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County to sign environmental assessment enabling Villas at Lexwoods affordable housing project; 8 project-based Section 8 vouchers planned
Summary
The commissioners authorized the commission president to sign the environmental assessment for the Villas at Lexwoods, a 40-unit low-income rental project in Lexington Park. The project will include eight project-based Section 8 vouchers and units targeted to households at roughly 30–40% of area median income.
The St. Mary's County commissioners on Jan. 14 authorized the commission president to sign an environmental assessment for the Villas at Lexwoods, a planned 40-unit low-income rental development in Lexington Park, enabling the project to receive eight project-based Section 8 vouchers.
County and project representatives told commissioners the development, led by Green Street Housing in collaboration with the St. Mary's County Housing Authority, will use low-income housing tax credits (LIHTC) and will target residents with incomes at approximately 30–40% of area median income (AMI). Tom Eyde, president of Green Street, said the project will consist of 40 affordable rental units and that the housing authority has committed to providing project-based Section 8 vouchers for eight of those apartments to maintain deeper income targeting while leveraging other resources.
The Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) normally submits environmental reviews when federal funds or HUD resources are involved. Project representatives said DHCD declined to submit the environmental review for this project because the state elected to use state loan funds in place of previously anticipated HUD-funded resources; in that case the county must submit the review to HUD. County staff asked the commission president to sign page 16 of a 488-page environmental assessment document to certify a finding of no significant impact. Gary Whipple, deputy director of Public Works and Transportation, told commissioners he had reviewed the assessment and had "no issues with that conclusion." The county will collaborate on public notice as part of the NEPA review process.
Commissioners pressed for details about affordability and timing. Commissioners were told: - The development will contain 40 LIHTC units, all income-targeted to households at roughly 30–40% of AMI. - Eight units will receive project-based Section 8 vouchers; the remaining 32 units will be rented at income-targeted low rents for the respective AMI bands. - A local AMI figure cited by county staff for a family of four in Lexington Park was $143,900. - Villas at Lexwoods will serve families of four earning up to $53,240.
Project representatives described remaining pre-construction steps: final approval from the Maryland Department of the Environment, approximately 30–45 days to wrap up bonding and permits after state approval, and concurrent site work for a pump station upgrade. Green Street's representative said pump station upgrades are budgeted and expected to be completed within the first four to six months of construction. Construction was described as likely to start in April, subject to permits and environmental timelines.
Commissioners voted to authorize the commission president to sign the environmental assessment and related documents to enable the receipt of project-based Section 8 vouchers. The motion passed by voice vote.
The county staff and developer agreed to continue coordinating on public notice and environmental-review timelines required by HUD and NEPA.
