurbished, remodeled, and opened as a more upscale venue? It seems Calvert is addicted to tear down and rebuild instead of refurbish and remodel. I would hate to see Solomons turned into Waldorf. I moved here in 1994 to find my retirement home, although I was still working. Rt. 4 was full of tobacco fields. Now they are full of McMansions few can afford. Three new shopping centers opened in 1 year. Development has increased traffic and taxes. Keep Calvert country has turned into let’s bring in more money. Crime has also increased — much comes from up north but we have our homegrown criminals and addicts, too. I’m sad to see Calvert turn into PG County.
As a former liberal president(Obama) once said, “elections have consequences.”
We REPUBLICANS voted for what we wanted.
Hang tough, commissioners!
Correct.. just look at Jan 6th.