LA PLATA, Md. — On Tuesday, July 22, the Town of La Plata will hold a Planning Commission work session to begin shaping a local Adequate Public Facilities Ordinance (APFO) — a regulatory tool designed to ensure infrastructure keeps pace with development.
The proposed ordinance would help the town manage growth by requiring that new projects only proceed when essential services — such as water, sewer, roads, emergency response, drainage and parks — are deemed sufficient.
The urgency stems from La Plata’s current water capacity constraints. While the town’s wells can produce up to 3.6 million gallons per day, La Plata is only permitted to withdraw 1.144 million gallons daily on average and 1.716 million gallons during peak months, according to the Maryland Department of the Environment. The town’s actual usage is approaching those limits, according to the Planning Commission’s staff report submitted for the July 22 meeting.
“At present, building permits and water taps are not being issued by the town for new development until La Plata can acquire additional water capacity to accommodate recently approved development,” the staff report states. “For residential subdivisions in town, it amounts to delaying the development of hundreds of new residential units within preliminary plats that have been previously approved by the town during the past couple of years. According to the Projected Water Demands for 2020–2040 (at mid-range) in La Plata’s Comprehensive Plan, the town has approximately reached its peak water service capacity limit.”
Negotiations with the Maryland Department of the Environment have not resulted in additional capacity, as the agency has promoted a regional water management strategy emphasizing conservation and shared resources. According to the staff report, Charles County has declined to assist with additional supply unless La Plata enacts its own APFO.
“Although the town has attempted to negotiate acquiring additional water capacity from Charles County government, its Board of Supervisors has been reluctant to assist La Plata with its water needs without the town having its own APFO in place,” the staff report states.
La Plata currently regulates only school seat capacity for new development. The proposed ordinance would expand oversight to include infrastructure categories such as roads, drainage systems, fire and EMS, police services and parks. Town staff recommend beginning with a water-focused APFO and gradually adding other categories in phases.
The ordinance would link development approvals to infrastructure capacity during the site plan or subdivision approval process, with possible exemptions for age-restricted housing, minor subdivisions and low-impact developments.
“Apart from ensuring that adequate school seating capacity is achieved with new residential development, the Town of La Plata does not have an APFO ordinance or any regulatory provisions in its Code of Ordinances to address other types of development capacity issues,” the report notes.
The report emphasizes the ordinance is not intended to stop development, but rather to ensure it aligns with available services.
“While the town is not required, by law, to adopt a comprehensive APFO ordinance, the need to ensure that new development does not outpace the town’s ability to accommodate and furnish appropriate public infrastructure and services to support new development in the community is highly advisable to promote smart growth,” the report continues.
The Town of La Plata Planning Commission is expected to provide initial feedback at the July 22 work session, scheduled for 6 p.m. The public may attend in person or join virtually.
To join the meeting virtually:
Click here to join
Meeting ID: 222 254 925 982 | Passcode: QFnvoy
Written comments may be submitted in advance to: legislative@townoflaplata.org
See the July 22 meeting agenda here.
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We told you to STOP THE BUILDING, didn’t we???!!!!!!!!!
Quit moving PG/DC RESIDENTS IN THEIR YOU WOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM