Quality Built Homes VP Rodney Gertz in an earlier presentation before the Leonardtown Planning and Zoning Commission
Leonardtown, MD – The Leonardtown Town Council has approved the concept site plan for a proposed 107-lot subdivision called Meadows at Town Run. The subdivision will be developed by Quality Built Homes (QBH), which also developed Leonard’s Grant on the other side of Route 245 (Hollywood Road).
The Tuesday, Oct. 11 approval came after QBH Vice President Rodney Gertz was grilled by several residents who were concerned about potential impact on Town Run which empties into Breton Bay. “I am really sensitive to Breton Bay,” said town resident Helen Dorsey.
Gertz explained that state regulations require that no storm water or sediment leave the subdivision property (formerly the Wathen Farm). Many lots will have bio-retention facilities along their frontage. Those properties will not have sidewalks, although the major streets in the subdivision will have sidewalks.
Dorsey suggested that the town levy a fee on the homeowners to allow Town Run to be dredged. She said she walked the run earlier in the day and witnessed major siltation, much more than what she remembered as a child.
Gertz said it would be unfair to charge the residents of his subdivision for something that was an area wide problem.
Dorsey also blamed the older subdivision Academy Hills, which was constructed on steep slopes, for contributing to the siltation. Mayor Dan Burris said, “That development probably would not happen today.”
Glen Mattingly, a former member of the town planning commission, noted that the Breton Bay Watershed Plan pointed out that Town Run “had significant erosion along its entire length.”
Town Manager Laschelle McKay informed the group that the Town Council had participated in that plan. Burris pointed out that the problems noted in the 2003 plan have been corrected since then.
The proposed subdivision abuts Town Run but there is an area of open space between the run and the area proposed for development, according to a map Gertz showed at the meeting.
Gertz said his company was very cognizant of the environment and been sensitive to it during the development of Leonard’s Grant. He said his new subdivision will have to follow even stricter standards since adopted by the state. He said Maryland has the hardest regulations in the country other than California and Hawaii. He said QBH supported the state’s more stringent requirements.
Charlie Brecks also expressed concern about traffic. The developer’s traffic engineer, Mike Lenhart, said traffic generated by the subdivision will not meet the standards for a new traffic light, either at Leonard’s Grant Parkway or the new entrance road to the north. The two entrances are not able to be aligned because of a row of existing homes across from Leonard’s Grant.
Burris noted to the residents that what was before them was just a concept plan and many of their concerns would be addressed during the final site plan review by the town. Dorsey said it appeared the developer was being sensitive to the environment after answering her questions.
Meadows at Town Run will have a neo-traditional single-family home design similar to Leonard’s Grant. It will have a playground, gazebo and walking trails.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com