CHARLOTTE HALL, Md. – During their March 4, 2024, meeting, the St. Mary’s County Planning Commission approved the concept site plan for the Charlotte Hall Sheetz.
A brand-new Sheetz location will be coming to Three Notch Rd right next to the Charlotte Hall VA Clinic. This new Sheetz will be a 6,139 sq. ft. convenience store with a 12-pump 4,800 sq. ft. gas station.
The plan proposes a T-style intersection with a traffic light that would include a 550 ft-long turning lane for southbound traffic to enter Sheetz and a 380 ft-long merge lane to get back into southbound traffic.
This meeting was a continuance of the January 8th meeting. The Planning Commission wanted to give the project team more time to explore other options and to work with the State Highway Administration since they weren’t fully satisfied with the original traffic proposal since it didn’t include a proper method for drivers merging into northbound traffic.
Traffic Engineer for the project, Jackie Chandler, returned with a proposed porkchop island which would help channel vehicles turning right at the intersection leaving Sheetz. She stated it would help with the delay of traffic since without the island, vehicles would be forced to stop at the light. However, Chandler stated that she is personally opposed to the island since it would be detrimental to Amish buggies who are already using that lane on northbound traffic since it would block their path and force them to make complex maneuvers. Chandler also said that the State Highway Administration was fine with it either way.
Commission Member Joe Vankirk proposed arrows to merge into northbound traffic when leaving Sheetz to make it easier for Amish buggies.
The Commission approved the concept site plan with the conditions that an additional 22 parking spaces would be mitigated by 4,400 square feet of additional landscaping and that any traffic improvements required by the county and state must be concurrent with the issuance of the use of occupancy permit.
To watch the full 3/4/24 Planning Commission meeting, click here.
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Did they consider how much another traffic light will impede the flow of traffic on northbound route 5? Did they really evaluate the need for another gas station in the Charlotte Hall area?
Nope. They don’t care.
That seems to be the case.
They may never know how they have ruined the community. But they may enjoy whatever the developer provided them.
Great. Another gas station, garbage depot and another traffic light. Mind you traffic is already ratchet in the north end. Can’t wait for the Royal Farms to open up at the county line. I mean, we don’t have enough gas stations already in the north end- there are what? 5 at least- Planners- here is an idea. Cut off all access from Rt 5, make an access road from Rt 6 that goes from the transfer station behind the VA and connects to the road that goes to Arby’s. Turn the road to then connect to the Urgent Care/Bus lot, put in a traffic circle and if people want to go the the gas station garbage pits, they can use the service road. No more traffic lights. I guess the Republicans on the planning board love that money on a stump.
Exactly! Service road is the only plan I can see that would justify ANOTHER gas station. I noticed the light going in basically over night at the new SMECO building on Hollywood road. I mean do we have to have lights everywhere? Like a city?
Preach!!!
Lol, republicans? I can guarantee majority of the them are Dems. Nice try though…
Idiots. Let the people decide. We don’t need or want another gas station or traffic light. Stop it.
Time to vote out some of these guys!!!
Preach!!!
Did any of you go to the zoning meeting? Complaining on here will do absolutely NOTHING.