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La Plata holds public hearing on proposed adequate public facilities rules for roads
Summary
Town staff presented ZTA 02-2026 to add adequate public facilities ordinance (APFO) standards for roads; Planning Commission recommended approval and Council asked staff to codify implementation details, including town oversight of traffic studies and third‑party peer review.
La Plata town staff opened a public hearing June 23 on zoning text amendment ZTA 02-2026, which would add adequate public facilities ordinance (APFO) standards for roads to Article 10, Chapter 191 of the town code. Town Manager Chuck Stevens and Planning Director Don Dooley told the council the draft would complement previously adopted APFO provisions for water, sewer and school capacity and that the Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval, subject to minor edits.
The ordinance would create technical standards and an implementation manual for traffic impact studies tied to new development. "The specific details I'm not prepared to go into tonight because I don't know ultimately what they will be," Town Manager Chuck Stevens said, adding staff has worked with traffic consultants and plans to require developer-submitted traffic impact studies to be reviewed by the town and by contracted peer reviewers.
Council members focused on how the APFO would work where town roads intersect county or state roads, who sets level-of-service grades and who verifies mitigation. Councilman McCormack asked, "Who makes the final say?" Don Dooley said the town can control only its own roads and that the implementation manual will specify procedures and interjurisdictional coordination. Traffic consultant Mr. Carr clarified that developers would not be allowed to "grade their own homework" and that the town will require oversight and, where appropriate, third-party review.
Staff said the draft would require an annual update to the town street map and strengthened coordination with Charles County and the State Highway Administration (SHA) when mitigation affects roads outside the town's jurisdiction. The draft also includes codified criteria for traffic impact studies intended to avoid worsening existing conditions and to identify mitigation measures where necessary.
No members of the public registered to speak during the hearing portion. After questions and brief comments from councilors, the mayor closed the public hearing at 6:21 p.m. and the council reached a consensus to move the APFO road provisions forward for formal legislation and codification.
Next steps: the Council introduced a related zoning ordinance (Ordinance 26-15) for first reading the same night; staff said the implementation manual and peer‑review provisions would be finalized as the ordinance proceeds through the legislative process.
