WALDORF, Md. — The Charles County Planning Commission has approved an expansion to the Highlands Neighborhood subdivision, allowing more homes to be built on land previously reserved for a future Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) middle school. The decision follows the relocation of the planned middle school to the Piney Reach neighborhood due to insufficient space at the original site.
At its June 2, 2025, meeting, the commission unanimously approved Revision No. 3 of the Preliminary Subdivision Plan (PLREV-250001), increasing the number of residential lots from 719 to 734. The revision adds 15 single-family detached lots to Parcel K, bringing the total to 190 single-family homes and 544 townhouses.
The project spans 260.2 acres on the north side of St. Charles Parkway, across from the Gleneagles South and Stonehaven neighborhoods in Waldorf. It is identified as Parcel 165 on Tax Map 24 in the 6th Election District.
The additional homes are being proposed on land originally designated for a combined elementary and middle school. On Oct. 22, 2024, the Charles County Commissioners approved an amendment to the Villages of Wooded Glen and Piney Reach Master Plan (PDZA No. 24-90(23)), formally removing the school site from the Highlands plan. According to an August 2022 letter from CCPS, the site had to be redesigned due to space limitations and could no longer support both schools; only the elementary school remained feasible. The middle school was relocated to a new site in Piney Reach Neighborhood 2, near Piney Church Road and the Blue Crabs stadium, approximately three miles southeast of the original location.
New Elementary School: Margaret Jamieson Thornton Elementary
The planned elementary school, Margaret Jamieson Thornton Elementary School, is currently under construction at 5860 St. David Drive in the Highlands neighborhood. According to Charles County Public Schools, the school will be approximately 94,000 square feet in size with a student capacity of 778. It is scheduled to open at the start of the 2025–26 school year.
No Public Comments During Approval
No residents spoke at the public hearing, and no written comments were submitted before the vote.
Upcoming: School Allocations on June 16 Agenda
The next Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for June 16, 2025. It is expected to include a discussion on school allocations following the recent approval of the spring allocation cycle by the Charles County Commissioners.
See the approved Commissioners Approve 2025 School Allocation Cycle presentation.
Watch the June 2 meeting: Available via CCGTV.
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