[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6300373,"mediaKeyId","2493145-e9dd6bb4cf509469076880c45e7fb2f2","parentId",2493145,"title","La Plata council presses state inspector and developer over repeated Pinegrove violations and truck traffic","audioSeconds",462,"startMs",624000,"endMs",1086000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2493145-e9dd6bb4cf509469076880c45e7fb2f2&start=624&end=1086","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2493145-e9dd6bb4cf509469076880c45e7fb2f2/thumbnail_624000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6300373/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/La-Plata-council-presses-state-inspector-and-developer-over-repeated-Pinegrove-violations-and-truck-traffic","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300373-5997887f17465df41bfcac038a063a93/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174874&Signature=lMOe~UKfT93Ly-9BIsXYGQ84Ac5UpgF~fwFCt7VdTE33ci9T97Wl7lZOKIJzyuL5igr6Kz8GWy0ll~HUcmBYnKpDtdaubqeZQxLspd18TQ8y-nIyr~2F8Up7qRrrnH7i0aB~AbsgYl780xoHIDgwdLhZeiqYXDAI0ZvrXIuHzIn8F2CZiZeXv2OUz~79D-2JUlxz1fUdo9xlW09Bd1MhqaAeHlI-9ymb4N23cD-KshiuZhl6AGY0uMUI2RJxQmh~qkwL3iNvSB6ID3bMjwvhcHbMJrlnL720TU0HGQ7Su8z~~NSVb03cZP-QiHV1CtxW1frRU9vHI1Skn6ipBVrp7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of La Plata, MD","date","2025-03-03T14:55:24Z","article","La Plata council members pressed town inspections staff and the police department on repeated construction violations and heavy truck traffic at the Pinegrove development, raising resident complaints about mud, silt fencing failures and trash.

The council questioned Director Mosier, who said she had spoken with the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) inspector assigned to the site. \"She reassured me that that did not require any town intervention,\" Director Mosier said, adding the inspector had described most infractions as \"very minor in nature\" and that Doctor Horton, the project's contractor, \"is very responsive.\" The town official also said MDE had flagged that some violations were recurring and that the agency was considering next steps.

Why it matters: Residents told the council they consider repeated minor violations—such as collapsed silt fence, mud on streets and trash—to be more than a nuisance, and council members said visibility of the problem has poor optics for a project described by staff as about 300 acres.

The council sought specific facts and a clearer notification path from MDE. Mosier said she did not know how often the MDE inspector visits the site and that the inspector typically contacts the town only if there is an issue the town needs to know about. \"I don't know as to how often she comes out,\" Mosier said, and told the council that the town will rely on MDE for the technical enforcement of state stormwater and soil‑conservation controls.

Council members pressed Mosier on the difference between \"minor\" and \"significant\" violations; she declined to speak for MDE on the agency's internal criteria but said the town's observed examples of recurring, smaller problems included knocked‑down silt fence, mud tracked onto public streets and dust during heavy earthwork. \"When I say they're minor in the grand scheme of things, I'm not minimizing the impact that they have,\" Mosier said.

Public-safety and traffic concerns: Council members and the police chief described ongoing community complaints about heavy dump‑truck traffic and speeding on Washington Avenue, Rosewood and Charles Street. Police said the department is monitoring truck movements: an officer was assigned to record heavy vehicles two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, four days a week, with the schedule rotating to capture patterns and identify trucking companies. \"He's writing that down,\" the police chief said of the officer assigned to traffic observation.

Town response and next steps: Mosier said she will reach back to the MDE inspector for updates that include the status of violations, how they were corrected and what, if any, enforcement action MDE plans next. She offered to try to facilitate a meeting between the developer and town officials so the developer can present project status and corrective measures to the community. \"I can reach out to MDE, to the inspector, get updates on the status, the problems, the issues, how they've been corrected,\" Mosier told the council.

Clarifying details from the meeting: participants referenced \"about 104\" recorded violations in public discussion of the site; Mosier described the project as \"such a massive project\" (about 300 acres) and said the repeating infractions are often caused by multiple subcontractors and dump‑truck drivers disturbing silt fence. The MDE inspector reportedly told Mosier that Doctor Horton was responsive to town contacts and had deployed corrective measures such as water trucks to control dust.

What the council asked for: greater transparency about which violations MDE classifies as \"significant,\" a clearer MDE notification process to the town when serious violations are identified, and a developer visit or community briefing so residents and council members can hear the contractor's remediation plans directly.

