A parcel of land that could be a significant component in a looming debate on the possible expansion of retail in Prince Frederick was the subject of action by the Calvert County Planning Commission during the panel’s Wednesday, March 21 meeting. The tract, located on the north side of Dares Beach Road and west of Fox Run Boulevard, was originally part of a 32-acre subdivision application, known as Magnolia Landing. The land is located near Calvert High School and is east of the old Calvert Middle School.
According to a memo from principal planner Carolyn Sunderland of the Calvert Department of Planning and Zoning, the planning commission granted a variance to site development to the landowner in July 2001, allowing 80 percent of the parcel to be zoned residential and 20 percent zoned commercial. The residential development was to consist of over 100 “age-restricted” dwelling units. The preliminary approval granted by the commission in 2006 was extended in 2009. During the March 21 meeting, the planning commission approved the granting of another extension.
Sunderland noted in her memo that the extension request was submitted by Randy Barrett of R.A. Barrett & Associates. “The request for a two-year extension of the preliminary approval [is] based upon ‘unprecedented market conditions,’ ” Sunderland stated. The letter, which was sent to planning commission secretary Yolanda Hipski, dated Feb. 27 and signed by Dean J. Wilkinson of R.A. Barrett & Associates, does not elaborate on how the market conditions have been deemed unprecedented.
Barrett is one of the principals in Bargo LLC, developers who requesting land use chart changes in the Prince Frederick Town Center Master Plan. Bargo LLC is hoping to bring a home improvement retailer to Prince Frederick.
The applicant’s request is to allow commercial retail uses in the New Town District and that, with conditions, a home improvement center with a maximum size limit of 125,000 square feet.
The planning commission voted unanimously to grant the extension request, retroactive to March 20 with a revised expiration date of March 20, 2014.
After completing their open session agenda items, the planning commission met in closed session with two county department heads to discuss redacted portions of a consultant’s report on Calvert’s need for additional retail.
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