Planning commission continues Cecil’s Mill Business Park hearing to Nov. 14 after State Highway questions

The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission voted on Oct. 24 to continue review of Concept Site Plan 13-13200001 for the proposed Cecil’s Mill Business Park to its Nov. 14 meeting after staff and the State Highway Administration identified outstanding questions.

The continuance came after the applicant’s representative said he had only recently received comments from the State Highway Administration and that the planning office’s packet lacked some materials the commission needs to make a decision. The planning director and commission repeatedly said they would not accept an incomplete application and emphasized the need for the applicant to supply a revised traffic study and written responses to the highway agency’s questions before the hearing resumes.

Why it matters: The proposal would add commercial buildings adjacent to an existing neighborhood, and dozens of residents attended Oct. 24 to raise questions about traffic, tree removal and site work. The commission paused the hearing to give the applicant and the highway agency time to provide clearer, documented responses that staff and commissioners can evaluate.

Details of the plan and staff concerns

The staff agenda described the proposal as a concept site plan for a 14,200-square-foot, two-story office building and a one-story, 54,000-square-foot assembly warehouse; the owner listed on the agenda is JFT Great Mills LLC. Planning staff and the commission said the record includes a Sept. 22 letter from the State Highway Administration and a revised draft of that letter raising follow-up questions the applicant has not yet answered.

Phil Shire, director of the Department of Land Use and Growth Management, and staff members Bob Bowles and Susan McCauley were present for the meeting and confirmed that the commission needs the highway agency’s signed comments and an updated traffic study before proceeding. Commission members said the packet on the county website contains a highway letter and referenced materials but that some uploaded plans are not legible and that staff can provide clearer copies at the office upon request.

Public turnout and applicant response

Dozens of neighborhood residents attended the hearing and asked for answers about site work they said was occurring on the property. Wayne Hunt, the applicant’s agent, told the commission he would provide clearer site-plan images via a Dropbox link if residents emailed him; Hunt also said test borings had been done but that no construction was under way. ‘‘Send me an email request, and I will send you a link to a Dropbox account that will have very clear, vivid pictures of this site plan for your use and for your information,’’ Hunt said.

Commissioners and staff said they would inspect the property to confirm that no prohibited construction was taking place. Shire said he would have staff visit the site the day after the meeting to verify activity on the lot.

Next steps and public participation

The commission set the continued hearing for Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m. Staff and commissioners asked the applicant and homeowners’ association representatives to meet before that date to resolve outstanding questions; the commission encouraged residents to send questions to the applicant in advance so the applicant could prepare answers.

The commission said that during the resumed hearing staff will present, the applicant will present, and then public testimony will be opened; anyone who signs the public comment sheet will be sworn and given an opportunity to speak. Commissioners asked that commenters who agree with an earlier speaker say so to shorten duplicative remarks, but they stressed that all speakers who sign in will have a chance to comment.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to continue Concept Site Plan 13-13200001 (Cecil’s Mill Business Park) to Nov. 14, 6:30 p.m.: motion carried by voice vote; outcome recorded as approved. - Motion to accept minutes of the Sept. 12 meeting: motion carried by voice vote; outcome recorded as approved.

Ending

Commission staff said they will circulate a copy of the traffic study and any highway-agency correspondence once received and that the commission will not proceed until those materials are on the record. The commission welcomed incoming member Clark Guy, who was expected to be officially appointed by the county commissioners the following day.