Planning commission approves multiple concept plans and family conveyances; conditions applied to private roads

The St. Mary's County Planning Commission approved several concept site plans and two family‑conveyance minor subdivisions during its Jan. 8 meeting, voting unanimously on all recorded motions and attaching conditions on access and road maintenance where staff and commissioners requested further protections.

The commission approved concept site plans for: Shady Court Office Complex (two office buildings, 29,504 square feet); Tom Hodges Auto Sales (14,628 square foot motor‑vehicle maintenance building); Jordan's Office Building (two office buildings, 44,584 square feet); and concept development plans for the Pembroke Thompson (11 lots) and Pembroke Kessler (28 lots) subdivisions to permit amendments to the county Comprehensive Water and Sewer Plan. Staff recommended and the commission accepted findings that these concept plans met requirements for concept approval, subject to the usual follow‑up engineering and adequate‑facilities reviews.

The commission also approved two family‑conveyance minor subdivisions on private roads. MSUB 06‑11000132 (Longs 3‑Lot Minor) was approved with the condition that “an agreement ensuring access to and use and maintenance of the road shall be recorded prior to the recordation of the plat” (motion by Commissioner Thompson; second by Commissioner Chase; unanimous). For MSUB 06‑11000106 (Fredwood Subdivision, Lot 1) the commission approved the family conveyance with a condition requiring “one new road maintenance agreement” to be signed by the 11 improved lots that will result from this approval; the motion was amended on the floor to make clear the commission intended a single consolidated maintenance agreement (motion by Commissioner Guazzo; second by Commissioner Thompson; unanimous).

Where traffic impacts were identified, staff and Public Works recommended mitigation. For Jordan's Office Building Public Works reported several studied intersections would operate at level‑of‑service E or F in peak hours and recommended fee‑in‑lieu mitigation. A State Highway memo also described geometric improvements and a right‑of‑way dedication required along MD 235 for a deceleration lane; the applicant acknowledged the dedication would be required as part of further approvals.

All concept approvals remain subject to final engineering, findings of adequate public facilities administered by the planning director, and any required recordation of plats or agreements as spelled out in the commission motions and by staff memos.