LEONARDTOWN, Md. — A St. Mary’s County Circuit Court judge has upheld a decision denying approval of a proposed townhouse development, citing ongoing traffic and safety concerns near a busy intersection.
In a memorandum opinion filed in early March, the court affirmed a prior ruling by the St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals rejecting a concept plan submitted by LAHACO Investments LLC for a 42-unit project known as Riverside Townhomes.
The case stemmed from public hearings held in February and March 2025, where the Board reviewed an appeal after the county’s Planning Commission denied the project.
At the center of the dispute were concerns about traffic conditions along Three Notch Road and a nearby intersection that officials determined was already operating at a failing level of service during peak hours.
The Board also raised safety issues related to the proximity of a proposed school bus stop to the intersection, as well as uncertainty over whether planned traffic signal improvements would adequately address congestion.
In its ruling, the Circuit Court found that the Board acted within its authority and based its decision on substantial evidence presented during the hearings. The judge noted testimony indicating the intersection was already failing and did not meet the county’s Adequate Public Facilities requirements.
Although the developer proposed mitigation measures, including contributing funding toward a traffic signal project, the court determined the Board was justified in concluding that safety concerns remained unresolved.
The court further rejected arguments that the Board acted arbitrarily or inconsistently compared to other developments, finding that differences in location and traffic impacts supported the denial.
In its conclusion, the court ruled that the Board’s decision reflected a reasonable application of local zoning laws and was supported by sufficient evidence, affirming the denial of the project.
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We don’t need more cookie cutter cram people in a small space townhomes.
I’m homeless in St. Mary’s but do not support putting up these quick fix buildings as a solution. I am glad that this conversation is happening, I know there’s a better solution. We are all in this together, home owners and renters, we share the community resources. Low income civilians help keep the county going, we need affordable homes too. I’m sure I’m not alone in not wanting to ruin our rural environment to have a home. Thank you for the article.