Planning commission opens public hearing on draft countywide water and sewer plan; record left open for two weeks

The Saint Mary's County Planning Commission on Aug. 27 opened a public hearing on a proposed revision to the county Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan, a document staff says consolidates piecemeal amendments and updates the service-area maps used to guide where public water and sewer may be extended.

Planning Department staff described the draft July 2007 CWSP as an effort to align the water/sewer categories with the county's 1999 comprehensive land-use plan and subsequent rezoning. Staff said the draft would convert some parcels west and north of Leonardtown (previously categorized S6/W6, meaning service in six to ten years) to NPS (no planned service) because those parcels were removed from the Leonardtown development district and rezoned to rural categories. The draft also incorporates the Metropolitan Commission's capital-improvement budget (table 4.5) and makes procedural clarifications about how CWSP category changes relate to the zoning ordinance and to recent state law allowing delegated administrative hearings for some changes.

The nut graf: the CWSP determines where public water and sewer infrastructure is expected and therefore where growth and higher-density development are feasible. The draft before the commission would reduce planned service in several environmentally sensitive watersheds and update the county maps and procedures; it will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners and then to the Maryland Department of the Environment for final approval.

Staff presentation and technical context

Department of Land Use and Growth Management staff (identified in the meeting as "Mr. Jackman") told the commission that Maryland law in the Environment Article of the Annotated Code requires jurisdictions to prepare and periodically review a CWSP and said the county's current plan dated from 1993 with piecemeal updates since. Jackman and other staff traced the sequence: the 1999 comprehensive plan changed development district boundaries, a rezoning in 2002 implemented much of that vision, and a draft CWSP work that began in 2003 was delayed while the county completed a Lexington Park master plan (adopted 2005) and its rezoning (2006). Jackman said a multi‑agency committee — the county planning department, the county health department, the Metropolitan Commission (Metcom) and Leonardtown staff — produced the current draft.

The draft proposes (among other changes) to reclassify areas in the McIntosh Run watershed and land west of Indian Bridge Road from S6/W6 to NPS, reflecting the county's decision to remove those areas from development-district expectations. Jackman also noted the draft reconciles terminology between the CWSP and the zoning ordinance and responds to state-level changes allowing delegated hearings in some cases (the draft references a state provision staff cited as permitting delegation).

Public testimony and owner concerns

More than a dozen residents and property owners spoke. Cheney Enterprises (a gravel/mining operator) told commissioners it had long-term interests in a 425-acre parcel near the site and asked staff to reconsider removing that parcel from planned service; the company's representative said the parcel is not currently economically mined and has been considered for future adaptive reuse, reclamation and residential development. The Cecil family, owners of Cecil Mill and adjacent historic property on Indian Bridge Road, asked the commission to leave their parcel classified as S6/W6 rather than move it to NPS, arguing that part of the parcel already sits adjacent to sewer and water and that proposed road improvements (a possible PEG Road extension) could change access and need for service. Several homeowners along Indian Bridge Road and in small subdivisions such as Maple Run urged the commission not to remove their neighborhoods from planned service, saying private septic fields have failed or are marginal and that residents rely on the prospect of future public water and sewer.

Metropolitan Commission and health department input

A Metcom representative (identified in the meeting as "Steve") told the commission Metcom had recently updated its capital-improvement budget and formally asked staff to replace the plan's table 4.5 with Metcom’s updated CIP because that budget provides the basis for metcom's capital improvement charges and for funding decisions. Metcom staff said the commission will implement a uniform system improvement charge and capital contribution charge, to replace prior special assessment districts starting Oct. 1 (house bill referenced in testimony was cited as the enabling law). Metcom also said it will review and update the CIP annually.

County Health Department staff (identified in the meeting as "Mr. King") explained how areas could be recategorized if demonstrated health problems emerge: the plan can be amended to allow service where septic failures are widespread and not repairable on-site, and such problem areas can be moved to an active service category to allow public sewer extension. King said the CWSP's S6/W6 designation means the county anticipates service within the next six to ten years; removing that designation to NPS signals no anticipated extension to facilitate new growth, although the county can later reclassify an area if public-health conditions require it.

Process, outreach and next steps

Staff said the draft and maps were advertised in local newspapers and posted at county offices, libraries and the county website; staff mailed roughly 331 courtesy letters to owners of properties included in areas proposed for category changes. Jackman noted the draft was intentionally wide-ranging and that changes and “warts” were expected to be resolved through the public hearing process.

The commission accepted oral testimony and then voted to leave the public record open for written comments for 14 days; staff said written material and exhibits submitted in that period will be accepted and become part of the record to be considered in the commission's recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners.

Why this matters

The CWSP maps determine where public infrastructure is planned and, therefore, where growth of housing and commercial development is practical and cost-justified. Landowners and residents told the commission the proposed reclassifications would remove long-held development expectations and could affect property values and repair options for failing septic systems. Staff emphasized the plan does not permanently remove the county's ability to respond to health emergencies and that the process will proceed through the county commissioners and the Maryland Department of the Environment for final approval.

What's next

The public record remains open for 14 days for written testimony; the planning commission will consider written submissions and public testimony in producing a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, which will hold its own hearing before forwarding the plan to the Maryland Department of the Environment.

Ending note: key figures and where to read the draft

Staff said the draft includes an updated table (4.5) reflecting Metcom's CIP and that Metcom has asked the county to incorporate Metcom’s most recent CIP before the document advances. The draft and the service-area maps are posted on the county website at the Metropolitan Commission site (metcom.org) and are available at the county planning office and public libraries for review.