LEONARDTOWN, Md. – During their March 18, 2024, session, the St. Mary’s County Planning Commission voted to not approve the concept site plan for Park Place Apartments.
Park Place Apartments is a proposed six-acre site that would include four buildings and 160 apartments. The proposed site is located right behind the SAIC building and Holiday Inn.
Members of the Commission voiced many concerns over the impact of schools, fire departments, the surrounding businesses, stormwater management, and the general area itself, stating that this is already a congested area.
Concerns over parking, child safety, and the traffic study were also major concerns. The traffic study in question is based on a 2011 study, which Commission members thought did not properly represent the current state of the area.
There were also concerns voiced about the potential negative impact on the neighboring SAIC building.
“We object to the Park Place Apartments Site Plan because the plan as proposed introduces an uncontrolled security threat immediately adjacent to our Abell House Lane Property, impacting the Mission Support Work for the U.S. Navy conducted by our nine (9) Defense Contractor Tenants at that location,” as stated in a memo by Chris Finley of COPT Defense Properties.
“The residential property type represents the highest risk to mission activities, as the use does not include security and identity control mechanisms. Further, residential properties are particularly risky because an adversary can place agents in close proximity to mission work, conduct round-the-clock observations, and install complex electronic systems without detection because of the inherent privacy of a lease or ownership for residential use. Based on COPT’s experience as the preeminent provider of mission-critical spaces, and my own experience for over 17 years working with defense contractor tenants (both on tenant side and with COPT Defense), this uncontrolled security threat of an adjacent residential use absolutely plays a role in the mission work, the site selection and renewal considerations of these defense oriented tenants. Our tenants are extremely cautious as to maintain secure and classified environments with limited opportunity (or even perceived opportunity) for adversaries to breach and/or observe the work environments.”
The memo went on to list the various impacts Park Place Apartments would have on the SAIC building such as rendering that location less desirable for mission work, requiring tenants to either relocate or install expensive additional security measures, and more.
With all of these concerns, Commission Member Kim Summers motioned to deny the concept site plan which was seconded by Patricia Robrecht. The motion was unanimously approved.
To watch the full 3/18/2024 meeting, click here.
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I bet if it was a gas station they would have approved it. If SAIC is worried about security, they should have located down at Exploration or perhaps the old Aldridge Ford Lot- or any other vacant property in Lexington Park. I think the builder should sue. It’s Apartments. SAIC just needs to deal with it. The horrible policies by the Republican commissioners and money on the stump appeals board has created the current crap yard that St. Mary’s has become.
Why do you always bring up county commissioners whenever there is a planning board issue? You’ve been told this is the Planning Commission, which is not the County Commissioners numerous times. You do know, that you can volunteer as well and be part of the Planning Commission if you want change.
It’s always easier to complain than to actually put in the effort to make a difference. St. Mary’s has so many commissions, not just the planning, which really need people.
People complain about voting yet they won’t volunteer to work the elections.
Hey No Bueno, you know SAIC was there first? It wasn’t designated as residential when their facility was built so why do they just need to deal with it? Why would they want to build in LPC with the traffic and “crap yard” you talk about when the workers can walk to lunch or go to their car after work without getting jacked?
When was the last time you went to a planning commission meeting? Instead of whining do something. Be involved rather than a keyboard warrior.
Wow, so they actually can vote “no” on building projects that negatively impact the area.
The builder should have proposed putting it as close as possible to the 235 and 4 intersection. The planning commission loves clogging up that intersection every chance it gets.
If this had been approved, it would have been built practically on top of our neighborhood. They didn’t even consider the impact it would have on the already existing residents of the neighborhood.
It doesn’t matter that your neighborhood is there. The fact the county has zoned it for residential is what matters. Where else should it go? Should we destroy more of the environment like what is happening at Myrtle Point? When the county started allowing destruction outside of Lexington Park, we get what we get.
God forbid a building for people to live gets built.
Nobody even mentioned the 2011 traffic study. Alot has changed since then.