LEONARDTOWN, Md. — On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County unanimously agreed to sign a letter directed to the Maryland Department of Natural Resources designating Huntersville as their “preferred Rural Legacy Area” for the upcoming year.
This is part of the yearly process the county undergoes to apply for state funding for the county’s Rural Legacy Areas: Huntersville and Mattapany. While the process requires the county to designate a “preferred” legacy area, this mainly appears to be a bureaucratic requirement for securing funding for both legacy areas; ultimately, neither will receive more funds or focus than the other.
The Rural Legacy Areas (RLAs) are an essential component of preserving the rural identity of St. Mary’s County. While there has been increasing controversy and conflict over the county’s future as towns like Leonardtown and California develop and expand, the RLAs have maintained the county’s rural character and have received significant funding to do so.
This year, the county is expected to provide $1.5 million for the maintenance and expansion of the RLAs. Because the state of Maryland provides $2 of funding for every $1 the county contributes, the total amount of funding will be approximately $4.3 million. Also contributing to that final amount is the U.S. Navy via Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration funding.
The director of the St. Mary’s County Department of Economic Development said in a statement:
“For the Department of Economic Development, preserving the rural character of the county checks a lot of boxes. It helps attract and retain a quality workforce due to the beauty of our rural landscapes, helps keep development within designated development districts, helps farmers retain ownership of historical farms, helps attract tourists, and keeps Pax River strong by keeping dense development away from flight paths.”
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