The Leonardtown Town Council approved the annexation of three properties totaling more than 70 acres on Oct. 14, 2025, extending the town’s boundaries to support future residential and commercial development while bolstering the local tax base.
The properties include portions of the former Mattingly Farm along Cedar Lane and St. John’s Road, as well as parcels situated along Route 5, known locally as Three Notch Road, and Route 234, or Budds Creek Road. These areas fall within the town’s designated municipal growth boundary, as mapped in the 2025 Comprehensive Plan. The annexation resolution, introduced during the council’s regular meeting at 22670 Washington St., passed without noted opposition, marking a step in the town’s measured territorial growth.
Following annexation, the council plans to rezone the land to facilitate a blend of housing and business uses. The Mattingly Farm section, spanning agricultural holdings with historical ties to St. Mary’s County’s farming heritage, would shift primarily to PUD-Residential zoning under Planned Unit Development guidelines. This designation permits denser construction than current rural classifications, potentially accommodating single-family homes, townhouses and limited multifamily units while mandating at least 30 percent open space for community gathering areas.
Parcels along Routes 5 and 234 would transition to zones allowing expanded commercial activity, extending retail and service corridors northward from the town center. Recent ordinances have broadened permissions for attached single-family dwellings, such as townhomes, in these mixed districts, aligning with demands for varied housing stock. Development here could include office spaces, small retail outlets and moderate-density residences, subject to site-specific approvals.
A public hearing on the rezoning proposals remains unscheduled as of Oct. 29, 2025, though state and local codes require such input before final council action. Residents can monitor updates through the town’s BoardDocs portal or clerk’s office at 301-475-7971.
This annexation continues Leonardtown’s incremental border adjustments, guided by the 2025 Comprehensive Plan adopted on April 14, 2025. The plan, effective May 5, 2025, emerged from extensive community workshops and surveys conducted since 2023, emphasizing sustainable expansion amid regional pressures from Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s workforce influx. It identifies the annexed areas as priority zones for infill to preserve green buffers around the historic waterfront square, where 17th-century structures like the Leonardtown Wharf once anchored tobacco trade.
Leonardtown’s population stood at 2,930 during the 2010 census but climbed to 4,563 by 2020, reflecting a 55 percent rise driven by commuting professionals settling in St. Mary’s County’s southern reaches. Projections estimate 6,200 residents by the mid-2020s, more than doubling the 2010 figure and straining existing infrastructure like the Leonardtown Wastewater Treatment Plant, which processes 1.2 million gallons daily. The plan forecasts an additional 1,500 housing units needed by 2040, prioritizing walkable neighborhoods connected via trails like the Leonardtown Greenway, a 1.5-mile path linking schools to the town core.
Rezoning under PUD standards follows a two-phase review to ensure compatibility with these goals. In the Concept Plan stage, developers submit initial designs to the Planning and Zoning Commission, which evaluates alignment with the Comprehensive Plan within 60 days. Input from agencies such as the St. Mary’s County Department of Public Works assesses stormwater management and traffic impacts on routes carrying 20,000 vehicles daily. The commission forwards recommendations to the Mayor and Council, which convenes a public hearing. Approval can occur alongside zoning map amendments for newly annexed land, as in this case.
The subsequent Engineering and Final Plan phase requires detailed plats, environmental studies and conformity checks. Final council sign-off leads to recording in county land records, with developers obligated to break ground within three years or face permit revocation. PUDs enforce quality measures, including pedestrian-friendly layouts, public utilities hookup and open spaces featuring playgrounds or tot lots — elements drawn from the plan’s vision for “vibrant, connected communities” that nod to Leonardtown’s role as the county seat since 1859.
Historically, Leonardtown has pursued annexations sparingly to maintain its small-town scale amid St. Mary’s County’s 5 percent annual growth rate. The 1989 Eastern Annexation added commercial frontage along Route 5, enabling expansions like the Leonardtown Square shopping center. Earlier efforts, such as the 2006 boundary tweaks qualifying areas for state Priority Funding Areas, tied into water and sewer extensions that now serve 90 percent of households. These moves have diversified the tax base from 60 percent residential in 2010 to projected 45 percent by 2030, funding services like the Leonardtown Volunteer Fire Department, which responded to 1,200 calls last year.
The 2025 plan builds on this by designating growth tiers: core historic districts for preservation, transitional buffers for mixed uses and outer edges for higher densities. Community input during plan drafting — over 300 survey responses — favored balanced development, with 65 percent supporting commercial nodes along highways to reduce downtown congestion. For the annexed properties, this translates to phased builds: residential clusters first to house 200-300 families, followed by commercial padsites leasing to chains like those along nearby Charlotte Hall’s corridor.
In St. Mary’s County, where land scarcity pushes valuations to $250,000 per acre in Leonardtown vicinities, such annexations secure municipal control over utilities and zoning, averting county-level sprawl. The process complies with Maryland’s Article 66B, mandating comprehensive plans for land use decisions, and integrates with county initiatives like the 2023 Southern Maryland Gateway project enhancing Route 5 interchanges.
As rezoning advances, the council anticipates developer applications by early 2026, potentially yielding 150 homes and 50,000 square feet of retail space. This infusion could generate $1.5 million annually in property taxes by 2030, per plan estimates, supporting expansions to the Leonardtown Library branch and trail networks. Residents seeking involvement can attend Planning Commission meetings on the first Monday monthly at Town Hall.
The annexation underscores Leonardtown’s evolution from a 1940s population of 500 tobacco farmers to a modern hub of 5,000-plus, where events like the annual Wharf Fest draw 10,000 visitors. By channeling growth into defined boundaries, the town aims to sustain its appeal as a riverside enclave, 70 miles southeast of Washington, D.C., while addressing housing needs for young families and retirees alike.
