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County will hear public comment on repealing, replacing golf-cart ordinance and adding Old Horseshoe Landing Road
Summary
Commissioners authorized an evening public hearing April 29 to repeal and replace Ordinance 2017-30, reviving previously approved roads and adding Old Horseshoe Landing Road to the list of county highways where golf carts may be operated, subject to state safety rules and local signage.
The St. Mary's County commissioners voted April 1 to authorize an evening public hearing on April 29 to repeal and replace Ordinance 2017-30 so the county can update the list of highways where golf carts are lawfully permitted and add Old Horseshoe Landing Road to that list.
County Attorney Buffie Gittens explained that changes in state law removed a prior road-by-road approval requirement and now permit counties to designate eligible roads by ordinance. Gittens outlined state Transportation Article requirements that local drivers and golf carts must meet, including driver licensing, lighting and reflector standards, travel only between dawn and dusk, keeping as far right as practicable, and not permitting golf-cart travel on roads with speed limits over 30 mph. "There was 1 vehicle that was recorded as going 69 miles per hour in that 30 mile per hour speed zone," Gittens said, referencing a speed study on the Old Horseshoe Landing stretch.
Gittens said the proposed new ordinance would re-enact previously approved roads and add Old Horseshoe Landing without requiring another trip to the General Assembly. She and commissioners discussed signage, public education and potential local application processes to manage future road additions rather than bringing each request to the board individually. The Department of Public Works and Transportation raised safety concerns during staff review.
The commission approved holding an evening hearing on April 29 and asked staff to consider a program for periodic review of road requests and to coordinate signage and enforcement measures with the sheriff's office and DPW&T. The public hearing will be the opportunity for Golden Beach area residents and others to comment on the specific roads and any recommended safety measures.
