The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission approved a concept site plan for a new Home Depot St. Mary’s County store on July 28, 2025, marking a significant step for retail expansion in California, Maryland. The 136,750-square-foot building will be located in the Lexington Exchange development at approximately 44766 Oakcrest Road, positioned behind the existing Royal Farms and Chipotle along Three Notch Road.
The approval, listed as CSP25-0047, followed a public hearing where the plan was evaluated for compliance with county zoning regulations. Submitted in February 2025, the concept site plan outlines the store’s layout, including parking and access roads within the 140-acre Lexington Exchange, a mixed-use development designed for over 600,000 square feet of retail, flex, and research space. The Home Depot St. Mary’s County project aligns with the area’s commercial zoning, supporting growth along a key corridor.
Lexington Exchange has evolved as a retail hub in California, a community of about 12,000 near Routes 235 and 4, close to Patuxent River Naval Air Station. The Home Depot St. Mary’s County store will enhance local access to home improvement supplies, serving residents and contractors across Leonardtown and Lexington Park. Its placement behind existing businesses leverages internal roads, reducing traffic impacts on Three Notch Road.
The planning process required the Home Depot St. Mary’s County developers to address standard requirements, including stormwater management and landscaping, as overseen by the Department of Land Use and Growth Management. These regulations ensure developments support the county’s infrastructure without overextension. The approval reflects St. Mary’s County’s ongoing efforts to foster economic growth, driven partly by the naval base’s employment base, with the county’s population exceeding 113,000.
While the concept site plan approval is a critical milestone, further permits for construction and engineering are needed. Typical timelines suggest groundbreaking could begin within a year, depending on final reviews. The Home Depot St. Mary’s County store is expected to create jobs during construction and operation, adding to the economic activity spurred by prior Lexington Exchange additions like a movie theater and dining options.
For Southern Maryland residents, the Home Depot St. Mary’s County development strengthens California’s role as a commercial center. The planning commission, which meets biweekly to review such proposals, ensures projects meet public welfare standards under state and county guidelines. This approval continues a pattern of measured growth in St. Mary’s County, balancing retail expansion with infrastructure capacity.
The Home Depot St. Mary’s County store represents a practical addition to Southern Maryland’s retail landscape, offering new options for home improvement needs while fitting into the planned development of Lexington Exchange.
