ZONING CHANGE OPPOSED: Change for property in Charlotte Hall Town Center meets buzz-saw of opposition from nearby residents on Charlotte Hall Road at a hearing held by St. Mary’s Board of Commissioners
WUHAN HOOKEY: Commissioner John O’Connor zoomed into the meeting rather than appear in person as he double-dips, collecting a paycheck from St. Mary’s County as a commissioner and as a police officer in Seat Pleasant, Md.
CHARLOTTE HALL, MD – Nearby residents of a property that fronts on both Rt. 5 in Charlotte Hall and the old Charlotte Hall Road that was approved on a 6-1 vote by the St. Mary’s Planning Commission, met staunch opposition at a public hearing held by the St. Mary’s County Board of Commissioners on February 1, 2022.
Existing zoning on parcel not a mistake, but foresight to protect residential community, said caller to hearing
The last speaker who called in remarks told the Board that it was ridiculous for the county to only notify residents who have property within a 200-foot radius of the proposed change. He also said that residents who live along Charlotte Hall Road are impacted by the Frito Lay warehouse and the truck traffic that moves back and forth each day. The caller told the board that far from being a matter of the existing zoning being a mistake, the designation of the existing zoning of two uses, one with more intensity abutting the Rt. 5 corridor and a residential designation on the half of the land accessed by Charlotte Hall Road showed foresight and wisdom.
“Don’t change the zoning” says neighbors
In a presentation of the request by the land use director Bill Hunt, the reasons given for the change was that the mixed-use zoning for the property made it difficult to market and develop – an argument that didn’t mean a hill of beans to the neighbors.
Many residents pointed out that the Charlotte Hall Road area is a residential neighborhood and that past zoning decisions recognized that fact when designating the existing zoning on the property which the owner now wants to change.
St. Mary’s Commissioner Mike Hewitt (R. Hollywood) asked if the property had an existing access driveway to Charlotte Hall Road and Hunt didn’t appear to know the answer.
Zoning lawyer Chris Longmore represents the property owner.
With Acting County Administrator David Weiskopf joining the Board for the hearing, and also the County Attorney, due to the retirement of Dr. Rebecca Bridget, Weiskopf will be juggling two hats and responsibilities.
Play video to watch the entire public hearing, click below:
MECHANICS WANTED
