[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6351792,"mediaKeyId","2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72","parentId",2226772,"title","Board denies variance for outdoor paintball arena near Leonardtown apartments","audioSeconds",5210,"startMs",3591150,"endMs",8801955,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72&start=3591&end=8801","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72/thumbnail_3591150.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6351792/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-denies-variance-for-outdoor-paintball-arena-near-Leonardtown-apartments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351792-594c5d891968589ce964642a8e8ffe20/orig.mp4?Expires=1776087265&Signature=Jffj3ZwD7AjUS9yKGy0L6plLuZpHsAI7wo5qZCffCO-NhDgvWB4AXPOZ3icbuqhd8ZsDGddKJj0vfkbCBDy2vOUaB1xJoYcDs5A29vqFCGf0vclMfcnZoGUOY3piUH8jfwjlhc877vRy8U3TTr72FW3ThX48oWHf6-2s13GC7FQuMvePcwREvn5wqXz12ZkkUVdvZhXAx-~liNSn4MPbV5aHEivnUnRbEskJtaI3PTMahXQFpn7iAgf-V8Ii7EOMdCU6EvizoLA8CVaH-~c1ZTvNYb1HT84PfAzd~4T17MyFzatCjBaHytQXP6uj0i9~M6UsngxoEEX0f29UM-jh0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","St. Mary's County, MD","date","2025-02-05T19:11:21Z","article","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals denied a variance request on Nov. 8 from Christopher (Crystal) Melton and US BBA LLC to reduce the required 200‑foot setback for a minor outdoor recreational facility (paintball arena) adjacent to residential property in Leonardtown.

The property owner sought a reduction to allow a 110‑ft by 75‑ft outdoor paintball court and associated 20‑foot netting and lighting on a parcel zoned industrial but adjacent to high‑density residential. The applicant said the court would be contained by 20‑foot‑tall nets, would be sited behind a tree line and the building, and would operate primarily during daytime hours; he described the paint pellets as “biodegradable, water soluble” and said the business would provide a safe, legal venue for local youth.

Christopher (Crystal) Melton, who identified himself as an owner of the Family Ventures/US BBA property, said the company planned to “clean up” an overgrown parcel and provide supervised activities for children. Melton told the board the proposed layout would leave about 45 feet from the court to the property line and that the nearest apartment building is roughly 200 feet beyond the tree line.

Multiple residents and the property manager submitted opposition; Frank Shader, a nearby resident, read a neighborhood petition and told the board, “The lights and the noise that would invade our neighborhood would diminish both our home value and our quality of life.” Staff recommended denial, concluding that the 200‑foot setback exists to mitigate noise, lighting and other impacts and that the parcel is not suitable for the proposed outdoor facility because it cannot meet the setback requirement.

Board members discussed noise, safety and lighting controls, and recognized the applicant’s arguments about cleanup and supervised recreation. The board concluded the variance standards were not met and voted to deny the requested setback reduction. Staff will prepare the written order documenting the denial; the applicant may appeal the decision to circuit court within 30 days after the order is signed.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","11/8/2007 St. Mary's County Zoning Board of Appeals","oneSentenceSummary","The Board denied a variance request that would have reduced the 200‑foot setback for an outdoor paintball facility at a Gregory Lane property; staff and neighbors said the proposed outdoor use would create unacceptable noise and lighting impacts.","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},6351797,"Board grants variance for Wood family pier on St. Jerome’s Creek",565,2938685,3504525,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72&start=2938&end=3504","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72/thumbnail_2938685.jpg","/articles/6351797/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-grants-variance-for-Wood-family-pier-on-St-Jeromes-Creek","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351797-156393e98d6cda574a262827d7dc4219/orig.mp4?Expires=1776087265&Signature=Galgbhh9rnFDY3QpYSAhzJeIeiiKJxkOhiiigJqevlOqHxlUQ2pq6dJNcfYuwxjnpsNJJLYLz9xMbAhgKh2Oe3O6HWrHIHWE1~4V5Clsd8IleMUSxY5Y7qhY1eKzIsTbGPPAUaFZ6~~B32uAiUTYkCx2GeE3XBQC1OhY6yrYROFc2M0adMmqM3wQ5sspmcLSCd7FN1QuEkfzU7kcixDNTyqypSN5Z8SneLs5mBAn7hFhCrnBtPUmbPH5yE4iN1kysX6apTJHSiR8chgAHM8XndfOSMI6UjiwRgBdni9BwM67eOGQfkmTWkiOwCA41Bz16KHZdo1E4ftmcuEahnpKzQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals on Nov. 8 granted a variance allowing David and Anne Wood to construct a 140‑foot pier with mooring piles on St. Jerome’s Creek, finding a practical difficulty tied to the property’s cove‑shaped shoreline and limited fast‑land width.

