County moves forward with comprehensive water and sewage plan for Leonardtown

St. Mary's County is moving forward with significant updates to its Comprehensive Water and Sewerage Plan, following a recent Planning Commission meeting held on August 27, 2007. The meeting focused on streamlining the approval process for development projects and ensuring compliance with state regulations.

One of the key outcomes from the meeting was the reconciliation of terminology and procedural conflicts regarding concept plans. This change aims to simplify the approval process, which has been described as laborious. The Planning Commission discussed recent state legislation that allows for the delegation of public hearing functions, enabling a more efficient administrative process for certain category changes in development districts.

Additionally, the draft plan incorporates the Metropolitan Commission's 2007 budget, which is essential for securing state funding for water and sewer projects. The updated plan will be subject to public hearings, with the first scheduled for the same evening. The county has made efforts to inform property owners affected by changes in service area classifications, sending out over 300 notification letters.

The draft plan, while extensive, is recognized as a work in progress, with opportunities for public input and revisions. The Planning Commission emphasized the importance of this document as a foundational step in addressing the county's water and sewer needs, particularly for the town of Leonardtown, which is planning to expand its sewer treatment capacity significantly.

As the process continues, the Planning Commission will gather feedback from the public, which will be considered before making recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the final plan meets the community's needs while adhering to state requirements.