Approximately 150 St. Leonard area residents attended the Second Access Route workshop.
St. Leonard, MD – The process for possibly building an alternate route for residents of two bayside subdivisions in Calvert County began in earnest Wednesday, Dec. 10. The Calvert County Department of Public Works and the Hunt Valley-based consulting firm of Wallace Montgomery hosted the informational workshop on a proposed second access road to the Calvert Beach/Long Beach communities in St. Leonard. The workshop was held at St. Leonard Elementary School and approximately 150 people attended.
The second road study began this past summer and the workshop started the concept development phase. A public meeting will be held in the spring for the purpose of discussing alternatives. A final concept planning report is due next summer. The report will include a cost analysis of proposed alternatives and their environmental impacts.
Ray Moravec of Wallace Montgomery said the location of houses will be just as important to the development of a road as will the topographical components of trees and streams will be. Moravec stated the location of power lines—a major utility corridor is located east of St. Leonard Road and west of the Calvert Beach and Long Beach communities—will also have to be taken into consideration. While county officials would be able to negotiate the necessary easements, Moravec stated there is no way to get the utility companies to move any structures to accommodate a new road.
Some residents have stated they are burdened by restricted access when accidents and emergencies occur on Calvert Beach Road. Concerns about the communities proximity to both Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant and Cove Point Liquefied Natural Gas Plant—both located south on the Chesapeake Bay—have also been expressed.
“I just want another way out if it hits the fan,” a female resident told consultants.
The three options currently in play are the “no-build” alternative, improving the existing roadway (i.e. widening the road and adding shoulders) and construction of a new roadway connection.
Residents attending the workshop offered comments on the proposal. Among the written comments included consideration of making the new path an “emergency only” road. Another resident declared the alternate road should not bypass the St. Leonard business core.
Several residents took magic markers and drew possible paths for the alternate road.
A four-question survey was also provided at the workshop. Residents were asked if they agreed with the need for improved access for the Calvert Beach and Long Beach communities, list concerns with the effect on the environment and/or property in the area, desired concepts for improved access or a secondary access road and any additional comments regarding the proposed project.
Among those attending the workshop and availed themselves to residents for input were Commissioner Steve Weems [R] and Commissioner-Elect Mike Hart, Department of Public Works Director Rai Sharma and County Administrator Terry Shannon.
Sharma said the county would be paying for the entire project, which would need to be placed in Calvert’s Capital Improvement Plan before moving forward.
For more information on the St. Leonard Second Access Road Concept Planning Study, residents should contact Project Engineer John Knopp at knoppjf@co.cal.md.us or 410-535-1600, ext. 2236. Maps are available at the county government web site at www.co.cal.md.us
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
