Lexington Park, MD — It took four years of meetings and deliberations to generate four speakers to comment on it. The Lexington Park Development District Master Plan was ready for prime time at a Dec. 8 public hearing by the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County. The hearing garnered only four comments. The commissioners will hold the record open for ten days before making a decision.

Two of the commenters asked that their family properties be addressed differently than what is in the proposed plan. John Michael Cecil, speaking for the Cecil family, asked that their historic property in Great Mills be included in the plan and recognized for its historic significance. “We want to preserve the integrity of this property,” he said.

Attorney Chris Longmore, who represents the Cecil family, said they would be making a formal recommendation to the commissioners.

Scott Warren, representing the Kenneth Gerred Local Trust, asked that the family property on Old Rolling Road behind the Target be put into a mixed-use, medium-density category instead of the proposed residential medium density category. He said the mixed use category was more in keeping with the neighborhood which will be adjacent to FDR Boulevard when it’s built.

Pat Mudd, a consulting engineer, said it was Important to include more incentives into the plan to encourage developers to do what the plan suggests. He said of the plan, “The densities are low compared to other counties.” He noted that allowing 10 units per acre wasn’t enough of an encouragement.

Viki Volk, the new executive director of the Community Development Corporation, said, “We are very impressed with the plan.” She said she is particularly impressed with the calls in the plan for public infrastructure investment. Volk promised to work with the county on the implementation of the plan.

Director of Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM) Phil Shire, in a presentation on the plan before the public comments, said the plan laid out land use categories that would be backed up with zoning or rezoning as the next step in the process. The planning commission will work on that during the next year once the plan is adopted, Shire said.

In a Power Point presentation, Shire said the plan’s overall vision for Lexington Park included transforming the downtown area and supporting existing neighborhoods. The downtown transformation would include:
• A distinct and recognizable character;
• A concentration of community facilities;
• Mixed-use development;
• Housing choices, and
• A balanced transportation system.

Included in the plan are 16 new downtown street connections that will improve the ability of residents to more easily move from their neighborhoods to shopping and work. Shire said some of the proposals could be easily accomplished.

The planning started four years ago with a consultant but LUGM staff quickly took over doing the work. The planning commission tackled each section along the way with a series of almost-monthly work sessions in addition to their regular meetings.

At the close of the Dec. 8 public hearing, Planning Commission Chairman Howard Thompson thanked the commission members and LUGM staff for their hard work. He said landowners and the Navy were constantly considered during their deliberations.

Thompson said Lexington Park is only a small part of the county, “but it has a lot to do with our economic drive.” He said that’s why the commission took so much time – they wanted the important task done right before it was presented to the commissioners.

The plan is available for viewing on the county website at: http://www.stmarysmd.com/lugm/LPDD.asp

Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com