Planning Commission approves Prince Frederick assisted-living concept with sidewalk condition

The Calvert County Planning Commission approved the conceptual site plan for CSPR 143166, a proposed assisted-living and memory-care campus with associated market-rate senior cottages in Prince Frederick. Staff asked the commission to approve the 22.18-acre plan with four conditions; after questions about traffic, stormwater and pedestrian access, the commission added a requirement for a sidewalk along the site frontage and approved the concept by roll call.

Christine Venimore, principal planner with the Department of Planning and Zoning, summarized the project and staff recommendation: "Staff recommends approval of conceptual site plan, CSPR 1 4 3 1 6 6, for the Prince Frederick assisted living and memory care facility, with the 4 conditions outlined in the staff report." The plan calls for a 69,251-square-foot assisted-living/memory-care building with 98 beds, 20 market-rate duplex cottages, recreational areas, stormwater management and 95 parking spaces (including 44 ADA-compliant spaces). Venimore said the TIA had been submitted to the Department of Public Works and was under review with only minor comments.

Doug Cooper, representing applicant SHA Capital Partners, clarified unit types and tenure: "The 20 cottages will not have any assisted living or memory care. It's only the main building that will be a licensed assisted living building," and he said the cottages are expected to be market-rate rentals. Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant about pedestrian access along Armory Road, whether sidewalks were required by ordinance and whether DPW's proposed alternatives (lane striping or bike lanes) might be acceptable given topography. The applicant's engineer said retaining walls could be used to fit a sidewalk where needed and that the project would reduce runoff to the existing pond and construct a new pond.

Commissioner Gedley moved to approve the concept site plan with modifications, specifically including a sidewalk across the site frontage. After a roll call vote of the commissioners, the motion passed unanimously (7–0). The commission's approval was for the conceptual site plan stage; the project must still clear detailed and final site-plan review, satisfy conditions in the staff report, and secure any required DPW approvals for traffic mitigation and sidewalk design.