[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6357502,"mediaKeyId","2214617-9638d00dc8a2ad46433bb830de8c410b","parentId",2214617,"title","Board approves Sloan gravel mine wash plant with conditions including well‑replacement proffer","audioSeconds",3794,"startMs",5326000,"endMs",9120000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2214617-9638d00dc8a2ad46433bb830de8c410b&start=5326&end=9120","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2214617-9638d00dc8a2ad46433bb830de8c410b/thumbnail_5326000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6357502/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-approves-Sloan-gravel-mine-wash-plant-with-conditions-including-wellreplacement-proffer","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357502-e4fa51ddbb1931747168b51cab2a8311/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965750&Signature=KHcnxfRJF0-zFu7LizaKRn9yFu~8xH25xdPxK5MmuVJAX4TR2g6eceF5-bUZzFezQVWVwweGwTG03o4OtQXHpvzBElpTu87Tbi-oBXtZCzGiMlWPjsfSnRvu3TTjgiPtc~MVrRpDFQs8A0f9fooFBMxJizpBWmxEwVNDmANNOt6~zeMI9UEuC~yPTc0hXAmnAFtZv3UPF4JJS08~WS8O9tBOO8YVmeXDS8JqXP-2ENc3ZetRl-24NA6I8jp3CoLCenHM0JtMFt52c4gh8yc3eG3kP-jDsTq1OIekKf0ngSzVmuHBiT-Wi1hGUQ8t13u4wawaTYi0RzeBCO4wOF0SOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-02-03T19:21:19Z","article","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 8 approved a modification to the conditional use for the Sloan gravel mine to allow a wash plant at 28625 Ables Way (Multiflora LLC). The board approved the modification with conditions: burning restricted to a designated area on site; hours of operation Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–5 p.m. and Saturday 7 a.m.–noon for site maintenance only; compliance with State Highway Administration entrance requirements; and a proffer from the applicant to replace any hand‑dug or shallow wells within a half‑mile radius of the pond used for the wash plant if those wells go dry as a result of the operation.

The decision affects a 62.985‑acre surface gravel operation and drew the most public attention of the three cases because of groundwater concerns. Staff said the modification was required because the previously approved site plan explicitly stated a processing/wash plant was not proposed. Agencies that reviewed the amendment — including Land Use, DPW, Soil Conservation and Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) — provided comments or approvals; staff said a water appropriation permit from MDE was issued in January 2021 as part of that state review.

Applicant representatives, including agent Christopher Longmore and surveyor Barry Buckner, described the proposed wash plant layout and site operations. Randy Sloan, who operates the mine, and his team said the site already has a permitted extraction operation, an entrance to MD Route 5 and an existing settling pond that will supply and recycle most process water. Agency reviewers documented that a Maryland water appropriation permit was required and was issued; staff noted the permit includes requirements and conditions for monitoring and drought‑response.

During public comment, area resident Joseph Lacey said his household well is shallow (he told the board his well depth is about 30–40 feet) and expressed concern that the applicant’s water use — described in permit materials as up to several hundred thousand gallons per day with a high‑use figure noted in the record — could cause private wells to go dry. “I have a well. I am directly across the road. My well is 30 or 40 foot deep… they’re going to be using approximately 259,000 gallons a day and 440,000 gallons per day during the month at maximum use,” Lacey said. Staff and the applicant told the board the state geologist reviewed the groundwater appropriation application during the permitting process and that the applicant told MDE he would pay to replace wells if the state’s monitoring determines the mine caused a private well to fail.

Board members pressed for enforceable local protections; the applicant agreed to the condition that he would replace any hand‑dug or shallow wells within a half‑mile radius of the pond used for the wash plant if those wells are shown to run dry as a result of the operation. The board included that proffer in its motion. The board also clarified that planned ancillary features (a small modular office, scale, and site office) described by the applicant would be part of the approved mine modification and would not require the applicant to return for additional conditional‑use approvals.

