LEONARDTOWN, Md. – During their May 20, 2024, meeting, the St. Mary’s County Planning Commission approved the concept site plan for Villages at Clarks Mills, a proposed residential project that is located right between northbound Three Notch Road and Mervell Dean Road.
The 3.7-acre 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.
This meeting was a continuance from the March 11th meeting due to the commission’s concerns over multiple aspects of the project such as 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.
“Thank you for giving us another opportunity to take another crack at this and make some of the revisions that you had pointed out and requested,” Tom Benefield of FDR Holdings stated.
“We heard you and we made the decision to go ahead and make this revision. It does reduce our open space, but I think we have a fairly good shot with the Board of Appeals to go for that reduced open space.”
Going over the site plan, the designers pointed out multiple light poles throughout the development, a bus stop at the entrance of the development, six additional parking spaces, a 30-foot by 30-foot play area with seating and a picnic spot, and more.
During the public comment period, residents of the area still had concerns over the impact on traffic this development may have.
“I think in general, it will be good for the community and offering again, some affordable homes. I would make one comment about traffic accidents. I would, while that may be useful data, I would question what metric would be used to measure that? Is one accident too many? Are ten accidents too many? Since we really don’t have any guidelines or ordinances in this county, that dictate that,” stated Benefield.
A motion was then made by Commission Member Lynn Delray, which was seconded by Commission Member John Brown, to approve the concept site plan with the following conditions:
- Any road improvement (s) required by the state and county must be concurrent with the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy.
- A variance to reduce the 65′ “B” type buffer yard must be obtained from the Board of Appeals.
- A “Zoning Yard Reduction Agreement” must be recorded after Planning Commission approval and before the approval of the Major Site Plan.
- Variance to reduce undeveloped open space from 50% of lot area to 20% of lot area must be obtained from the Board of Appeals.
- Motion to also include to have SMECO agreement improvement in writing.
The motion was passed 5-1 with Commission Member Joseph Vankirk voting no. Howard Thompson abstained.
“As I always say, especially in a case like this, you got a lot of neighbors sitting out here. Make them proud. Do you know, I mean, nobody nobody wants it. But you have the right to do it. Just make sure you do what you told us tonight,” said Thompson.
To watch the full meeting, click here.
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