Royal Farms Wins Planning Approval For Waldorf Station Location

WALDORF, Md. — The Charles County Planning Commission board voted unanimously to approve the adequate public facilities findings and traffic mitigation proposal for a new Royal Farms convenience store and fuel station planned at the Waldorf Station development.

The project, identified as Site Development Plan SP-25-0097, calls for a 4,707-square-foot convenience store with 12 fueling stations on Lot 12A of Waldorf Station, located at the intersection of Mattawoman Beantown Road and Brentwood Drive in Waldorf.

Melissa Hively, a planner with the Charles County Department of Planning and Growth Management, told the board a traffic impact study was required because of the nature of the proposed use.

The study analyzed eight intersections and two road links. All intersections met the required levels of service for the Waldorf area. Intersections along Maryland Route 5 and U.S. Route 301 are required to operate at a level of service D or better, while off-corridor intersections must meet level C or better. All locations met those thresholds.

The one issue identified involved the northbound left-turn bay from Maryland Route 5 into Waldorf Station East. The existing storage bay measures approximately 160 feet. Initial projections using the Maryland State Highway Administration’s 95th percentile queue methodology showed vehicles would queue to approximately 200 feet during peak periods. A more detailed simulation run through the Synchro/SimTraffic program — the same tool used to time traffic signals statewide — projected the queue would extend to 299 feet.

Working with state highway officials, the applicant agreed to extend the turn bay to 350 feet with an additional 100-foot taper, exceeding the projected need to accommodate potential future growth in the area.

Construction permits are expected to be sought later in 2026, with construction potentially beginning in late 2026 or into 2027. Build-out is currently projected to take between 22 and 28 months.

The site development plan itself will be approved by the Planning Director as an internal staff function and does not require a separate vote by the Planning Commission.

To watch the full meeting, visit CCGTV.

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