Ending: Staff will prepare an order reflecting the board’s decision and sign it within 60 days; the order will include the conditions described on the record and the applicant’s well‑replacement proffer. A 30‑day appeal period will follow the order’s signature date.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4/8/2021 St. Mary's County Zoning Board of Appeals","oneSentenceSummary","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 8 approved a modification to the conditional use for the Sloan gravel mine (Multiflora LLC) at 28625 Ables Way to add a wash plant, subject to site conditions and a proffer to replace hand‑dug or shallow wells within a half‑mile radius of the pond if they go dry.","taxTitle","St. Mary's County, Maryland","taxId",51086,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6357507,"Board approves Hodgkins’ deck and garage addition with mitigation and relocated steps",1641,2357000,716000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2214617-9638d00dc8a2ad46433bb830de8c410b&start=2357&end=716","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2214617-9638d00dc8a2ad46433bb830de8c410b/thumbnail_2357000.jpg","/articles/6357507/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-approves-Hodgkins-deck-and-garage-addition-with-mitigation-and-relocated-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357507-d7e24bc86735ea3c6409b61b38b998d0/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965750&Signature=BPM3UHG3pga5XybKHlzG75--2qV4k8xm0Dm~CbkbO50HIMH2GS1Zxo5AWlIMZ6G2kxLLfH1~t5gmylfGe7sl~wWbPUWqBia0EYJ5WYdEv3lcK5Wp1dy1okyVY59yLgS2Xdf9XWh1b-3yThk~ON4reQOWbU37kdvYbJFT6C9V6rMnnt7E550MAMIJPJOP~jsnvY~zuWJNmKxdnx7yaPwt~nrbDrEqMfTh-9wAWZPZZ9jVQ3NL7BFIclMuW1RicQwL5MqobXGfxbxPMcU~Pxx7EacAyYa8RygZVn63e-yAlIYrnZip8bKSHWn915OFx715y9TbKsXbm4QUj5ZsfneLMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 8 approved variances that let homeowner Cindy Hodgkins add a 15 by 24‑foot deck to the rear of her house and construct a 730‑square‑foot second floor above an existing detached garage at 45311 Clarks Landing Road in Hollywood. The board approved relocation of existing steps and a gravel access path to the pier as part of the variance package.

The decision matters because the deck represents permanent disturbance within the 100‑foot critical‑area buffer; staff calculated 360 square feet of permanent disturbance and required 3:1 mitigation (1,080 square feet) to be approved before a building permit is issued. The garage addition exceeds the director’s administrative expansion threshold and therefore needed board approval under the county’s nonconforming‑structure rules.

Stacy Clements summarized the request and the standards the board must apply for nonconforming‑structure expansions and critical‑area variances. She told the board the Health Department and Soil Conservation District had approved the site plan and that the Critical Area Commission had provided comments. Clements said the proposal would maintain the existing garage footprint while adding a second floor and would add a 360‑square‑foot deck; mitigation for the deck was calculated at a 3:1 ratio.

Cindy Hodgkins said she bought the property three years ago and that the rear yard and original walkway had been in disrepair; she has held off planting so she could implement a larger planting plan that would be used as mitigation. “Knowing that eventually I was going to ask for this variance to have a deck I have... held off on doing any landscape because I want to make sure that the area is brought back and there’s lots of plantings,” Hodgkins said. She also provided photographs and a planting plan showing native beds and clusters intended to meet the 3:1 mitigation requirement.

Board members and staff clarified step locations. The board required the applicant to provide an exhibit showing approximate relocation of the steps (the applicant marked an approximate location on the site plan during the hearing); the board included the relocated steps and approval of a gravel walkway to the existing pier in its motion. Staff confirmed the garage addition contains no plumbing and that the Health Department had approved the site plan as submitted; any future conversion of the second floor to living space involving plumbing would require separate permitting.

The board voted to approve the variances and directed staff to prepare an order documenting the decision; the board’s order will be signed within 60 days and is subject to a 30‑day appeal period.