David Wood told the board the cove’s shallow mud flat requires a pier extending to about 40 feet beyond the shoreline to reach about 3 feet of depth at mean low tide. “We’re just looking for 3 feet mean low,” Wood said, adding that the proposed pier would align with a neighbor’s pier so neither structure extends past the other.

Staff briefed the board on the lateral‑line analysis that showed the Woods could not reach usable water depth without encroaching on the lateral‑line setbacks shared with adjoining properties. The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) had already authorized the proposed pier and mooring piles, staff said, and staff advised that a practical difficulty existed because of the shoreline geometry.

The board accepted staff’s finding of practical difficulty and voted to approve the variance request. Staff will prepare the board’s order for signature and mail a copy to the applicant; the order will be subject to the standard 30‑day appeal window following the signature date.

The board noted that adjoining property owners retain the option to sign mutual agreements with one another to allow encroachments into each other’s lateral setbacks for piers and that such agreements can be executed without coming before the board.","The Board of Appeals approved a variance allowing the Wood family to build a 140‑ft pier and mooring piles that encroach into shared lateral setbacks to reach usable water depth.",{"_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},6351802,"Board approves Aggregate Industries’ request to mine 54 acres near Thompson Corner Road",3815,616525,4432429,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72&start=616&end=4432","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72/thumbnail_616525.jpg","/articles/6351802/St-Marys-County/Maryland/Board-approves-Aggregate-Industries-request-to-mine-54-acres-near-Thompson-Corner-Road","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351802-a124a543d9271f9fd1849848529515d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1776087265&Signature=XBqUtYIPBBf77J-3Lw-r~qsvtasJCielyPampgXZffPiKJPaKhJPzmldY4p7OL1-sfWEpIYwKAeWc6mBkBreCngXK3adBb-jacGkGDzrUx4gGa6vFNc2ci8snlaWQ5q-8JxuInTzpW-M5UAqgAWbrJnnYDnn5mrZM4TpMtdr5KYmGP7pWYY9ndK3kVUC2PKVHwXN9V~4abHZy7blH~XOHRpwNcgtA2bWn9Jd-Nys3pgI~Z0VDYbq6I9njY0MWiz3eztXYKrvNW~COxLJBII6lDWOGNnKOUZsQ7ceRhtu5urAgiQgJ26Uw1cn4RJXdohpkzVXaeSsW9MnUO4za1ZO3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals unanimously approved a conditional‑use permit on Nov. 8 to allow Aggregate Industries to conduct surface mining on roughly 54 acres of a 166‑acre tract off Thompson Corner Road in Mechanicsville.

The board’s decision approves extraction of sand and gravel as an extractive industry on property owned by Reuben and Sarah Yoder and Henry and Mary Stoltzis, subject to the county’s standard conditions and additional limits the board added: no hauling on Saturdays and a maximum of 100 truckloads per day.

Robert Moore, representing Aggregate Industries, introduced company witnesses including Thomas Miller, supervisor of acquisitions and permitting for Aggregate Industries’ southern division, and Joe Rogers, manager of the La Plata facility. Rogers described the company’s reclamation approach and the prior, successful reclamation of Yoder’s earlier mined property: “When we get done, the the land’s perfectly suitable to farm,” he told the board.

Engineer John B. Norris of G and O Engineering and project engineer Chris Crisman presented detailed site plans and erosion and sediment control phasing. Norris said the company’s planned sequence would mine in five‑acre increments, reclaiming previously worked areas as they progress, and that the designs will go to the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) for a surface mining permit and to the Soil Conservation District for erosion‑control approval.

