The developer of the Oak Crest Center across from Wildewood believes they have addressed concerns of the neighbors. At a recent planning commission meeting members of the Hewitt and Stevens families complained about the lack of a buffer and sediment running into a nearby lake.
At the August 21 St. Mary’s County Commissioners’ meeting, developer’s attorney Christopher Longmore said they were going to construct an 8-10 foot berm along the south side of the property. He said they also have constructed a number of “check dams” to catch sediment and prevent it from entering the lake. Longmore said he has not yet had the opportunity to set up a meeting with the neighbors to discuss what has been done, but he said he believes it has solved their concerns.
Commissioner Todd Morgan (R: 4th) wasn’t convinced the sediment control mitigation which is largely strategically placed rocks, would work. “It is clear to me we are clearly adding sediment into the runoff stream.” But Commissioner President Francis “Jack” Russell (D) said, “It looks like it’s working to prote4ct the pond.”
Longmore said the structures weren’t permanent and that the developer will have to adhere to state storm-water management and sediment control regulations
Oak Crest is a commercial and industrial planned unit development originally approved in 1990. It sat dormant for a number of years and was purchased by St. John Properties in 2007. The economy stalled their efforts, but a representative said construction on the first phase is scheduled to begin in six weeks. A timbering project has occurred on the back side of the property and grading for the first phase has begun.
Oak Crest was planned to be 1.3 million square feet of commercial, industrial and office buildings on 140 acres, but was scaled down by St. John Properties to 900,000 square feet. It sits next to a Chaney Enterprises concrete plant which will continue to operate.
Longmore said the developer will pay almost a million dollars for future improvements to the Route 4/235 intersection. John Groeger of the Department of Public Works and Transportation says that money will be escrowed and used for the improvements to the intersection. He said an “urban diamond” intersection was preferred. Groeger said the extra money could cause the state to accelerate the intersection project, which had been considered part of the Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge improvements.
The project’s first phase includes three pad sites for restaurants close to Route 235 and a larger building to the rear that has been described as a home improvement store, although Longmore said tenants haven’t been secured.
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