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Planning commission approves family conveyance allowing additional lot on private road in Hancock subdivision
Summary
The commission granted preliminary approval for a family-conveyance minor subdivision creating an additional lot on a private road (Hancock Subdivision, minor subdivision 07-11000085). Staff reported conditions are met, and the commission approved the plat subject to recording a road-access and maintenance agreement.
The St. Mary's County Planning Commission on May 12 approved a family-conveyance minor subdivision to create an additional lot on an existing private road in the Hancock Subdivision (minor subdivision 07-11000085).
Why it matters: The county's subdivision ordinance allows a single additional lot in certain family-conveyance circumstances on a private road if a set of criteria are met, including limiting transfer to family members, ensuring road adequacy and recording maintenance agreements.
Staff summary and findings: Bob Bowles (Department of Land Use and Growth Management) presented the application and said technical review (TEC) found no outstanding issues. Bowles said adding the lot would bring a total of eight lots and one farmstead onto the private road; staff confirmed certified notices to private-road users had been mailed and that the applicant agreed to record the necessary family-conveyance and road-maintenance agreements prior to final plat recordation.
Agent and representation: William P. Higgs (surveyor/agent for applicant) confirmed the existing private-road user count and explained the Hancock family has owned the property since 1979. Staff and the applicant agreed that conditions required by section 30.11.4 of the subdivision ordinance (family conveyance) will be met before recordation.
Commission action and conditions: The commission approved the family-conveyance preliminary plan, conditioned on recording agreements that ensure access, use and maintenance of the private road prior to plat recordation and include the required limits on resale under the family-conveyance provision. The commission's motion was approved unanimously.
Next steps: Staff will verify execution and recordation of the family-conveyance agreement and road-maintenance addendum and confirm all plat notes before the subdivision plat is recorded in the land records.
