Now that an independent consultant has presented a report on crafting a vision for the Prince Frederick Town Center, local officials have begun to analyze the data and the ramifications of the eventual implementation of a revised policy plan.
On Tuesday, Sept. 17 the Calvert County Commissioners discussed several topics related to the report submitted by The Lawrence Group, the consulting firm that conducted a six-day charrette this past June. Those same topics were part of an agenda item during the Calvert County Planning Commission’s Wednesday, Sept. 18 meeting.
Community designer Will Selman and principal planner Jenny Plummer-Welker of the Department of Community Planning and Building led both discussions.
The topics for discussion included town center boundaries, town center districts, the street network, transfer of development rights (TDRs) and the future use of the Armory area.
The issue of boundaries brought forth concerns from both panels as to the potential negative impacts to property owners whose land may be “down-zoned” in the revision process.
The consultant recommended giving consideration to expanding the Prince Frederick Town Center boundaries to the west and north, and subtracting a part of the southernmost segment. The net gain would be 529 acres, an increase of 30 percent.
“I don’t know how many property owners to the south we’re talking about but the county needs to keep them in the loop,” said Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R].
The consultant’s rationale for eliminating the narrow stretch of land in the southern portion of the current town center is due to the “environmental constraints” within the area, Plummer-Welker stated.
Expansion of the town center to the west would add the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) and Barstow Elementary School.
The small segment of land at the northern end of the boundary would add property owned by Calvert Memorial Hospital.
The Prince Frederick Town Center currently has eight districts and the consultant is recommending a reconfigurat
