Three Notch Commerce Center
Rezoned Property to Develop
Two acres located at 29871 Three Notch Rd is poised for redevelopment after being rezoned more than three years ago with the approval of the St. Mary’s County Commissioners. The parcel, in Charlotte Hall, was originally split zoned. Since the rezoning approval a development project, which could house up to 10 businesses, has been moving slowly through the review process with the county’s department of Land Use & Growth Management (LUGM).
In 2021, the Planning Commision (PC) held a public hearing on a rezoning request for the subject property. After the PC’s approval the matter moved to the County Commissioners who held a public hearing in February 2022. Several members of the local community along Charlotte Hall Road spoke in opposition to the rezoning. Their concerns hinged on the dangers of additional traffic along the small, rural road running adjacent to Route 235. Additionally, the expanding commercial development in Charlotte Hall threatens to eclipse the area’s historic setting. On February 15, 2022, it was a unanimous vote– Commissions Randy Guy, Eric Colvin, Mike Hewitt, John O’Connor, and Todd Morgan all voted to deny rezoning the entire property Town Center, Mixed Use.
The property remains split zoned, with the front portion Town Center, Mixed Use (TMX) and the back portion Residential Mixed Use (RMX).
Residential Mixed Use allows things like farmers markets, residential services, daycare, medical, education, or outpatient care centers, public recreation, financial institutions, office space, restaurants, and other limited uses as approved.
Town Center, Mixed Use permits many of the same things as the RMX category, but also allows broader retail opportunities.
The split zoning is likely why the concept site plan shows the retail strip on the front half of the property and a single building on the back half.
from Concept Site Plan
A review of documents submitted to LUGM show some progress since then. A concept plan for “Three Notch Commerce Center” displays two buildings—one, a nearly 11K square foot retail strip with nine units, and the second a 4K square foot building. Proposed uses include office and commercial retail, but there are no details on what businesses may end up here. Fifty-eight parking spaces, and one handicapped space would serve the retail strip.
Each building is connected to a 1500 gallon septic tank, with the septic drainage field located in the green space between the structures. Charlotte Hall lacks public water/sewer infrastructure so most development must be served by a private septic. However, some developments have agreements with Metcom to provide a right-of-way along Route 235 for future infrastructure installation. Charlotte Hall Commons, where Sheetz is under construction, has such an agreement. Since it’s in a town center it should be connected to public infrastructure but doing so is cost prohibitive because water/sewer isn’t available nearby. Should public sewer be installed in the future, the development is required to connect.
Current view of site from Google Maps
Three Notch Commerce Center is bordered to the south by Southern States. On the north side of the property is Tiger Structures Sheds fronting 235 and a Frito Lay distribution center. Charlotte Hall, in general, is rapidly becoming more of a commercial center and this proposal will continue that trend.
Last document updates were in early 2023 so it’s possible this project has been temporarily paused. Details on the concept plan may change but one thing’s for sure: the property will likely see commercial development in the future.
