Rural Legacy Area Discussed at Meeting

After St. Mary’s County government received a number of comments from citizens about the January 2016 draft proposal of the Mattapany Rural Legacy Area, the boundary has been revised. On Aug. 4, 2016, from 6 to 7:30 pm, citizens can review and discuss the changes at the Lexington Park Library in meeting rooms A and B. The library is located at 21677 FDR Blvd. in Lexington Park, Maryland.
Citizens will be able to make comments at the meeting or submit written comments for review.

The new boundary focuses on areas with more conservation opportunities and removes the majority of small developed residential lots.

The Rural Legacy Areas are an integral piece of the county’s land preservation efforts, which maintain land that is needed for farming and forestry. This helps to preserve the rural landscape of St. Mary’s County and retain the rural character that residents value so highly.

Voluntary easements have been able to preserve more than 11,000 acres. These easements compensate property owners who choose to maintain their properties as rural. This work to preserve land also helps with the military operational capabilities that are necessary to retain the largest economic driver in the county, Patuxent River Naval Air Station, by keeping development in check that might be incompatible with the activities at the base and Webster Field.

Anyone with questions or comments about the Rural Legacy Program or the updated expansion area can direct them to Sue Veith at 301-475-4200, ext. 1547, or via email at [email protected]; or Donna Sasscer at 240-309-4021 or via email at [email protected].

County staff and legacy partners will consider all comments and questions received at the meeting or via mail by Sept. 2, 2016, before they submit a formal proposal for consideration by the St. Mary’s County commissioners in fall 2016.

For more about the Lexington Park Business and Community Association, visit their Leader member page.

Lexington Park news is SPONSORED BY