The St. Mary’s Planning Commission on Monday night OK’d a proposal for a zoning change that would prohibit further construction of new homes in the protected space surrounding Patuxent Naval Air Station.

The new law is precipitated by efforts by local, state and federal officials to reduce current and future “encroachment” upon PAX NAS.

The proposal intends “to prohibit new residential development within the APZ-2 overlay and not adversely affect the existing residences or vacant residential lots that are part of a subdivision.”

The Accident Potential Zone-2 (APZ-2) encompasses 11,100 acres surrounding NAS, which includes large segments of Willows Road and Forest Park Road, as well as smaller stretches of Hermanville and Great Mills roads.

Planning Commission members questioned generally whether property owners’ rights are being properly protected, to which Land Use Director Denis Canavan reiterated the grandfathering provisions included.

Commission member Merl Evans, who issued a lone “no” vote on the proposal, said the issue needs to be more fully researched and this seems to be a “knee jerk reaction to a new housing development.”

“I’ll be voting no because it’s not as comprehensive as it should be, could be and would be if we had the required information,” Evans said.

Commission vice-chair James Howard Thompson said he agrees with Evans, but he will be voting yes.

Canavan said the law states any residential lots legally recorded prior to the effective date will be grandfathered against being deemed “non conforming.”

“It’s fairly straightforward, its measured,” Canavan said, adding that the action shows that “what has been done is acceptable, but we don’t want any more.”

Commission member Shelby Guazzo said the law change is “telling the Navy that we recognize the possibility of encroachment … and we are concerned, we want the Navy here.”

Essex Woods South, the residential development referenced by Evans, will be recorded before the law takes effect. If not, Canavan said he will amend the law’s wording to include “approved preliminary plans,” in the grandfathering provision.

The issue now goes before the St. Mary’s Board of Commissioners for final approval, to be scheduled for a future meeting.