Planning commission continues review of St. Mary's Marketplace concept plan after traffic, setback and relocation questions

The St. Mary's County Planning Commission on Sept. 8 continued consideration of a concept site plan for St. Mary's Marketplace, a proposed 121,242-square-foot retail shopping center at the Route 235/Route 4 corridor in Lexington Park.

Staff told the commission the concept plan is designed to meet the county zoning and comprehensive plan standards but requires additional approvals and conditions before final site-plan sign-off. Bob Bowles, Department of Land Use and Growth Management staff, summarized outstanding items: “There are a few outstanding issues, that have to be, addressed before they can get their final approval,” and said final findings on adequate public facilities will be made by the planning director and that the applicant needs right-of-way approvals from the Board of County Commissioners and variances from the Board of Appeals.

Why it matters: commissioners and staff spent most of the meeting on traffic and access questions at one of the county's busiest intersections — Maryland Route 235 and Maryland Route 4 — and on conditions tied to variances that would reduce setback and buffer widths along Route 4. The commission also pressed the developer for specifics on the required right-of-way dedications, the schedule for removal of existing commercial structures and the posted lease for an on-site tenant in the trailer park.

Developer John Norris of…