Residents press planning commission to reject Stanley Martin land‑use change for 271‑acre parcel in St. Mary's County

Chris Longmore, legal counsel for the applicant, and Stanley Martin representatives presented a conceptual request to change about 271.39 acres from rural preservation to residential medium density and add the parcel to the Lexington Park Development District. Longmore said the comprehensive‑plan process is the first step in a multi‑step path toward possible rezoning and site review, emphasizing county housing forecasts and proximity to existing Wildwood and Forest Farm neighborhoods and the AeroPark Innovation District. “This is simply allowing our community to have some flexibility in the future,” Longmore said, adding that any future projects would face strict scrutiny and many regulatory steps.

Danielle Conroe, planning consultant for the applicant, described a preliminary plan that would include roughly 415 dwelling units, a large dedicated recreation acreage to be conveyed to the county, and construction of a portion of the Cross County Connector Road within the parcel. Conroe said the developer would conduct environmental assessments, forest‑stand delineations and sound studies, and proposed multilayered buffers along neighborhood edges. “We envision that we would provide some additional housing opportunities… and dedicate some significant acreage to provide the infrastructure to accommodate some of the county’s plans for a large public indoor facility,” Conroe said.

Developers framed the request as a response to projected housing demand and argued the site is a logical infill between already developed plan units. Sean Davis of Stanley Martin Homes said the proposal would create attainable housing near jobs and infrastructure and that the project would not advance without meeting adequate public facilities requirements: “If we cannot do that… then our project will not go any further.”

Hundreds of pages of public comment and two hours of testimony followed. Neighbors recorded multiple concerns about environmental and infrastructure impacts. Caroline (Carolyn) King, who said she served on the planning commission when a similar request was denied, described the tract as “primarily forested property with multiple wetlands and streams” and urged denial to avoid fragmenting wildlife corridors. Ramesh Gaya, a Forest Farm resident, said streams run alongside the proposed site and warned the loss of mature canopy would push wildlife into neighborhoods.

Speakers documented local flooding and stormwater problems they attribute to past development; multiple residents said downstream drainage into McIntosh Run and Breton Bay could worsen. One resident said Evergreen Elementary is already over capacity and asked “Where are these students going to go to school?” Others argued that local roads — Lawrence Hayden Road, Wildwood Parkway and Route 235 — lack capacity and sidewalks, creating safety and emergency‑response concerns.

Several commenters accused developers of using forecasts to argue the county needs the land and warned that changing rural preservation boundaries would set a precedent for future conversions. “When it’s gone, you can’t get it back,” one resident told the commission.

Applicants responded with commitments to standard county reviews, mitigation measures and additional buffering, and they said conceptual slides were provided to address common public questions. Longmore and Conroe repeatedly emphasized that tonight’s hearing is the first “land‑use designation” step and that no construction approvals are being granted.

The commission did not take any final votes on the Stanley Martin application. Chair noted staff will compile testimony and the commission expects to reconvene for deliberation on July 13.