(5/25) April's meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission saw new members Grant Johnson and Alternate Vincent Cover make their first approval of a final plat. Chair Meredith Wivell was promoted at the same meeting, along with Greg Goodhart, to Vice Chair. The Planning and Zoning Commission is a board of five members and one alternate who reside in Thurmont and serve a term of five years. The Commission is still looking to fill two vacancies.
The two new members had the opportunity to vote on their first final plat approval for Mechanicstown LLC, a 31-lot residential subdivision north of Town at 122 Emmitsburg Road. The preliminary plans for the development were introduced to the Planning and Zoning Commission in March of 2022.
The applicant's representative, David Lingg of Lingg Property Consulting, explained that they are waiting on approval from Maryland Department of the Environment for a section of the development that comes close to some wetlands. This portion will also be where the H&F Trolley Trail will be located.
The trail would potentially connect Eyler Road Park as far as the library in Town with the addition of another six-home subdivision to the east of Mechanicstown LLC. It currently runs from East Moser Road to East Main Street. Additionally, Pleasant Acres Park to the east could be connected to the Trolley Trail in the future.
All required fees and applications have otherwise been approved, with just Maryland Historic Trust and State Highways still pending. Minor corrections to the plat maps must be made before final approval. One of said corrections involves a zoning ordinance prohibiting basements, which has been discussed extensively throughout the review process. The applicant will also be dedicating the Village Green to the Town of Thurmont in the future.
The development will be designed in the cluster style, which means that the homes will be grouped together, allowing for a shared open space. It provides flexibility in design without increasing the density, while also preserving land and reducing the overall extent of public infrastructure. There will be a Homeowners Association as well.
The Commission approved the final plat with minor conditions, including updating map information and waiting on the reviews from three administrations.