Traffic consultant Mike Nalepa testified that the haul route — out to Route 236 and then turning right onto Route 234 toward the La Plata plant — has adequate sight lines and capacity for the proposed truck traffic, and said the intersection of Routes 234 and 236 would retain a high level of service with the operation. Rogers and Miller said the company would use a brokerage truck service that supplies local drivers and that trucks are generally loaded to legal weight limits; they described internal controls intended to avoid overweight loads.

Staff recommended approval after TEC agency review found no outstanding issues; at the hearing staff clarified conditions and recommended adding the hauling limits. A board member moved to accept the staff findings and to approve the conditional use with staff’s conditions plus the board’s two additions (no Saturday hauling; maximum 100 truckloads per day). The board voted to grant the conditional use. A written order will be prepared by staff and signed within 60 days; the applicant must still secure state surface‑mining permits and Soil Conservation District approvals before full operations.

The board’s order triggers a 30‑day appeal period starting from the date the order is signed.","The Board granted conditional use for extractive industry on roughly 54 acres of a 166‑acre tract near Thompson Corner Road, with a 100‑truckload daily limit and no Saturday hauling, plus conditions and required state permits.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6351807,"St. Mary’s County board approves 3,000‑sq‑ft addition to Lovell Produce Auction",372,150550,523025,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72&start=150&end=523","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2226772-574bc000b9603625e2f4f7e66ff97e72/thumbnail_150550.jpg","/articles/6351807/St-Marys-County/Maryland/St-Marys-County-board-approves-3000sqft-addition-to-Lovell-Produce-Auction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6351807-58c2cf341d4c5614c400ac593b2832a2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776087265&Signature=iyWbQ3cC9K53LEftT5d0x8PjF~Hg5wSfKF6sUqg5wff5wZQk6Bdco6b97Ig-g-aMzNKs8080-Q50QWvIEcGV0G8abOlvxgZKpt6ZQ7SsoMdz7n9t9w56eYfWcVSZHkwJGueNuZFYypVfnUMR7Y1oCijmMJecWW9onKyGy8pYCRUSyDAt7Dlj62dxskBlSek8gldLxS-R17MYHuBrfzR8IthBig-bz0d6NO0lkvnxhhSurlDLuGLXu5E4bCZ2hHl7dlJrBxnG80ADgGigyKlRj1OskTc6zt~kI4a436Hgihm5Uzc1S3ZhnxTuL~kR138jNPuZzxoTva0LdF8eefgQnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The St. Mary’s County Board of Appeals on Nov. 8 approved a conditional‑use request allowing a 3,000‑square‑foot addition to the Lovell (Loveville) Produce Auction and replacement of an on‑site dwelling with a pole utility building.

The auction operator had asked for the change to expand the selling floor for local growers. The board found the request met the conditional‑use standards in the county zoning ordinance and approved the project subject to the conditions that ran with the original approval.

Elmer Brubaker, who identified himself as the spokesman for the Lovell Produce Auction, told the board, “With the past success we had in the past 3 years at this produce auction, selling the local produce, we are already in need of more floor space to display this produce and that’s why we’re here tonight to ask approval to add 3,000 square feet to the selling floor and also to remove the old dwelling, and replace it with a more useful building to store boxes.”

Michelle (staff), reading the legal description, said the property is approximately 5.25 acres at 40454 Bishop Road in Mechanicsville, zoned Rural Preservation District, and that the Tech agencies reviewed the proposed addition and pole building. Staff recommended approval, noting the expansion “will not provide any adverse impact above and beyond what would be found in any other area in the RPD or for an auction house.”

A board member moved to accept the staff report and moved to approve the conditional‑use application, with a second noted on the record. The board voted to approve the application; staff will prepare a written order to be signed within 60 days and mail it to the applicant when available.

The order will trigger a 30‑day appeal period from the signature date, the chair told the applicant.

The decision allows the auction to proceed with the added selling area and the replacement pole utility building once applicable permits and the written order are completed.","The Board of Appeals approved a conditional‑use application allowing a 3,000‑square‑foot addition and replacement pole building at the Lovell (Loveville) Produce Auction in Mechanicsville, ruling the request met county conditional‑use standards.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board denies variance for outdoor paintball arena near Leonardtown apartments

Board grants variance for Wood family pier on St. Jerome’s Creek

Board approves Aggregate Industries’ request to mine 54 acres near Thompson Corner Road

St. Mary’s County board approves 3,000‑sq‑ft addition to Lovell Produce Auction