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Planning commission approves concept for Baywood Hotel expansion in Lexington Park, asks applicant to return with office elevations
Summary
The commission approved a revised concept site plan to add a 90‑room SpringHill Suites adjacent to an existing 87‑room hotel on Route 235 in Lexington Park, with staff conditions on buffering and a recreational amenity; the commission required the applicant to return with architectural elevations for a proposed office building.
The St. Mary's County Planning Commission approved a revised concept site plan for the Baywood Hotel property on Route 235 (3 Notch Road) in the Lexington Park Development District, permitting a second 90‑room hotel building adjacent to an existing 87‑room hotel and reserving review of a proposed two‑story, 11,000‑square‑foot office building for a later submission.
David Berry of Land Use and Growth Management summarized staff analysis, saying the revised plan is in the commercial mixed‑use zone and located within the Lexington Park Development District. He told the commission the project proposes an additional 90 rooms for a total of 177 and an 11,000‑square‑foot office building, and staff found the concept generally consonant with the county comprehensive plan and functional plans. Berry also said public water and sewer serve the site and that adequate public facilities determinations will be finalized during engineering and subsequent approvals.
Berry recommended approval with a condition that a recreational or picnic amenity be provided on site; staff suggested locations near the stormwater management facility or between the building and the sidewalk. He noted one outstanding issue: a Type B buffer along Route 235 cannot be entirely achieved in one small frontage segment because of a Maryland State Highway easement, and staff recommended the applicant pursue an administrative variance for that segment.
Jim Gotch, representing the applicant Baywood Hotels, said the hotel operator selected a SpringHill Suites prototype for the new building; the franchise offers indoor pool, fitness room and an outdoor courtyard. Gotch said the site plan includes on‑site outdoor seating and that the applicant has designed shared parking between the two hotels and the proposed office use. On shared parking, staff noted the zoning ordinance permits shared parking among uses in a complex and cited that the plan provides 197 spaces versus a simple sum of 221 spaces if calculated separately for the two uses.
Commissioners raised issues about the buffer, recorded access easements, architecture and parking. Several commissioners requested architectural elevations and design details for the office building; the applicant agreed to return with architectural elevations for the office building before that structure proceeds. The commission also clarified that the proposed picnic/amenity needs would be satisfied by the planned outdoor seating and pool area associated with the SpringHill Suites.
The commission voted to approve the concept site plan for the Baywood Hotel subject to staff conditions and with the applicant’s agreement to return with architectural elevations for the office building for subsequent commission review.
