Leonardtown, MD — The Leonardtown Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval of a rezoning to allow townhouses in the municipality’s downtown area. The approval, on a 2-1 vote, came amid objections from neighboring homeowners.
The request by developer Wayne Davis was for rezoning of 1.3 acres on Johnson Lane from Residential-Single Family (R-SF) to Residential-Multi-Family (R-MF). Johnson Lane is a narrow road that now contains four single family residences. It is adjacent to Fenwick and the downtown business district. Town Manager Laschelle McKay described the neighborhood as “a pocket of single-family homes in a developed area.”
McKay explained to the planners that state law allows rezonings only in cases of a change in the neighborhood or a mistake in the original zoning. Davis argued that there had been a change in the neighborhood with the approval of the Hamptons and development of Foxwell Condominiums on Fenwick Street.
But resident Francisco Fernandez argued, “The recent rezoning of the Hamptons at Leonardtown in 2010 and Foxwell Condominiums in 2003 are outside the ‘Neighborhood’ and thus do not constitute a significant change in the neighborhood. The St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery and the Town Run Tributary provide substantive boundaries, both natural and historical in nature. This is demonstrated further by the fact that we were not considered in any notifications of affected property owners by either the Hamptons or Foxwell projects.”
The property has severe slopes which limit development, although the planners were told there is the potential for nine townhouses with the rezoning. But Davis has promised to limit his project to four townhouse units and is willing to agree to that. But residents questioned whether the town would be able to hold Davis to that.
McKay said she would have to check with the town attorney to see what advice she could give to the town council about limiting the development. In the motion that prevailed, that request was made by the planners.
George and Susan Erichsen are also neighbors. George Erichsen is the county’s public works director. He questioned whether there was a sufficient buffer between the townhouses and the single-family residences. Davis assured there was enough.
The project prevailed by a 2-1 vote with only three of the five commission members present. Member Christy Hollander was the lone negative vote. Chairperson Jean Moulds and member Laura Schultz supported it.
The recommendation will now go to the town council for a public hearing on August 10th and decision by the council.
Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad
In other business, the commission unanimously approved 4,690-square-foot addition to Leonardtown Volunteer Rescue Squad. The two-story addition nearly doubles the space available. Consultant Glen Gass said the squad thought long and hard about whether to relocate the operation or expand on what they had.
Gass said the addition would just accommodate the existing number of volunteers and no additional parking was planned. He said the added space would not be used for rental activities.
Proposed annexation
Also at the July 20 meeting the town planners unanimously recommended rezonings for the 13 properties on 241 acres along Hollywood Road that are the subject of an annexation plan. The town council will hold a hearing Aug. 10 on the annexation plan and the rezonings.
The only speakers at the commission hearing on the annexation rezonings were two property owners on adjacent land who asked for a fence to protect them from trespassers. McKay explained that would be considered during hearings for each specific property.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com
Cover photo: Courtesy Elvert Barnes, 2011