In May 2016 the Calvert County Commissioners and local developer Rick Bailey revealed plans to build an animal shelter in the county.
Prince Frederick, MD – Calvert’s much-anticipated plan to build its own animal shelter took another step Wednesday, Jan. 18 as the county’s Planning Commission conducted a site plan review of the project and unanimously accepted county government staff’s recommendations for the plan. Building the new facility will allow Calvert to become independent of the other two Southern Maryland counties in the housing of stray domestic animals.
Last May it was announced by county government that a new shelter would be built on a three-acre tract adjacent to Calvert Industrial Park on Hallowing Point Road (Route 231). Marrick Properties is building the facility, which will be leased to the county. The shelter will have 10 fulltime employees and will include officers for the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office’s Animal Control Unit.
According to a memo to the Calvert Planning Commission from principal planner Judy Mackall, the project includes constructing a shelter, barn and a pavilion. The three structures will be a combined 14,850 square feet. Mackall also noted a variance request has been submitted to Planning Commission Administrator Carolyn Sunderland to reduce the parking requirement for the facility.
In response to a question from Planning Commission Member Bill Glascock about what the pavilion would be used for, Dan Kelsh of Collinson, Oliff and Associates Inc. (COA) stated that it might be used for outdoor events at the shelter.
Among the conditions recommended by county government staff are an Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) certification from the county’s Department of Public Works’ Transportation Division prior to final site plan approval and the addressing of the site’s landscaping issues.
The shelter is expected to be completed and ready to open sometime in 2018.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
