Honda/Kia Dealership Concept Site Plan
Originally Published: June 27, 2024
Planning Commission Review on July 8th
UPDATE - JULY 7, 2024
REMINDER! The Planning Commission meeting for this proposal is TOMORROW, Monday, July 8th, at 6:30PM at 41770 Baldridge St, Leonardtown. Here is the link to Board Docs, where you can view relevant documents: https://go.boarddocs.com/md/stmarysco/Board.nsf/goto?open...
Start by reviewing the Staff Report, which explains the thorough process used by Land Use and Growth Management (LUGM) employees to review a development proposal. Each requirement that must be met is listed, as is a summary of what the Planning Commission MUST decide.
I’ve seen a lot of questions and comments about how development is allowed to continue when it clearly will have negative traffic (or other) impacts. The Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) and Comprehensive Plan (CP) are what our County Government uses to provide guidelines and minimum requirements to developers. The CZO, in particular, legally empowers LUGM employees, the Planning Commission, and Board of Appeals to make decisions. The CZO also outlines variances or other options in the event a requirement cannot be met. The Honda/Kia dealership is a great example of “other options” related to traffic.
Page 4 of the staff report, item “b. 1) a.” staff finds the “design does not meet requirement” for traffic. “However, CZO §70.6.3(3) allows a payment of fees in lieu of improvements.” In this case, a payment of $18,500 is suggested to help fund a future traffic signal at the MD 235 / FDR Blvd intersection (near Wildewood). The estimated cost of a new signal is $500K.
All of this is perfectly legal and acceptable according to the regulations defined by the County Government. Clearly, it is not fair to expect the Honda/Kia Dealership to pay for complete improvements of the Route 4/MD 235 intersection. The traffic infrastructure is failing because of decades of poor planning at the County and State level, which is based on the development model of relying on developers to fund improved infrastructure. Long term, this model is unsustainable. These are the compromises made to facilitate a broken system.
If you attend the public forum to speak about this project, don’t disparage the business owner who is trying to develop their property within the confines of the law. We have elected people who have enacted and supported these laws/regulations, and hired or appointed others who must as well. Focus instead on how the CZO and CP are NOT working for residents of this county, and use practical examples from your life. It may not change the Planning Commission's decision, which they are required by law to make.
But it will, at least, begin to document the disconnect between what we experience everyday in quality of life versus what the County Government deems acceptable.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE - JUNE 27, 2024
In Septemmber 2023 I wrote about a planned Honda/Kia Dealership owned by Carter-Myers Automotive (CMA) located on the northbound 235 just before the Route 4 intersection. View my previous post here: https://www.facebook.com/informedstmarys/posts/306444795308611
The Planning Commission will review the proposed concept site plan on July 8th at 6:30PM. A total of 8 acres will house 20K+ SF buildings, 115 customer parking spaces and 474 storage/display spaces. Two right-in/right-out entrances are shown on 235. Additionally, the plans show the need for a buffer variance along the eastern property line. The water/sewer cateogry is 3D, meaning service is expected there within the next three years.
New and potential development projects in the surrounding area that I’ve covered before include:
Royal Farms and Chipolte at Oak Crest (23344 Three Notch Rd., planned)
Avid Hotel and retail building with apartments above. (23270 Three Notch Rd., currently under construction)
Riverside Townhomes (23200 Three Notch Rd, across from Harris Teeter on 235 NB, yet to be reviewed by PC)
First Colony Apartments (23151 FDR Blvd, corner of St. Andrews Church Rd., approved in 2022, requested 1 year approval extension in June 2024)
Tidal Wave Car Wash (23186 Three Notch Rd, corner of Rt 4/235 NB, yet to be reviewed by PC)
Magic Tunnel Car Wash (23038 Three Notch Rd, corner of 235 NB/California Blvd, recently PC approved)
Park Place Apartments (23160 Park Place Way, appealing PC’s denial)
Old Rolling Road Apartments (22835 Old Rolling Rd, behind Best Buy, yet to be reviewed by PC)
Those who cannot attend the meeting on July 8th can email their comments to brandy.glenn@stmaryscountymd.gov no later than 2PM on July 5th.
