SMC BOCC Approves Annual Growth Policy
The County Commissioners for St. Mary’s County have approved an annual growth policy for St. Mary’s County.
“We believe that this new policy will help us to achieve the high quality of life for our residents,” explained President Jack Russell. “We need a growth policy to ensure that the right amount of public infrastructure is in place for our community.”
Infrastructure needs include schools, roads, water and sewerage, recreational facilities and public buildings. Continued residential growth is needed to meet the needs of residents and to enhance job opportunities. Annual growth rates of residences over the past fifteen years have ranged from 1.56 percent in 2001 to 3.66 percent in 2004. The average annual increase rate was 2.55 percent.
The Commissioners examined the need for a growth policy at a public
hearing on July 1 and at two work sessions this summer. The newly approved policy lays out a plan to allow an annual growth rate of .90
percent of total dwelling units. The Board of County Commissioners, in concert with the Planning Commission and the Department of and Use and Growth Management, will review the policy annually. Of the new residential units allowed each year, a maximum of 30 percent will be allocated for the Rural Preservation Districts (RPD’s) and a minimum of 70 percent shall be allocated to the non-RPD’s.
Together with the new Growth Policy, the Commissioners also approved a new method to determine adequacy of public schools prior to approval of new residences. Two school attendance zones, being north and south of Patuxent Beach Road (MD4) and St. Andrew’s Church Road (MD4) will be used to determine adequacy of elementary schools and a single county-wide attendance zone will use used to determine adequacy of middle and high schools.
These changes were discussed by the members of the St. Mary’s County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners during meetings aired live on Cable Channel 95. Both boards held public hearings on the changes. The newly approved resolutions and ordinances are available upon request by calling the Public Information Office at 301-475-4200, x1342. For more information, call the Land Use and Growth Management Department at 301-475-4200, x1500.