The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission on April 26 approved a concept site plan for Susanna’s Watch Bed and Breakfast, a proposed 4,759-square-foot lodging facility at 27075 South Sandgate Road in Mechanicsville.

Courtney Jenkins, planner with St. Mary’s County Department of Land Use and Growth Management, told commissioners the submission is a concept site plan (20-132007) for a use identified in the county zoning ordinance as Use No. 55, “Lodging Bed and Breakfast Inn.” Jenkins said the plan shows four guest units and that the parcel lies in the Rural Preservation District (RPD) with a Resource Conservation Area (RCA) overlay. “The concept site plan seeks approval for a 4,759 square foot bed and breakfast,” Jenkins said.

The nut graf: The commission found the proposal met the requirements for concept approval under the county’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance, subject to one condition tying any state or county-required road improvements to issuance of the certificate of occupancy. The plan now moves to subsequent technical review and permitting stages, including health department verification of septic, any building permits for interior work and final site-plan steps required by county procedures.

Staff’s presentation noted the property has been reviewed by the Technical Evaluation Committee (TEC) and that public notice was published in the Southern Maryland News on April 9 and April 16, 2021; the agenda was posted April 21. Jenkins entered the staff report into the record as exhibit 2 and said certified mail receipts and posting had been completed in accordance with CCO section 21.3.3.

Scott Burrows, agent for the applicants with Lorenzi Dodge and Gunnell, said the applicants propose to use the existing driveway and asphalt parking, and that the plan includes six parking spaces with one accessible space and evergreen screening around the parking area. “I think staff has has very adequately addressed, everything on this matter,” Burrows said, and said the applicants have architectural plans to add a bathroom and are coordinating health-department approvals.

Owner Jeff Miller, who identified his address as 27071 South Sandgate Road, told the commission the property has long family ties and that the owners plan to operate a small bed and breakfast and continue some agricultural activity on surrounding lots. “We’re hoping to bed breakfast to help pay the taxes and keep it in the family,” Miller said.

Commissioners asked about water and septic capacity. Burrows and staff said the property is served by a well and that the existing septic was sized by bedroom and is not proposed to increase bedroom capacity; the plan shows two septic reserve areas should future upgrades be needed. One commissioner urged the applicants to verify the existing septic in the field before moving forward to avoid later shutdowns for repair.

A procedural issue arose when Commissioner Merle Evans said he had visited the property before the hearing and described his observations on the record. Neil Murphy, deputy county attorney, recommended that Evans consider recusal because some observations Evans described were not otherwise part of the formal record. Evans responded, “I'll gladly recuse myself,” and did not participate in the final vote.

After deliberation, a commissioner moved to approve the concept site plan with one condition: any road improvements required by the state or county must be completed concurrent with issuance of the certificate of occupancy. The motion was seconded and passed in roll-call vote: Joe Fazikas — aye; BJ Hall — aye; Merle Evans — recused; Kim Summers — aye; Patty Robrecht — aye; Howard Thompson (chair) — aye. The commission recorded the approval and that staff’s outstanding technical checks remained.

The commission noted three letters of public support from residents with last names Stauffer, Warren and Beasley were entered into the record. No members of the public offered live testimony.

Next steps cited by staff include verification of septic and health-department approvals, final engineering and any required road improvements before a certificate of occupancy can be issued. The commission’s next meeting, which will include comprehensive plan items, was scheduled for May 10.

Ending: The concept approval establishes that the proposal meets the county’s concept-level standards so the applicants may proceed to the more detailed site-plan and permitting steps; the county must still clear technical reviews and any required road or health-department conditions before the bed and breakfast may open.