Planning commission approves Park Place concept plan with stormwater, traffic and sewer conditions

The St. Mary's County Planning Commission approved a concept site plan for Park Place (CCSP-0613200039) on Oct. 2007, allowing a mixed-use project on 41 acres along Maryland Route 235 and Shady Mile Drive while attaching conditions on stormwater design, traffic mitigation and future sewer capacity.

Staff said the revised concept reduces the overall commercial square footage to 280,700 and lowers the number of transfer-development rights needed. "Staff believes this plan addresses all the standards of section 65-60.5.3," said Bob Bowles, Department of Land Use and Growth Management.

The commission’s decision followed presentations from developer representatives and engineers and extended public comment from Town Creek-area residents who cited traffic, water runoff and wetland concerns. "We ask the planning commission tonight to deny the request for Park Place as it currently stands," said Celia Rabinowitz, a Town Creek resident who asked the commission to delay approval until infrastructure and environmental studies were complete.

Developer representatives said they had revised the plan in response to prior comments, adding a 50-foot Type B buffer and…