La Plata planning commission approves LaGrange preliminary plat with conditions

The La Plata Planning Commission on Oct. 7 voted to approve Major Subdivision 05‑2024 (LaGrange), a proposal to create 52 single‑family detached lots at 203 Port Tobacco Road, subject to conditions that include dedicating stormwater management facilities on Open Space Parcel A to the town.

Celia Craze, consulting planner for the town, told commissioners the site is zoned R21 and that a senior living community is permitted there by special exception. “Because this is a senior living community, it does not generate school‑age children,” Craze said, adding staff’s recommendation and a set of conditions to protect street appearance, preserve mature trees where possible and require an arborist review.

The commission’s approval carries several practical limits and next steps. Staff noted that water capacity is the townwide constraint: new subdivisions will not receive final plat approval until water capacity becomes available. The approval also includes a new condition that stormwater facilities on Parcel A be dedicated to the town rather than to a homeowners association; Director Dooley said the change reflected the town’s practice because most HOAs lack capacity to maintain those facilities.

The applicant’s representative, Nate Foreman of the law firm O’Malley, Miles, Nylen & Gilmore, said a traffic analysis had been prepared by Lenhart Consulting and that under Charles County and state standards the existing use and the senior demographic do not trigger a full traffic impact study. “It doesn’t rise to the level under the Charles County standards to trigger a full traffic impact study,” Foreman said. He agreed to provide an updated memorandum from the traffic engineer for the commission’s information but objected to making such an update a formal condition of approval.

Commissioners also flagged unresolved operational concerns. Councilman Guttenberg and others said they want the fire department’s operational input codified or captured in a short‑term policy so future subdivisions address fire access needs; staff and several commissioners said a code update process may be required. The commission discussed parkland dedication and clarified a verbal error in the presentation: the developer’s in‑lieu park fee equates to 7.8 acres, not 17.8.

Formal action: Councilman Guttenberg moved to adopt Resolution 25‑03 approving Major Subdivision 05‑2024 with the conditions as presented; the motion was seconded and carried by the planning commission. The motion record shows the commission approved staff’s recommendation with the additional stormwater dedication note.

The commission’s approval advances LaGrange to later permitting stages, but staff emphasized the approval is preliminary: final plat and building permits remain subject to water capacity and the project’s required stormwater plan and archaeological review by the Maryland Historical Trust if triggers are met.

The commission closed the item after the vote; the applicant and staff said they will provide requested follow‑up materials — notably the traffic memorandum as an informational submission rather than a required condition.