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Board allows removal of two large trees for Solomons mixed‑use project, requires mitigation commitments
Summary
The board approved critical‑area variances to remove two large trees (roughly 36‑inch and 24‑inch) to enable a mixed‑use redevelopment in Solomons Town Center, with the applicant committing to mitigation (3:1 canopy replacement) and stormwater improvements to reduce pollutant load.
The Calvert County Board of Appeals granted critical‑area variances Feb. 6 allowing removal of two large trees on parcels in the Solomons Town Center redevelopment area to accommodate a mixed‑use plan for residential units and retail. Anthony Olexon of COA Barrett and Timothy Holt explained constraints: double‑fronting on South Solomon's Island Road and Back Creek; narrow lot shape; and large tree critical‑root zones that would materially limit building footprints.
Olexon described the trees and the rationale: "One's a 36 inch. 1 is a 24 inch," and said their critical‑root zones and canopy would effectively eliminate portions of building footprints if retained. He added that proposed stormwater management would reduce pollutant loads compared with current conditions and that the landscaping plan includes broad mitigation — the staff report and discussion referenced a 3:1 canopy mitigation requirement (applicants cited replacing roughly 2,400 square feet with 7,200 square feet through a mix of canopy, understory and understory plantings). County and state reviewers had flagged the trees as potential hazard or specimen tree issues during later rounds of review; the board concluded the applicant met the critical‑area variance criteria and unanimously approved the request, noting mitigation and permitting conditions would be enforced in the construction and permitting phases.
Next steps: the variance approvals will be followed by required permits, a stormwater management plan and implementation of mitigation plantings as part of the site’s construction permits.
