Leonardtown planning commission approves Meadows at Town Run Section 2 Phase 3 site plan

The Leonardtown Planning Commission on an aye vote approved the final site development plan, architectural façade and record plan for Meadows at Town Run Section 2 Phase 3, which consists of one 36-unit apartment building and a community building. The approval was granted subject to outstanding agency approvals and the allocation of equivalent dwelling units (EDUs) from the town’s wastewater system.

The approval matters because the project adds a multifamily building and community amenities to the Meadows at Town Run development just outside the Leonardtown municipal limits and because the recordation of the phase and issuance of building permits depend on the town’s wastewater capacity and final fire marshal sign-off. Planning staff told the commission that the town’s wastewater treatment facility upgrade is projected to be complete in March 2025; EDUs will not be available and assigned for the phase until the upgrade and final agency approvals are complete.

Planning staff reported that earlier phases of Meadows at Town Run established the main road into the subdivision (Wildflower Drive) and that phases 1 and 2 are under construction with utilities in place. The applicant submitted the phase 3 materials to St. Mary’s County Public Works and Transportation and the St. Mary’s County Soil Conservation District; the town received DPW and SCD final site development comments in September 2024 and issued a grading permit on Jan. 3, 2025. Staff told the commission that architectural plans for the apartment and community buildings have not yet been submitted for full plan review, although façade renderings were included in the packet.

Commissioners and the project team discussed infrastructure and timing. Staff and the applicant explained that the apartment building will consume a portion of EDUs (the presentation estimated roughly 0.7 EDU per apartment, which would place a 36-unit building near 25 EDUs), and the rec center would require additional EDUs. The town’s health department and permit officials want to see the wastewater plant work completed before signing plats and assigning EDUs, the commission was told.

The applicant presented site design details including sidewalks, street trees, parking counts, a looped sewer/force main connection and a multiuse path intended to link Meadows 1 and Meadows 2. The path design was described as five feet wide with occasional wider (about eight-foot) crossover points; the team said a bridge crossing would be wider. Traffic improvements at the MD 245 (Hollywood Road) entrance were completed earlier in the project and, according to the developer’s consultant, the traffic study showed the intersection will accommodate the additional traffic generated by the development.

Planning staff framed the commission’s choices as approve, approve with conditions, delay, or deny; the commission voted to approve the final site development plan, architectural façade and record plan for Phase 3. The approval carries the condition that required agency sign-offs (including the state/local fire marshal and any DPW or health-department conditions) be obtained and that recordation await EDU assignment.

Votes at a glance: the commission approved the minutes of the Nov. 18, 2024 meeting (motion to approve accepted), and approved Case No. 100-15c (Meadows at Town Run Section 2 Phase 3) for final site development plan, architectural façade and record plan, with the recordation and some permits contingent on agency sign-offs and availability/assignment of EDUs.

The project team said it aims to have infrastructure substantially in place by late spring and to begin building this year if EDUs and necessary permits are available. The town will schedule future public hearings related to the comprehensive plan and zoning amendments; staff noted the comp plan draft was submitted to the state on Jan. 10, 2025 and that the state review is expected by March 11, 2025.