Raynor Blair presents plans for the new Dunkin’ Donuts on Washington Street in Leonardtown.
Leonardtown, MD — The Leonardtown Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended approval of the final site plan for the controversial Hamptons apartment project. They also approved final site plans for a new Old Line Bank branch and for a new Dunkin’ Donuts.
The commission’s recommended approval for the Hamptons at Leonardtown will go to the town council for final approval. In its final site plan the project consisted of two, three-story buildings containing 119 units.
Developer Farhad Saba of the Waldorf-based Saba Group, LLC had sought a density bonus to allow two, four-story buildings with 142 units. The town appeals board had approved that request but conditioned it on the developer providing a connection to Fenwick Street.
Saba told the planners at their Sept. 21 meeting that he was unable to accomplish the connection. He was unable to get a right-of-way over the neighboring land owned by Foxwell Condominium Owners Association. The only connection to Fenwick Street is a narrow point that also is the point of utility connection and also has a steep grade. Saba said providing even a walkway connection posed a financial and environmental burden.
The project had been opposed by some of the residents of Foxwell in the initial hearing before the commission, council and appeal board, out of concerns for traffic and the need for additional development. Councilman Roger Mattingly, who opposed the Hamptons in the vote by the council, lives in Foxwell. As a member of the fire department he also expressed concern about fire apparatus being able to get in and out of the project.
Saba did say, however, that he would include elevators in the three-story buildings, although earlier he had said his finances wouldn’t allow that unless he could have four stories. The project also includes a clubhouse.
The majority of the town council members had been enthusiastic about the project out of anticipated benefits from additional vehicle and foot traffic from the project in the adjacent downtown. Now the project as approved would not have that connection.
The only access to the project will be off the Route 5 bypass. Commission member Heather Earhart, who lives across Route 5 in the Academy Hills subdivision, expressed regret at the lack of Fenwick Street access for the Hamptons. She said she often jogs and would have used that access herself. Saba expressed shock at that, saying crossing busy Route 5 was dangerous.
Town Administrator Laschelle McKay said the town was looking at working with the State Highway Administration to provide a sidewalk along Route 5 from Academy Hills to Washington Street (Route 245).
While several commission members expressed concern at the lack of a Fenwick Street access, they concluded there was nothing the developer could do about it and unanimously approved sending it to the town council for a final decision.
Old Line Bank
The commission unanimously approved the final site plan for a new Old Line Bank branch on Newtown Neck Road behind the Exxon gas station. The building will be 2,505 square feet.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Developer Raynor Blair has purchased the former Bell Motor Company used car lot on Washington Street and plans to redevelop it. The first phase, a standalone Dunkin’ Donuts, was enthusiastically given final approval by the planners, apparently with visions of coffee and donuts dancing in their heads.
Blair also plans to renovate the existing building on the property based on the tenant or tenants he is able to secure. He said the façade would be changed to be consistent with the Dunkin’ Donuts design.
At the request of the planners, Blair agreed to add a bicycle rack to the Dunkin’ Donuts plan.
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com