Richard Kabat shows the difference in elevation between development under CMX and RMX for the Shady Mile center.
The Bay Net Photo by Anna Bedford 

On Monday evening the owners of property on Shady Mile and Rt. 235 met with local business owners, residents, concerned citizens, and one county commissioner who turned out at short notice to discuss potential development in the area.

The impromptu meeting was spurred by a decision last Thursday to move a vote on the zoning of the property to today’s agenda for the St. Mary’s County Commissioners. According to the owners and developers the sudden move to vote has diminished their opportunity, and the community’s, for discussion and informed decision-making.

The Shady Mile property is part of the Lexington Park Master Plan (approved by the commissioners 4-1), and is recommended for rezoning from Residential Mixed Use (RMX) to Corridor Mixed Use (CMX). However, recent opposition to the CMX zoning led to the rezoning being voted down by the planning commission, which sets an ominous tone for the developers ahead of this morning’s decision by the Board of County Commissioners.

Several concerns were raised by one local resident at last night’s meeting, as well as discussions and suggestions for compromise by the developers.

“Let’s look at the alternatives and determine what’s best for everyone,” said developer Richard Kabat. “I can’t imagine rushing to judgment without that chance.”

Kabat and his partner, Paul Summers, stressed that discussion was a vehicle useful to the community, and that development of the property is inevitable. The property is currently zoned as RMX, which requires 50% of the space be preserved, however, that zoning allows for a similar density of development as the requested CMX, thus it would result in the developers building laterally to compensate for the reduced footprint of their buildings. For many that may be less desirable than the Corridor Mixed Use currently proposed. In addition, they suggest, the majority of the residents of St. Mary’s would like to see the addition of what they call a “Lifestyle” center offering fashionable goods for the home, individual and family rather than more office space and condos. The retail would also benefit the county by increasing the tax base, they argued.

The implication was that rushed decisions and politicking were artificially divisive in suggesting that an anti-commercial stance would protect the area from development. A decision against rezoning this morning would not prevent development or reduce the density of it, but merely redefine the manner in which it takes place, and not necessarily for the better, the owners/developers stressed.

For more on the proposed development of Shady Mile view the videos from last night’s meeting. You can also see a previous article here.