Ending: Town staff said they will return with more detailed updates from MDE and will continue local monitoring of truck traffic and code complaints while county and state agencies retain primary enforcement authority over stormwater and erosion control at the site.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2025 02 25 Town Council Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","La Plata council members pressed town inspections staff and the police department on repeated construction violations and heavy truck traffic at the Pinegrove development, raising resident complaints about mud, silt fencing failures and trash.","taxTitle","La Plata, Charles, Maryland","taxId",71666,"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},6300368,"La Plata council approves FARO scanner and hazard plan update, fails Wood Valley professional-services resolution",103,2920000,3023000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2493145-e9dd6bb4cf509469076880c45e7fb2f2&start=2920&end=3023","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2493145-e9dd6bb4cf509469076880c45e7fb2f2/thumbnail_2920000.jpg","/articles/6300368/La-Plata/Charles/Maryland/La-Plata-council-approves-FARO-scanner-and-hazard-plan-update-fails-Wood-Valley-professional-services-resolution","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6300368-b23f55625c80006d91bc2627a3a92c88/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174874&Signature=Mo9nRUfmGY5xTB704he5tLV-U~0ThOXVmy2MWMbVh5ute57KMGFfbcDYl6KxB-6v1HK1asAY7xAPFrkDXQ0yR39YjhLl4zz8in4V2ReZqR6Ey3a6k77~S7UVn~F8zavJtiCKOopiwPG7EoBxriJ7ry9vdLL-J-05-8SfEF9XVdgNprbGbXtg~bE4STStf3sEg2pu21nul88Z1cru4aVVl4VzD9Tos02~~8DAMxX7MVruW0e7floendUcTjCF2dCe2F6gaIiz5Zew6rZAPr-LjXKVyc92Ph-UIKtsfg-DWWPyjrHOX0EjOS3f72pQtWcjHkG4q9h-ZbtetTm4qRfTqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The La Plata Town Council on Feb. 5 voted to purchase a FARO Focus laser scanner for the police department and unanimously adopted the Charles County 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan update, but moved to reject a proposed professional‑services agreement with Wood Valley Community Strategies amid conflict‑of‑interest concerns.

The FARO purchase: Captain Payne, speaking for the La Plata Police Department, said the portable 3‑D laser scanner would significantly shorten scene‑processing time at outdoor collisions and crime scenes and produce more accurate diagrams for prosecutors and civil cases. \"The FARO technology will reduce the time officers will close roadways like Crane Highway, Charles Street, and Hawthorne Road,\" Captain Payne said, adding that current scene work relies on tape measures and \"a tuna fish can full of lead\" to hold markers. He said a typical large crash scene that once took hours to measure can be scanned in roughly 33–40 minutes and that the output can be uploaded into CrashZone software for automated analysis.

Police presented a funding plan to cover most of the $80,000 purchase by repurposing $70,000 of ARPA funds previously set aside for license‑plate‑reader equipment; the department said annual software/maintenance costs would be about $33,190. Council members asked about training and interdepartmental use; the chief and Captain Payne said the vendor's training covers up to five users and the department would make the tool available to other town departments on request. The council gave consensus to move the purchase to legislation and then adopted resolution 25‑03 to authorize the purchase.

Hazard mitigation: Town staff recommended adopting Charles County's 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan update to preserve eligibility for federal and state mitigation grants in future disasters. Ms. Minor, who serves on the county committee that prepared the update, said the county adopted the plan in December 2024 and the town's timely adoption is part of grant eligibility. The council moved the resolution forward and later adopted resolution 25‑04.

Wood Valley professional services: Staff asked the council to retain Jamie Kendrick of Wood Valley Community Strategies at a cost of $31,800 to finish the La Plata Bikeway and Safe Streets for All initiative while the town issues an RFP for long‑term transportation engineering. Staff said approximately 65% of the cost would be billed to grants and the town's exposure would be about $11,000.

Several council members expressed concern about potential conflicts of interest because Kendrick previously worked for Mead & Hunt and served prior clients; one member said the conflict‑disclosure sentence in the proposed contract \"is not sufficient\" without additional assurances. The resolution (25‑02) was moved for adoption but the roll call vote in the transcript shows one affirmative vocalized \"Aye\" followed by recorded opposition; council later did not adopt that resolution.

Votes at a glance:
- Resolution 25‑03 (FARO Focus laser scanner): adopted. Authorization to purchase FARO Focus scanner for the La Plata Police Department and to allocate funding (majority of cost from reallocated ARPA funds). (See provenance for debate excerpts.)
- Resolution 25‑04 (Charles County Hazard Mitigation Plan update): adopted. Town adoption of the county's 2024 hazard mitigation plan update to maintain grant eligibility.
- Resolution 25‑02 (Professional service agreement with Wood Valley Community Strategies): motion to adopt failed (transcript records opposition during roll call). Council discussion centered on conflict‑of‑interest questions and whether any noncompete or client‑poaching concerns exist; staff responded that the contract includes a conflict disclosure.

Process and next steps: Staff said an RFP for transportation engineering remains necessary; the temporary engagement proposed with Jamie Kendrick was presented as a bridge to maintain momentum on the bikeway and Safe Streets projects while the town completes procurement. On the FARO purchase, the police department plans to finalize training slots and implement a policy for shared use with public works and planning, subject to further council discussion about training and cost‑sharing.

Ending: Council approved the FARO purchase and the county hazard plan update and directed staff to return with contract clarifications and procurement steps for transportation engineering work in coming meetings.","Council approved purchase of a FARO Focus laser scanner for the police department and adopted Charles County's 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan update; a resolution to hire Wood Valley Community Strategies for transportation work drew opposition and did not pass.","actionData","errors"]

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La Plata council presses state inspector and developer over repeated Pinegrove violations and truck traffic

La Plata council approves FARO scanner and hazard plan update, fails Wood Valley professional-services resolution