Stewart’s Grant Update
Originally Published: April 3, 2023
After another long Planning Commission meeting, the Stewart’s Grant development in Great Mills moved a small step closer to being fully approved. Much historical information about the development was discussed.
I previously posted about this development twice, view that information here: https://www.facebook.com/brandon4st.../posts/213851044567987
County Attorney John Houser made a presentation to clarify what decisions were within the power of the Planning Commission regarding this development. The Commission faced two decisions during their meeting. The first was for a minor amendment to the Planned Urban Development (PUD) to reduce the overall number of dwelling units, eliminate requirements to provide parallel parking on arterial roads, and incorporate neighboring land parcels. The second decision was approval of the overall concept site plan.
Mr. Houser noted specific differences with an approved PUD versus other, smaller approved developments. When a PUD plan is approved, it becomes law via a “special zoning overlay” which is not subject to subsequent changes made to the County’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance or Comprehensive Plan. To be approved, the PUD must go through a long process involving Land Use & Growth Management (LUGM), the Planning Commission, and the County Commissioners.
The County Commissioners may revoke the approval if “construction falls more than one year behind or exceeds 15 years” according to a memo prepared by Mr. Houser. The PUD was originally approved by the County Commissioners in July 1997. At the time, Commissioners Barbara Thompson, D. Christian Brugman, Frances Eagan, and Larry Jarboe signed off on the ordinance, including a provision stating the developer will give land to the County Commissioners for the expansion of the Great Mills High School athletic field.
Later, in June 2004, the PUD agreement was amended with a new ordinance signed by then-Commissioners Tommy McKay, Larry Jarboe, Tommy Mattingly, and Dan Raley. The new ordinance described a transfer of land to the County that would become the site of Carver Elementary School. It was acknowledged during the Planning Commission meeting last week that this was likely done to address concerns about school capacity at the time.
School capacity concerns as they exist now do not need to be addressed. This is because at the time of the original PUD approval in 1997, schools were not considered as part of the Adequate Public Facilities (APF) finding. It is the developer’s position, since the ‘97 agreement is legally binding, any future development of this site does not have to account for school capacity concerns that may exist. With the amount of growth that occurred in the last two decades, this is a major concern.
Attorney Page Wyrough, representing the developers, said that during the early 2000s there was a mining operation on the site. The Chaneys, of Chaney Enterprises, and Bubby Knott, of Great Mills Trading Post, are joint owners of the property and made an agreement with the County to mine the site. Wyrough stated that the development was pushed off due to the housing and economic crises in the mid-2000s, but that now they are intending to get back on track.
The Planning Commission approved the minor amendment changes on March 27th, but had to continue the public hearing and concept site plan approval to April 17th due to the late hour. As was made clear by County Attorney Houser, the Planning Commission has little power to revoke the already approved PUD. That decision must come from the County Commissioners.
If you oppose this project, please mark your calendar for the public hearing on April 17th at 6:30PM. In the meantime, email the County Commissioners at csmc@stmarysmd.gov and let them know your thoughts on this decades old project. Without their intervention, this project will move forward.
