HOLLYWOOD, Md. – On March 11, 2024, the St. Mary’s County Planning Commission reviewed the concept site plan for an 18-unit townhome development called Villages at Clark’s Mill.
The location of the 3.7-acre development is right between northbound Three Notch Road and Mervell Dean Road. The development will include two groups of four townhomes and two groups of five townhomes. All lots are less than 0.1 acres and will have two parking spaces per unit, which includes the garage. As of right now, the development’s plan has 36 parking spaces in total with no guest parking.
The project wasn’t required to conduct a traffic study since the development generates less than 50 peak-hour trips. Although, many members of the public have voiced concerns over the impact this development may have on traffic.
“I myself am opposed to the project altogether. I think there is enough traffic on Mervell Dean as is and not to mention Three Notch Road. There is enough traffic noise generated EVERY day along these two roads that run parallel to each other. With the addition of more housing on Mervell Dean it will only create more traffic noise and congestion,” said one concerned citizen in an email sent to the commission opposing the development.
A couple of community members also showed concern for the impact that this may have on the surrounding schools. Especially since this isn’t the only proposed residential development in the works.
“The area has started to get crowded, and one of the original reasons we loved this area was due to the space between homes, feeling like we had a piece of nature, while still feeling close to local stores and attractions,” said another concerned citizen. “The schools in this area are also already very crowded, and more homes would cause the crowding to get worse.”
The Planning Commission also showed concerns over lighting, the lack of a community area, and sidewalks, with the overall feeling that the project was aiming to cram too much into a small area.
Rick Benefield of FDR Holdings, LLC, was open to all of those ideas. He also stated that the public shouldn’t be too worried about the impact on traffic regarding this development.
“I appreciate the public’s testimony. I live on Clark’s Mill road, very near to this project…But ultimately, my brother and I sought to do something that was fitting to the community. I mentioned we were solicited by a developer to build a 20,000-square-foot non-residential facility, which is far under what the ordinance permits on this property. I didn’t want it there and I certainly didn’t think the community would’ve wanted it there,” said Benefield.
“But, the community wanted a Tractor Supply, they wanted a Dollar General, and now they want an O’Reily’s on the same road. All of those have impacted the traffic far more, and I would say if you combine those three places, ten times as much as these 18 townhomes. So that’s something I wish the public would look into further with regards to the facts of this particular project.”
The Planning Commission motioned for a continuance for this concept site plan, which is planned for May 20, 2024.
To learn more about Villages at Clark’s Mill, click here.
To watch the full Planning Commission’s 3/11/2024 meeting, click here.
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This is what an all Republican Commissioner board looks like. It’s all about business. They can’t se it from their houses.
You’re clueless. This is the planning commission not the county commissioners. Learn something before spewing ignorance.
Same difference…. all republicans.
Rick has a great argument, were these residents up in arms over all the retail that has been going in on Mervell Dean? If not they shouldn’t be angry over housing. Our area just keeps growing and it’s sad that the nature you felt you had a piece of is turning into businesses/housing.
Well, there is the Town Center which was created to keep businesses centralized. I support this- more housing = taxes revenue. Unlike the north end where all we are getting are gas stations and traffic lights.
Hey!”NEWCOMERS” need housing too. Maybe Gov. Spend Moore can finance the project and give the “NEWCOMERS” the keys to a new townhouse when they crossover, along with cash and a phone, of course.
They need to bulldoze from Hollywood road all the way down past the last gate to pax river
I’d much rather have all republicans than all tax and spend democrats.