The Charles County Planning Commission unanimously denied a preliminary subdivision plan and associated variance request for the Liberty Bell development during its Jan. 12, 2026, meeting in La Plata, citing failure to meet required hardship criteria for allowing smaller lots on a private drive. The decision followed public testimony highlighting concerns over regulatory compliance and environmental violations on the 5.5-acre site in Ironsides.
Commissioners Kevin Wedding, Jeff Bozard, Dennard Earl, Duod Abdul Rahman, Samaya Hackett and Ryan Secretowski voted to reject the application after hearing from staff, the applicant’s representative and two public speakers. The property, zoned village commercial and located near Smallwood Church Road and Mason Springs Road, proposed five one-acre single-family lots served by a private drive. Applicant Tim Lesner of Lorenzi Dodds and Gunnill argued the variance under Section 278-104 of the subdivision regulations was justified due to the zone allowing one-acre lots and prior approvals for forest conservation and percolation tests. However, commissioners expressed concerns over setting precedents and the lack of undue hardship, noting alternatives like rezoning to rural conservation could achieve similar outcomes without deviation.
Public commenter Nancy Schurtler urged denial, stating the request did not demonstrate parcel-specific conditions like narrowness or topography creating hardship, and referenced a past timber harvest violating a 1.11-acre forest conservation easement from a 2006 subdivision. “The Planning Commission does not have the authority to approve this modification request without proof that the property specific hardship standard has been satisfied,” Schurtler said. Norman Saunders supported the project, sharing historical context of the site as a former farm and favoring residential use over its unkempt state. Staff recommended approval with conditions, finding no adverse impact on public facilities, but the commission prioritized strict adherence to regulations. The property lies in septic tier three, requiring the public hearing under the Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act.
Earlier in the meeting, the commission reviewed the conceptual subdivision plan for Cedar Ridge, a proposed 33-lot residential development on 63.61 acres off Maryland Route 6 near La Plata. Zoned rural residential, the plan includes 15.9 acres of open space and access via Chapman Court. Applicant Lesner noted positive percolation tests and compliance with tier two growth designations, but public speakers raised issues. Andrew Higgins questioned impacts on wells, septics and stormwater, citing heavy equipment crossing streams during testing. Schurtler highlighted inconsistencies with state law limiting major subdivisions on septic to public sewer or minor status of seven lots maximum, plus anti-degradation constraints in a tier two watershed with no assimilative capacity. Tina Jones expressed flooding risks from an existing drainage easement channeling water from Clark’s Run. Jonathan Paxton voiced concerns on boundary lines, wildlife displacement and traffic. No action was taken, as conceptual plans inform the public; a preliminary plan must follow within one year.
Personal appearances included Schurtler inquiring on the 2026 comprehensive plan update timeline. Planning Director Steve Rice announced five public meetings: Jan. 29 at Waldorf Senior and Recreation Center, Feb. 12 at J.C. Parks Elementary, Feb. 26 at Piccowaxen Middle, March 12 at Mount Hope/Nanjemoy Elementary and March 26 at T.C. Martin Elementary, all from 6 to 8 p.m. Jacqueline Moore opposed zoning text amendment #25-187 for data centers, citing strains on infrastructure, ecology, electricity costs and noise. She called for a task force, mandatory environmental surveys and transparency without nondisclosure agreements. A work session on the amendment is set for Feb. 2, with comments compiled this week.
The meeting also featured a briefing on the fiscal year 2027-2031 capital improvement program by Joel Rogers of Planning and Growth Management. The proposed $1.2 billion plan includes 188 projects, with 49 new requests primarily from Recreation, Parks and Tourism for park enhancements. Commissioners will vote on consistency with the comprehensive plan Jan. 26. No unfinished or new business was raised, and the meeting adjourned.
