Planning Commission Recommends Comprehensive Plan
The St. Mary’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan is headed to the County Commissioners after the Planning Commission voted Aug. 3 to recommend approval, marking a major step in a revision process that has been underway for about two years.
The recommendation passed 5-2, with Planning Commissioners Patricia Robrecht and Lynn Delahay voting against it. Before taking that vote, the commission unanimously approved four memos covering changes prompted by state agencies, public comments, the Department of Economic Development and Planning Commission feedback.
But the biggest disagreement centered on one question: How much is St. Mary’s County actually expected to grow?
State projections used in the comprehensive plan anticipate nearly 40,000 additional residents by 2045. But the St. Mary’s County Public Schools Education Facilities Master Plan shows elementary and high school enrollment increasing only slightly through fiscal year 2036.
from SMCPS Educational Facilities Master Plan Presentation - July 27, 2026
Planning Commissioner Patricia Robrecht
That difference concerned Robrecht.
"There's an inconsistency between what's in this plan" and the school system's enrollment projections, she said. Robrecht added, "I do not believe this document should go [forward] until someone can figure out what's the right way to address the inconsistancies."
Planning Commissioner Lynn Delahay
Delahay was similarly skeptical. "We aren't in a place that's going to grow like a city," she said.
Other commissioners acknowledged that much of the population data comes from state projections, but did not directly address the discrepancy.
The commission also considered three requests to change land use designations.
At 43737 Sandy Bottom Road, LMZ LLC sought to change more than 9 acres from Rural Preservation to Residential Low Density and add the property to the Hollywood Town Center. LUGM Deputy Director Brandy Glenn said the Town Center designation would allow additional development density. The commission unanimously denied the request.
The commission also rejected a request involving the 20.45-acre Lloyd Property at 18558 Point Lookout Road in Park Hall. The owner initially sought a change to higher-density residential or mixed-use development and inclusion in the Lexington Park Development District. The request was amended after the commission's July 7 public hearing.
Because the public had not been able to comment on the amended request, commissioners unanimously denied it.
Finally, Thomas Haynie, owner of Tommy's Truck Service II Inc., sought to redesignate two Avenue properties — approximately 1 acre and 49 acres — from Rural Preservation to Rural Commerce. Haynie said he wanted to move his truck mechanic business from Charles County to St. Mary's County.
The commission voted 4-3 to deny the request for the 1-acre parcel and unanimously denied the request for the 49-acre parcel.
The Planning Commission's vote does not approve the comprehensive plan. It now goes to the County Commissioners, who must hold their own public hearing before voting.
No work sessions or hearing dates have been scheduled yet, although several commissioners have indicated they want to review the plan and consider changes first.
Some residents have also called for the process to be paused until after the November election, arguing the next Board of County Commissioners should make the final decision.
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