Village Manor

Six Lot Subdivision in Mechanicsville

A minor subdivision next to Mechanicsville Elementary would split a 7 acre parcel into six lots, eyeing development as single family homes. The county’s Land Use & Growth Management (LUGM) department is currently reviewing documents submitted by KDJ Development LLC for the land located at 28590 Old Village Road. 

Water and sewer access waivers were required to develop the site. Engineering firm Little Silences Rest, Inc. wrote to Metcom citing excessive connection costs. Sixteen miles away, at Route 235 and St. John’s Road is the nearest sewer connection. The cost of installing infrastructure to the nearest sewer connection is over $6.5M, making it prohibitive for the project. The nearest water connection is over a mile away with a $1.07M connection cost. For these reasons, the KDJ Development proposes private water and septics for each home. Metcom recommended the waiver.

In May 2025, the Department of Public Works & Transportation granted a waiver from the St. Mary’s County Road Ordinance. Milestone Lane, the proposed private road serving the six lots, is short a required minimum centerline separation distance by 28 feet. However, because there is adequate sight distance and a “negligible increase in traffic to Old Village Road” from the project, DPWT approved the waiver request. According to the road ordinance, the developer must inform neighboring properties of the decision, and their ability to appeal. 

DPWT subsequently recommended the Minor Subdivision for approval in November 2025. They are just one of many agencies to review and sign off on the project. Others include the St. Mary’s County Health Department, SMECO, the Department of Natural Resources, and the State Highway Administration. 

Only three students, one at each the elementary, middle, and high school levels, are expected according to the capital facilities review from October 2024. 

The development review process does not include the Planning Commission due to its small size and limited impact on public infrastructure. Agreement from all relevant Technical Evaluation Committees is enough for preliminary plan approval. Major subdivisions, defined as those having more than seven lots, go through the Planning Commission for approval.

The six homes planned here have been assigned addresses of 38202, 38222, 38229, 38234, 38252, and 38261 Milestone Lane, which will remain a private road.

—————

Informed St. Mary’s remains paywall free for everyone with your support. Donate here to support this important work.