St. Mary’s County isn’t your standard bedroom community—and that’s something worth preserving. Nestled in Southern Maryland, this region offers a rare and cherished blend of small-town charm, rural landscapes, and a local economy rooted in military investment and family-owned businesses. Many Marylanders have moved here specifically to escape the congestion, overdevelopment, and concrete sprawl that define nearby metropolitan areas.
Yet now, under the guise of “smart growth,” state-level initiatives threaten to erase the very qualities that make St. Mary’s County special.
What Happened to Smart Growth?
In the 1970s and 1980s, Maryland embraced what was then a balanced, thoughtful planning model—one that focused development around urbanized hubs while preserving farmland and green space. The 1997 Smart Growth Areas Act reinforced this, channeling growth to already-developed areas and keeping sprawl in check.
St. Mary’s followed suit, designating limited priority growth areas like Lexington Park and Jarboesville Run. Outside of those hubs, the county actively restricted high-density projects to protect rural character and environmental integrity.
But today’s version of “smart growth” often looks nothing like that vision. Rather than community-focused planning, we now see aggressive efforts to push high-density housing into areas that lack the infrastructure or public support to handle it.
High-Density Proposals Are on the Agenda
Residents have noticed a wave of new apartment and townhouse proposals surfacing countywide. While some developments, such as a 40-unit affordable complex in Lexington Park, address real community needs tied to the local workforce, others appear shoehorned into neighborhoods without the infrastructure—schools, roads, utilities—to support them.
Case in point: Commissioners recently rejected an 18-acre affordable housing lease in First Colony Pod #3, citing a poor fit with surrounding development. Their decision reflects local wisdom and a commitment to responsible planning.
“Smart Growth” or Smart Politics?
Proponents of these mandates often cite Governor Wes Moore’s “Housing for Jobs” agenda and density-focused legislation moving through the General Assembly. They argue such policies will help families save money and reduce environmental impacts.
But these proposals were designed for counties like Prince George’s and Anne Arundel—places with mature transit systems, dense development patterns, and different community expectations. St. Mary’s simply isn’t built that way, and most people who live here prefer it that way.
They value open roads, farmland, forest buffers, and a slower pace of life. Applying one-size-fits-all housing formulas to St. Mary’s ignores local needs, geography, and infrastructure realities.
Unintended (or Intended) Consequences
High-density development doesn’t always lower costs. In fact, it often drives up property values and taxes, leading to displacement and strained services. Schools become overcrowded, traffic worsens, and small-town identity erodes. The very people these policies claim to help can find themselves priced out or stuck in communities losing the character they once cherished.
Preserving What Matters
St. Mary’s County’s Comprehensive Plan still includes vital protections—preserving farmland, directing growth to targeted zones, and avoiding rural overdevelopment. But with each new vote in Annapolis, those guardrails are chipped away.
This is not about resisting growth. It’s about managing it wisely. It’s about protecting the unique fabric of our communities while still making room for people who want to live and work here. Sensible planning means saying yes to projects that make sense—and no to those that don’t.
Practical Solutions for Sustainable Growth
1. Focus Growth Near Existing Hubs
Limit dense development to Lexington Park and Leonardtown—areas with roads, water, schools, and infrastructure already in place.
2. Build Infrastructure First
Require adequate funding and planning for roads, schools, sewer, and broadband before greenlighting large housing projects.
3. Protect Rural Traditions
Maintain zoning protections for farmland, equestrian trails, and quiet, rural neighborhoods that define St. Mary’s.
4. Align Development with Local Industry
Support housing that serves the workforce at Pax River NAS and complements local small businesses—not commuter overflow from the Beltway.
5. Empower Local Voices
Any major shift in zoning or housing mandates should go to public referendum. Residents deserve a direct say in how their communities grow.
Conclusion
True smart growth should reflect the values and identity of the people who live in a community—not override them. St. Mary’s County isn’t just a place—it’s a way of life. If we want to preserve its character, we must resist top-down development mandates that treat every zip code the same.
Let’s embrace real planning—thoughtful, intentional, community-rooted development that keeps St. Mary’s special for generations to come.
Endnotes
- Maryland’s 1997 Smart Growth Areas Act aimed to curb sprawl by directing growth to designated “priority areas.”
- County policy continues to restrict high-density housing to clusters near existing nodes.
- Commissioners recently rejected an 18‑acre affordable housing lease, citing neighborhood mismatch.
- Gov. Moore’s “Housing for Jobs” and transit-oriented development bills push density statewide, often in counties without mitigation plans
- Pro-density policies can paradoxically lead to higher housing costs—a common critique of smart growth.
Aaron Ackerman is a columnist for Direct Line News. Contact Aaron at Aaron.Ackerman@mcgopclub.com
Direct Line News is a Maryland-based free-access publication committed to the Republican reform tradition.
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