County commissioner recuses from Pax River Village Center vote, affirms support for Lexington Park development

An unnamed county commissioner said they recused themselves from a recent vote on the Pax River Village Center because Atlantic Realty, a developer involved with the project, has donated to the commissioner's political campaign. The commissioner also said they support the project and described benefits it is expected to bring to Lexington Park and the nearby naval base.

The commissioner said, "I did recuse myself from the vote on the Pax River Village Center. It is something that I wholeheartedly support." They explained the recusal as a transparency measure, adding that Atlantic Realty "has in the past, donated to my political campaign, so I did not feel that it was appropriate for me to cast a vote." The transcript does not record the outcome of the vote or other members' positions.

Why it matters: the Pax River Village Center is presented in the remarks as a mixed-use development that the commissioner said will provide workforce housing, green space and retail, and a child care center near the naval base. The commissioner said the Navy installation has "a waiting list very long for their child care" and framed a center near the base as "a tremendous benefit" for Navy personnel and local residents. The commissioner also said the broader Great Mills Road/Lexington Park area has attracted retailers such as Aldi and is becoming more walkable.

Discussion vs. decision: the transcript captures the commissioner's formal recusal from voting on the Pax River Village Center; no motion text, second, vote tally or formal approval/denial of the project appears in the provided excerpt. The commissioner described prior work with Atlantic Realty and other businesses to support Lexington Park's redevelopment but did not present or record any new directive or binding action in the meeting transcript.

Supporting details provided in the remarks include the commissioner's description of project elements (workforce housing, green space, child care, retail) and a stated history of local commercial revitalization along Great Mills Road. The commissioner characterized the changes as converting a "food desert" and noted the arrival of restaurants and businesses in Lexington Park.

What the record does not show: the transcript excerpt does not include specific project approvals, permit conditions, contract amounts, schedule dates, or the recorded vote on the Pax River Village Center. It also does not identify the commissioner by name in the supplied text. The commissioner characterized their choice to recuse as motivated by a campaign donation from Atlantic Realty but did not detail any legal advice or formal filing associated with that recusal.

The commissioner concluded the remarks by encouraging residents to visit and support Lexington Park businesses as the area continues to develop.