La Plata, MD – What was shaping up to be a contentious debate proved to be a non-issue Tuesday, July 14 when the Charles County Commissioners tabled a proposed amendment to the Villages of Wooded Glen & Piney Reach Master Plan, Planned Development Zone Amendment and an amendment to the controversial Fairway Village Master Plan until Sept. 1.
It looked out of the gate as if the commissioners, who heard reams of testimony June 2 from residents of Heritage subdivision that they were opposed to four-story apartment buildings being erected next door to their neighborhood, were prepared to shoot the proposal down.
“We have taken all the comments we have received on this issue seriously,” Charles County Commissioner President Peter Murphy [D] said. “We value the comments of the public and the applicant.
“Number one, I would say there is not support on this board at this time for this amendment,” he added. “It has, however, been brought to our attention that St. Charles wishes to modify the amendment.”
“Yes, commissioners,” said Steven Scott, attorney for St. Charles Companies. “We do have interest in modifying these proposals and working with interested parties to address concerns.”
“Based on meetings we have had, there are a set of modifications we can make to address concerns of citizens,” Craig Renner of St. Charles Companies stated. “Clearly, to accomplish that we would need to hear both sides.
“We request that you delay the vote on the master plan for six to eight weeks to address those legitimate concerns,” he added.
“We would bring this back Sept. 1 after our August recess,” Murphy suggested.
“We’re prepared to work with the community and public,” Renner said.
“It must be a modified amendment because there is no support as it stands today,” Murphy said.
“Since St. Charles will present a modified plan, will that require a new public hearing?” Commissioner Vice President Ken Robinson [D – District 1] asked.
“If the modified plan is drastically different, it may require another public hearing,” Charles County Attorney Elizabeth Theobolds stated.
“That’s a matter of degrees based on what we propose,” Scott said.
“That’s a win win,” Murphy added. “The public hearing would be an opportunity for the public to voice their concerns.”
“That will give those who take this issue very seriously an opportunity to be heard,” Robinson noted. “We are taking their comments very seriously to give them adequate opportunity to address any issues.”
Scott asked if Sept. 1 would be the public hearing date.
“Sept 1 would not be a scheduled public hearing,” Murphy explained. “That’s the deadline to come back with a modified plan.”
Contact Joseph Norris at joe.norris@thebaynet.com