Chesapeake FDR Apartments

Originally Published: September 4, 2024

LUGM Director Grants Extension

Mark Higgs, Manager of FDR Development LLC, sent a letter on June 20, 2024 to the Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM) department requesting a one year extension for the approval of First Colony Pod 5, also known as Chesapeake FDR. Citing a “substantial investment” for development documents, Higgs wrote “we expect improving multifamily market conditions” will lead to major site plan submission “to the County in the coming months.”

LUGM Director Andritz responded on June 21st, “granting a single one-year extension as permitted in the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance.” The concept site plan now has a final expiration date of July 31, 2025, after which the developer will need to seek Planning Commission approval again.

In August 2022, the Planning Commission approved multi-use development Chesapeake FDR, which includes a four-story apartment building with 221 units, a restaurant, corporate suites, and two levels of parking, and 12 townhouses. Located at the corner of FDR Blvd and Route 4, the project received support from the University System of Maryland at Southern Maryland, the Southern Maryland Navy Alliance, and The Patuxent Partnership. The project was described as luxury apartments for the young workforce serving NAS PAX.

One entrance off FDR Blvd, and another off Route 4 across from Church of Christ, will serve the complex. The developer will add a dedicated right turn lane from northbound Route 4 to FDR Blvd to decrease vehicle stacking that now affects where the development’s Route 4 entrance is planned. The stormwater management pond currently present will be reduced in size to accommodate the development, with two submerged gravel wetlands and other measures offsetting the change.

Amenities include walking/biking nature trails around the remaining wooded area and pond. The pool and courtyard, on the second level of the main U-shaped apartment building, are additional highlights.

This site, known as First Colony POD 5, is part of the overall First Colony PUD (Planned Unit Development), dated back to 1997.