Draft Charlotte Hall master plan proposes senior housing, assisted living, pool and multigenerational center on county property

St. Mary's County Recreation and Parks presented a draft master plan for the Charlotte Hall property at the Jan. 8 Planning Commission meeting proposing a mixed senior‑housing campus, assisted‑living units, and a public multigenerational recreation complex with a gym and indoor pool.

Phil Rollins, director of Recreation and Parks, said the county owns a 43‑acre parcel where the Northern Senior Center sits; about eight acres are currently occupied by the center and its parking, leaving roughly 35 acres available for additional uses. Recreation and Parks retained Crozier and Associates to develop a concept plan responding to public meetings and requests from the Board of County Commissioners.

Samuel Crozier described the concept: a conservation area of roughly 12 acres retained in large blocks, 1‑ to 3‑story apartment buildings and single‑story four‑plex cottages aimed at walkability, about 300 total dwelling units in a mixed product mix (apartment and cottage), and a small assisted‑living component. The plan locates the multigenerational rec center and an indoor pool near the existing senior center so the public facilities would be county‑owned and managed, while the housing would be developed and operated by a private or non‑profit partner. Crozier said the design emphasized preserving larger tree blocks to keep habitat and tree canopy intact.

Project proponents said the housing component depends on public sewer access; Recreation and Parks staff reported conversations with METCOM (the county utility authority) that made staff cautiously optimistic about the feasibility of extending public sewer in the foreseeable future. Phil Rollins emphasized the plan anticipates a public‑private partnership in which the county would provide the land and the private sector would finance and operate the housing. He noted the commission on aging and the Recreation and Parks advisory board had reviewed and endorsed the concept and the Housing Authority was expected to discuss the plan.

Commissioners asked about phasing, parking and management. Housing Authority executive Dennis Nicholson and other staff said the county would likely use a request‑for‑proposals process to identify development partners and that private management — especially for assisted living — was expected. Commissioners also discussed whether the county should prioritize senior housing at this site given other private options and asked staff to continue feasibility and market analysis before any formal zoning or infrastructure commitments.

Rollins and Crozier said the presentation was for comment rather than action; Recreation and Parks will take commission input before presenting the concept to the Board of County Commissioners and continuing feasibility work, market analysis and utility coordination.