The St. Mary's County Board of Appeals on Oct. 23 approved a modification to the conditional use for the Sloan/Lovell gravel mine to construct and use a new commercial entrance on Maryland Route 5 (Abel's Way). The board tied approval to a condition: the mine must cease using the existing entrance for mine operations once the new entrance is operational and in no event later than Dec. 31, 2027.

The modification (CUAP‑25‑0066) does not increase the mine’s footprint or mining limits; it authorizes a new entrance and an adjustment of the internal site plan (including relocating scales). County staff and the applicant said the new entrance is on property owned by the applicant, provides improved sight distance, and is closer to active mining operations. The State Highway Administration issued the site access permit for the new entrance before the board vote.

Why the change mattered to the board and neighbors

Applicant legal counsel told the board the existing operational entrance is shared via an easement across a neighboring property; the proposed entrance lies on the applicant’s parcel and will give the operator greater control and a closer point of access to the active pit. Attorney statements and engineering exhibits shown at the hearing emphasized improved sight distance and traffic‑safety elements in the new design, including axle‑and‑decel lanes and pavement milling/repaving.

Traffic, trips and a traffic study

Neighbors raised traffic, dust, noise, and safety concerns. The public record and testimony included complaints about increased truck movements on MD‑5 near Hancock Refrigeration and an adjacent residential driveway. Several residents asked the board to require a traffic‑impact study.

Traffic consultant Jackie Plott (Traffic Concepts), called by the applicant, said a formal traffic‑impact study is not required under county standards unless a project adds 50 or more peak‑hour trips; the applicant’s reported daily average (80 trips per day) translates to far fewer peak‑hour movements and therefore does not meet the county threshold for a formal study. Plott said the proposed entrance aligns with an existing commercial driveway across the road — a configuration traffic engineers prefer to staggered/offset accesses — and that sight distance and safety will be improved compared with the older entrance.

Operations, conditions and enforcement

Applicant operator Sloan (operator of the mine) told the board the new entrance is intended to be the primary access and that the old entrance may be abandoned once the new entrance is operating. Sloan described standard on‑site controls for dust and debris: water truck use to suppress dust, a broom/sweeper and contractors for shoulder clean‑up, and a willingness to respond to neighbor complaints.

During deliberations the board discussed enforcement and neighbor concerns. The approval includes a condition that the older easement entrance will not be used for the mine after the new entrance is operational and in no event later than Dec. 31, 2027. Staff was directed to prepare the written order that will carry the board conditions, and the order will be subject to the same 60‑day signature/30‑day appeal schedule noted for other items.

What was not changed

The approval does not expand mining limits or otherwise increase the authorized mine area; mine acreage remains at the parcel's existing footprint (64.66 acres in the application). State and county environmental and erosion controls that apply to extractive operations remain in force; the board left in place the conditions from prior approvals concerning overall trip averages and other operational limitations that apply to this conditional use.

Next steps

Staff will prepare the signed order documenting the conditions, including the cease‑use/abandonment provision and the requirement that the site comply with state and county approvals. Neighbors and the applicant have the right to appeal the board order to circuit court within 30 days of the order's signature.