Board of Appeals approves variances and a special exception for several Prince Frederick and Lusby properties; votes at a glance

The Calvert County Board of Appeals approved multiple development requests at its January administrative hearing, issuing findings and conditions for mitigation and bonding in each case.

Main Street (DOA 25‑4236). The board granted two general variances to allow impacts to wetlands and stream buffers (not stormwater management) so Main Street Development Partnership may construct 24 townhomes and one commercial office building at 305 and 445 Main Street in Prince Frederick. Applicant representatives said site constraints — a narrow, irregular lot with a 40‑foot downhill grade and an existing sewer in the rear buffer — make connection unavoidable without buffer disturbance. Environmental staff outlined planting mitigation at a 2:1 ratio and bonding requirements; the board conditioned the variances on final site plan approval and required mitigation and bonding prior to permits.

Baumgartner (BOA 25‑4237). The board approved a class B special exception allowing a mobile pet‑grooming trailer to operate in the driveway at 8821 Limerick Lane, Owings, finding the proposal meets home‑occupation criteria (one client at a time, no product sales, no employees). Applicant Bethany Baumgartner said graywater will be stored onboard and emptied at a permitted location; staff confirmed the mobile unit as a permissible home‑occupation format provided the applicant meets special‑exception conditions. The board later amended the order to make the special exception applicable only to the current property owners at that address (non‑transferable).

El Paso / Chesapeake Ranch Estates (BOA 25‑4225). The board granted a general variance to eliminate a 10‑ft side setback off steep slopes and a critical‑area variance for steep‑slope disturbance to permit construction of a modest Cape Cod house. The applicant revised the plan to include permanent sediment‑control measures (earth dike with stone outlet and a stone outfall pad), micro‑bioretention devices sized to treat the first inch of runoff, and mitigation plantings. The board required bonding and that sediment/stormwater controls meet best‑available technology or county approval.

Gideon Lane (BOA 25‑4239). The board granted two lateral‑line setback variances to permit a narrow 6‑by‑16‑foot pier on a parcel with only ~32 feet of water frontage; the board found the small pier would not affect navigation or the harbor line and that the limited frontage created a practical difficulty under the ordinance.

Conditions and next steps. Across the granted actions the board routinely conditioned approvals on detailed site plan approval, mitigation planting plans, bonds and use of county‑approved stormwater and sediment controls. Where applicants proposed permanent structures or engineered sediment‑control measures, the board required that the final designs and bonds be approved by county staff before permits are issued.

Votes at a glance (selected outcomes): - DOA 25‑4236 (Main Street variances): granted (motion and second recorded; mitigation and bonding required). - BOA 25‑4237 (Baumgartner special exception): granted; condition added limiting exception to current owners. - BOA 25‑4225 (El Paso variances & critical area variance): granted with conditions (stone/earth dike or approved equal; mitigation and bonding). - BOA 25‑4239 (Weems pier lateral‑line variances): granted.

The board’s official orders will reflect the findings and conditions as read on the record; staff will post adopted orders and the required mitigation/bond details in the affected case files.