Board approves critical‑area variance to replace decaying oyster house with garage, requires mitigation

The Calvert County Board of Appeals unanimously approved both a general variance and a critical‑area variance allowing demolition of an old oyster house and construction of a 26×36 garage with a 15×38‑foot concrete apron at 5420 Williams Wharf Road in Saint Leonard’s/Bernard Point.

David Gilbert, representing the property owners, described the site as a roughly three‑acre peninsula that is largely within the critical‑area buffer. He said removal of the existing deteriorated structure and construction of the proposed garage and apron would result in a net reduction in impervious surface: "The total garage, and apron is, 1,506 square feet, which reduction in impervious once the existing garage is removed will be 426 square feet in reduction," Gilbert said. The applicants and staff emphasized mitigation commitments: critical‑area staff said the area of the demolished oyster house will be returned to a vegetated, natural state and that any shoreline or erosion control work would be handled through the Maryland Department of the Environment permitting process.

Board findings cited the property’s special circumstances (long, narrow peninsula, large portions inside the buffer), the hazard posed by the failing structure and the net reduction in impervious area after demolition of the oyster house. The board moved to grant both variances and voted unanimously. The board noted mitigation and required stabilization work will be conditions of later permitting handled by county/environmental agencies rather than as special conditions in the board’s order.