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St. Mary's commissioners set public hearing on Cusick property rezoning in Hollywood
Summary
The Board of County Commissioners authorized a public hearing for March 25 on a request to change a 2.15‑acre parcel on Route 235 in Hollywood from a split rural-preservation/rural-commercial designation to wholly rural commercial limited.
The Board of County Commissioners of St. Mary's County voted Tuesday to schedule a public hearing on March 25 to consider a comprehensive plan amendment and zoning map change for the Cusick Properties parcel at 25741/257413 Point Lookout Road (Maryland Route 235) in Hollywood.
Courtney Jenkins of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management told commissioners the property is about 2.15 acres with a 2,625‑square‑foot building on the rural commercial limited (RCL) portion and vacant land and a driveway on the rural preservation (RPD) portion. The applicant seeks to change the split land‑use and split zoning to entirely rural commerce and to rezone the property to rural commercial limited. Jenkins said the Planning Commission reviewed the application on Feb. 10, heard no opposition and unanimously recommended approval.
The request is for a piecemeal rezoning; Jenkins recited the legal standard cited in the application packet that requires either a substantial change in neighborhood character or proof of a mistake in the original zoning. The transcript record includes a citation to state law (referred to in the packet as “Persisio 21.20.2.A”) and a general reference to the Annotated Code of Maryland regarding piecemeal rezoning requirements.
Commissioners discussed neighborhood character, noting nearby commercial uses along Route 235. After discussion Commissioner Mike Hewitt moved to authorize staff to schedule and conduct a public hearing on March 25 at 9:30 a.m.; the motion carried on a voice vote. The motion directs the Department of Land Use and Growth Management to publish the hearing and return the matter for the formal public hearing and subsequent decision by the commissioners.
If approved after the public hearing, the change would amend the county's 2010 comprehensive plan land use map and the official zoning map to remove the rural preservation designation and make the parcel rural commerce and RCL zoning, respectively. No final decision on rezoning was made Tuesday; the March 25 hearing will allow public testimony and any additional staff analysis.
The Planning Commission record and the county packet list the applicant as Cusick Properties and indicate that the applicant completed a boundary line adjustment that created the split zoning. Jenkins told the board the applicant identified the local neighborhood as properties adjacent to Route 235 between Loveville Road and Hollywood Road.
Scheduling the hearing begins the formal public process; commissioners and staff said the March 25 meeting will include presentation, public comment, and a possible future vote to adopt or deny the requested map amendments.
