LA PLATA, Md. — A proposed 49-lot subdivision along Route 488 is expiring this summer, potentially ending a long-standing project that would no longer be permitted under current zoning regulations. The plan for Piney Branch Estates, first approved in 2013, predates the stricter land-use policies in place today. The proposed development is located adjacent to several large rural plots that have been placed into preservation easements.
The applicant, the Peggy B. Dobson Revocable Trust, is requesting a one-year extension to keep the original approval active. Without an extension from the Charles County Planning Commission, the approval will expire on Aug. 19. The 200-acre property — zoned Rural Conservation (RC) and situated across from a natural spring frequently used by local residents — would then revert to current zoning, allowing just seven homes to be built.
The property also lies within Tier IV, a land classification under Maryland’s Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act, which restricts major subdivisions in environmentally sensitive areas with limited public infrastructure. Although Tier IV rules generally prohibit projects of this scale, Piney Branch Estates remains grandfathered because its preliminary plan was approved before the Oct. 1, 2016, cutoff.
Developer Cites Several Delays for Needing More Time
According to the Planning Division’s staff report, the applicant cites multiple factors that impacted the timeline of the project:
- A May 2025 regulatory change from the Maryland Department of the Environment revised the process for sewage easement plat approval. The change requires new percolation testing during the wet season, which can’t be completed until spring 2026.
- School seat allocations were delayed and not fully issued until early 2023.
- The passing of Peggy B. Dobson in 2023 required legal transitions within the revocable trust overseeing the project.
As of June 2025, only 15 of the 49 lots — about 30% — have begun the platting process.
Staff Supports Extension as Consistent With Growth Goals
Planning staff recommend approval of the extension, stating that it aligns with the 2016 Comprehensive Plan, which seeks to maintain a mix of housing types across the county.
Meeting Details and How to Participate
Subdivision changes such as these are only listed on Planning Commission agendas, not on the county’s central public notice page. As a result, many changes receive little public attention until they reach the final stages of review.
The meeting is open to the public and may be attended in person or viewed live on CCGTV (Comcast Channel 95 and Verizon Fios Channel 10).
Register to speak virtually and submit comments here by 4:30 p.m. Friday, July 18.
Planning Commission Meeting
Monday, July 21, 2025 | 6 p.m.
Planning & Growth Management Building
200 Baltimore St., La Plata, MD 20646
See the project history and approved plans: Download PDF
Review all items submitted on the project on the July 21 meeting agenda here.
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Lol, so strict… Let them build the bigger development, you’re letting St. Charles expand just up the street…
Why is it that our elected officials have NO concern for our potable water supplies, only increasing the tax base for their own personal agrandizement. We already have cones of depletion in the county where the acquafers are being depleted faster than they are being replenished. Please stop this program to cover the county with high-density housing developments.
We’ve told CC that we don’t have enough facilities (infrastructure) to keep adding homes down here! They refuse to listen to us, so our only option is to leave CC forever!