Ending: The approval lets Hodgkins build the deck and the second‑floor garage addition subject to the mitigation plan (3:1 for the deck), a revised exhibit for step relocation attached to the case record, and standard permit approvals.","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 8 approved variances allowing Cindy Hodgkins to add a 15x24‑foot deck and a second‑floor addition above an existing detached garage at 45311 Clarks Landing Road in Hollywood.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6357510,"Board of Appeals approves variance to raise flooded Lexington Park house; 1:1 mitigation required",1748,594000,2342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2214617-9638d00dc8a2ad46433bb830de8c410b&start=594&end=2342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2214617-9638d00dc8a2ad46433bb830de8c410b/thumbnail_594000.jpg","/articles/6357510/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-of-Appeals-approves-variance-to-raise-flooded-Lexington-Park-house-11-mitigation-required","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6357510-1a6f73033c8de52fca29fb95f55a8c3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775965750&Signature=WVhEzT0-2LqwkKsi~J9E9r5sazv7s7T~F~bKoTJ0cewAccXeOE0pA9dF~7lOhiWYVkDZ-h3moHO07CcNUbfGvFj3eEuPhM0UHkAKOOHa8KWm4KyijaLVEcMZQgG5X8cX5fvMvBcde3z3Kn-jrBlPONbsXcmsucBC1m-zSLS8i9d~odgL~sXyaiDYnMnpbyUC7nEDuPc-IRwDwQoii9-3SnZp-3pGw-Hat4KGqK7xp85G47oPTlBDMmb6YbMboCDrOFHVdyu6d7SnwwEI-YGICMO22NJJ4JvML3a000wTqI61aN0cpG0wOf4Dnci9CRAUGDNWlFCnBF56Z1fnSa2OBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 8 unanimously approved a variance to section 71.8.3 allowing owners John and Julie Bridal to temporarily disturb the 100‑foot critical area buffer in order to raise an existing house at 23480 River Hill Court in Lexington Park to meet current flood protection elevation standards.

The variance matters because it allows the homeowners to reduce flood risk by elevating a pre‑FEMA house while requiring mitigation so the county’s critical‑area protections are maintained. Staff recommended approval with mitigation and said the Critical Area Commission did not object.

Stacy Clements, Land Use and Growth Management Planner, told the board the property is in the Limited Development Area (LDA) overlay, contains hydric and highly erodible soils and that the applicant’s revised plan showed a temporary limit of disturbance with a silt fence around the downhill side. Clements said the department and the Health Department had approved the site plan and that the Critical Area Commission offered comments on the submission but did not object to the variance. She explained the mitigation requirement: the county will require a 1:1 mitigation for the quantity of temporary disturbance within the expanded buffer and that a mitigation plan must be approved by department staff before the building permit is issued.

John Bridal, the property owner, described recurring flooding at the house and told the board he wants to raise the structure so it will not be in the flood zone. “I want regular insurance. So if something does happen, my house gets paid for,” Bridal said, adding the work is limited to elevating the home — not expanding it. He also told the board his contractor is Experienced House Movers and that much of the disturbance will be sand and a small amount of grass.

Board members questioned how mitigation would apply to small plantings and disturbed flower beds. Harry Knight, Land Use and Growth Management Deputy Director, clarified that mitigation is required for the temporary disturbance in the expanded buffer under state regulations (COMAR) and not for removal and reinstallation of small ornamental plantings; the department will work with the applicant to verify the maximum quantity of temporary disturbance and adjust mitigation accordingly.

After discussion the board voted to approve the variance. The board directed staff to prepare an order reflecting the decision; staff will circulate the signed order to the applicants. The order will be signed within 60 days, and a 30‑day appeal period follows the date the order is signed.

Ending: The board’s approval allows the Bridas to proceed with plans to raise the house subject to the mitigation and permit conditions noted by staff; the recording secretary will mail the signed order to the applicants when it is available.","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals on April 8 unanimously approved a variance to section 71.8.3 allowing owners John and Julie Bridal to temporarily disturb the 100‑foot critical area buffer in order to raise an existing house at 23480 River Hill Court in Lexington Park to meet current flood protection elevation standards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves Sloan gravel mine wash plant with conditions including well‑replacement proffer

Board approves Hodgkins’ deck and garage addition with mitigation and relocated steps

Board of Appeals approves variance to raise flooded Lexington Park house; 1:1 mitigation required