After months of deliberation, the Calvert County Commissioners took action Tuesday, Dec. 3 to agree to a memorandum of understanding regarding the formation of a Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which includes a portion of the county’s southern area.

 

The vote was 4-to-1 with Commissioner Gerald W. “Jerry” Clark [R] sustaining his objection to the MPO, which was virtually mandated by federal and state officials as essential for procurement of transportation funding. The MPO consists of the St. Mary’s County communities of Lexington Park and California, plus portions of Solomons and Lusby, including the densely populated communities of Chesapeake Ranch Estates and Drum Point.

The MOU now goes to the St. Mary’s County Commissioners for their approval.

According to a joint memo to the county commissioners from Principal Planner Patricia Haddon and Planning Commission Administrator Yolanda Hipski, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Federal Highway Administration used 2010 Census data to determine that the identified segments of Calvert and St. Mary’s, when combined, met the population criteria for a MPO. “A MPO would be a locally governed entity, with a board consisting of a county commissioner each from St. Mary’s and Calvert counties, and a member of the Maryland Department of Transportation,” the joint press release stated. “This MPO would accept federal and state funding to do transportation-related planning activities in a coordinated area within the MPO area.”

When first presented, the Calvert Commissioners did not appear to be enthused about the MPO proposal. During a March 26 presentation, USDOT official Harland Miller and Maryland Transit Authority officials advised that the federal money could not be used for engineering and construction, just planning. In Early May the commissioners agreed to participate in the formation and operation of a MPO. The panel deferred final action Oct. 29, honoring a request from Delegate Anthony J. “Tony” O’Donnell [R-District 29C]. A meeting with Maryland Department of Transportation officials was held in Hanover last week. It was attended by Calvert County Administrator Terry Shannon and Commissioner Evan K. Slaughenhoupt Jr. [R].                          

In making the motion to sign the MOU and send it to the St, Mary’s County Commissioners, Slaughenhoupt indicated his concern was the procurement of federal funds for the Gov. Thomas Johnson Bridge replacement. He also noted the MPO only affects transportation and not zoning.

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