Planning Commission Reviews Seven Land Use Change Requests
The Planning Commission will hold a public hearing July 7 to receive public feedback on requests to change the land use designation of seven properties across St. Mary's County. If approved, the changes could expand development districts and increase allowable development density.
Submitted by property owners, the requests are part of the county's Comprehensive Plan update. The draft plan would reduce the number of land use categories from 23 to nine, with each category establishing permitted land uses, zoning and development density.
Land use categories unique to the Lexington Park Development District are defined in that district's master plan.
As of this writing, seven land use change requests have been submitted to the county and are scheduled for review by the Planning Commission. Below is a summary of each request and information included in the public record.
All requests may be viewed in full here:
Lloyd Property
18558 Point Lookout Road, Park Hall | 20.45 acres
Images from LUGM documents
The property owner is requesting a change from Rural Preservation to either Mixed-Use Moderate Intensity or Residential High Density.
The property is surrounded by the Fox Meadow and Friendly Farms subdivisions and fronts Route 5 just south of Park Hall Elementary School.
In the application, the owner states the area was "historically treated as an isolated rural village," but argues the St. Mary's 2050 Comprehensive Plan creates "the unified Great Mills/Park Hall growth node." However, no reference to such a growth node appears in the draft plan available for public comment.
Comments from the Department of Emergency Services note additional strain on fire, EMS and law enforcement resources that could result from development. The Metropolitan Commission also states there are no plans to extend water or sewer service to the area and that development would require expansion of the Marlay Taylor Water Reclamation Facility service area.
Family Tree Ventures II LLC
26510 Three Notch Road, Mechanicsville | 0.52 acres
Images from LUGM documents
The property owner is requesting a land use change from Rural Preservation to Rural Commerce.
In an April 2026 letter, the applicant's attorney, Chris Longmore, stated the current land use designation "makes it more difficult to use the property" than the adjacent parcel, which is already designated Rural Commerce.
A single-family home currently occupies the property, located at the southern intersection of Oakville Road and MD 235.
LMZ LLC
43737 Sandy Bottom Road, Hollywood | 9.4 acres
Images from LUGM documents
The property owner is requesting a land use change from Rural Preservation to Residential Low Density and to add the parcel to the Hollywood Town Center.
In a March 2026 letter, attorney Chris Longmore said the request reflects a "desire to develop the property, in the near future, with some form of residential development."
Land across Sandy Bottom Road, including the newer Woodmore subdivision, is already within the Hollywood Town Center growth area. Longmore wrote that changing the land use designation and expanding the town center boundary would "allow for the reasonable but meaningful development of this property."
Comments from the Department of Emergency Services note additional strain on fire, EMS and law enforcement resources that could result from development.
Medina Partnership
29805 Three Notch Road, Charlotte Hall | 6 acres
Images from LUGM documents
The property is split-zoned, with the rear portion along Charlotte Hall Road designated Residential High Density and the frontage along MD 235 designated Mixed Use Low Intensity.
In a March 2026 letter, attorney Chris Longmore said his client is requesting that the frontage along MD 235 be redesignated as Mixed Use Moderate Intensity.
The applicant previously sought to eliminate the split zoning in 2021. After residents along Charlotte Hall Road raised concerns, Longmore wrote that his client is now seeking to rezone only the portion fronting MD 235. The letter states "the area has seen a great deal of successful and robust development recently and granting my clients request would allow for the future development of my client's property."
Comments from the Department of Emergency Services note additional strain on fire, EMS and law enforcement resources that could result from development.
Bumpy Oak Corp.
44249 Clarkes Landing Road, Hollywood | 33.35 acres
Images from LUGM documents
The property owner is requesting a land use change from Rural Preservation to Residential Low Density and to include the property within the Hollywood Town Center.
A March 2026 letter from attorney Chris Longmore cites a "desire to develop the properties in the near future with single family residences."
The property is adjacent to the current town center boundary behind Dollar General and Tractor Supply in Hollywood.
According to the application, development would create a buffer between existing commercial properties and Rural Preservation land along Clarkes Landing Road. The letter states the "property is a prime candidate for a change in land use (and ultimately in zoning) to allow for a reasonable sized development."
Comments from the Department of Emergency Services note additional strain on fire, EMS and law enforcement resources that could result from development.
Seaforth Partnership LLP
15914 Camp Merryelande Road, Piney Point | 25.5 acres
Images from LUGM documents
The property owner is requesting a land use change from Rural Preservation to Marine Use.
The March 2026 application states the change would correct an existing zoning error. Camp Merryelande has operated at the site since 1981. Before that, the property was owned and operated by the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C., for Catholic camping activities.
The application references a planned expansion known as "Phase 2," consisting of 72 campsites and six RV hookup sites. An expansion approved under a 2012 site plan was never constructed.
The applicant states that rezoning could generate additional tourism revenue by allowing more visitors to stay at the site.
The Department of Emergency Services supports the proposal. Comments from NAS Patuxent River state there are no concerns with the current expansion plans but request involvement in any future proposals to evaluate potential encroachment on Webster Field.
Stanley Martin Companies LLC
23405 Lawrence Hayden Road, Hollywood | 271.39 acres
Images from LUGM documents
The property owner is requesting a land use change from Rural Preservation to Residential Medium Density.
A letter from attorney Chris Longmore also requests that the property be added to the Lexington Park Development District. The property lies between Forrest Farm and Wildewood, with Wildewood already inside the development district.
Longmore notes that "Affiliated entities" of Stanley Martin Companies, LLC developed the most recent phases of Wildewood. He states that not all of the density approved for Wildewood was used and that his client plans to develop single-family homes and townhouses on the property in the "near future." The company is also prepared to "devote a portion of the property to provide a significant recreational facility."
Comments from the Department of Emergency Services note additional strain on fire, EMS and law enforcement resources that could result from development.
St. Mary's County Public Schools does not support the request because of its "significant impact on available school capacity." If the land use change is approved, the school system requests "a future school site adjacent to Evergreen Elementary be deeded to the school system by the developer."
Residents who wish to comment on any of the proposed land use changes may attend the public hearing at 6:30 p.m. July 7 in the Chesapeake Building, 41770 Baldridge St., Leonardtown. Written comments also may be submitted for the public record by emailing gabrielle.gleissner@stmaryscountymd.gov.
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