Public hearing opens on Pax River Village rezoning after Navy urges caution

A public hearing opened June 24 as the Commissioners of St. Mary’s County considered a comprehensive-plan and zoning-map amendment for four parcels in the Pax River Village Center in Lexington Park, a proposal that would change the sites’ land-use and zoning to “mixed use high intensity” (MXH) outside of the air‑installation compatible use (AQ/APZ) areas.

The applicant, Atlantic Realty, presented a plan to continue redevelopment of the Patuxent River Village Center and seek rezoning for areas outside the AQ line to support a mixed‑use project with housing, retail and a proposed day‑care center. “We’re really here to talk about their phase 2 of their project today,” attorney Chris Longmore told the commissioners, adding the developer “followed both that guidance and the guidance of our current zoning ordinance relating to the AQ zone” and presented a concept plan to the Planning Commission before…