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Board allows removal of specimen tree for industrial park development
Summary
A forest conservation variance was granted to allow removal of one specimen tree at 5241 Cutter Court in the Calvert County Industrial Park so two flex-space buildings and associated parking can be built; the applicant said removal is required for circulation, parking and utilities and will be offset by the forest conservation program or fee-in-lieu.
The Calvert County Board of Appeals granted a forest conservation variance allowing removal of one specimen tree at 5241 Cutter Court to permit construction of two multi-tenant flex buildings and associated parking in the Calvert County Industrial Park.
Dan Kelsch, a professional engineer with COA Barrett, presented the case for TLP Asset Holdings LLC. He said the lot is a flag lot surrounded by developed parcels and that the specimen tree sits in the interior area where truck circulation, parking, stormwater facilities and utilities must be placed. “Removal is required due to its location within the interior of the development portion of the property,” Kelsch said.
Kelsch told the board the overall concept plan had already received concept approval from the planning commission and that the forest conservation requirement will be addressed in the detailed site plan through plantings or payment of a fee-in-lieu. He said the applicant will follow the county’s stormwater and forest conservation requirements in detailed permitting.
Board members reviewed variance standards and concluded special circumstances exist (the lot geometry and the tree’s location), that removal would not injure the public interest given the property context, and that mitigation and stormwater controls would address water-quality concerns. The board voted to grant the variance, directing that forest-conservation obligations be handled in permit review and noting that the site lies within a state- and county-designated priority funding area.
What’s next: Detailed site-plan review will address stormwater design and the forest conservation compliance path (planting and/or fee-in-lieu) before construction permits are issued.
