The Leonardtown Planning Commission has recommended to the town council some changes to the town’s zoning ordinance, sign ordinance and charter. The changes were unanimously recommended at a planning commission meeting Monday after a public hearing at which only one person testified.
Town Administrator Laschelle McKay said the proposed changes were introduced to the town council at their March meeting after they were developed by staff and a consultant. The zoning ordinance changes include reducing the allowed density in the Residential-Multi-Family Zone from 10 units per acre to eight units per acre.
A sign regulation change adds a category for electronic signs, but only allows them along Route 5 and not in the downtown area. Any sign proposed within 100 feet of a residence would have to get conditional use approval; flashy signs would be barred.
The only speaker during the public hearing was Mike Mummaugh of Paragon Properties. He suggested that the reduction in density for multi-family units was counterproductive to the desire to have more workforce housing in the county.
Planning commission member Jack Candela said he served on a St. Mary’s County Chamber of Commerce committee investigating workforce housing. The committee is chaired by John K. Parlett. Candela suggested that committee might be a good source of information about the issue.
The unanimous recommendations will be the subject of a town council public hearing in the near future.
