St. Mary's County planners review Lexington Park master plan update; December briefing, March hearing targeted

The Saint Mary's County Planning Commission on Monday, Oct. 24 reviewed progress on a draft update to the Lexington Park master plan and outlined a timeline that calls for a consultant briefing to the commission and the Board of County Commissioners the first week of December and a likely public hearing in March, with the county aiming for adoption by July 1.

The draft plan — prepared by consultant Jakubiak and Associates with technical work by a subcontractor identified as the Chesapeake group — grew from a May 25 kickoff, an alternative design workshop on June 15 and an open house Sept. 29. County staff told commissioners the consultant is preparing the first draft now and that the document will be iterative. "These drafts go through iterations. It's not intended to be final; it's intended to be a conversation piece," the presenter said.

The draft and public outreach so far emphasize downtown (now being referred to as the "downtown" core rather than the comprehensive-plan term "town center"), walkability, bike access, traffic calming on Great Mills Road, and economic diversification beyond the local defense industry. Staff said the Chesapeake group conducted a demand analysis and that one of the consultants' surveys collected roughly 640 voluntary online responses; a separate, smaller business survey was conducted by invitation and its results had not been compiled at the time of the meeting.

Why it matters: The plan would shape redevelopment of the Millicent Plaza area, new circulation links such as completion of FDR Boulevard, and redevelopment nodes near Great Mills High School and Laurel Glen shopping center. It also seeks to balance neighborhood impacts — including concerns from residents about traffic and parking in Patuxent Park and Midway — with larger goals for new housing and commercial floor area in the downtown core.

Discussion highlights and technical details

- Timeline and process: Staff recommended commissioners review the consultant materials in December and return in January to set a March public hearing, citing a 60-day notice period…