The project area was originally zoned for light industrial businesses.  Instead, Town Center South will combine retail and residential buildings.  Admittedly, that combination will better enhance the visual appeal of the neighborhood, but the scope of the project isn’t considerate of existing residents in the Dorchester neighborhoods.

The approval came despite the presence of nearly 500 signatures against it among two petitions and nine constituent letters.  Petitioners were seriously concerned that project’s 491 apartments and 200 townhouses would drastically increase area traffic and overcrowd nearby schools. 

The project was approved by a 3-1 vote of the former Board of Commissioners, last October.  Former Commissioner Candice Quinn-Kelley (R) recused herself from the discussion and vote; former Commissioner Al Smith (R) voted against the project.  Commissioners F. Wayne Cooper (D), Edith Patterson (D) and former Commissioner Robert Fuller (D) voted to approve the project. 

At the time, Commissioner Cooper told local media that he’d discounted the petitions because, in his youth, he’d often signed petitions without fully studying the issues.  Petition signers took offense at that statement and called for a new public hearing on the matter at a time of day more convenient for working professionals than the original hearing’s 11 a.m. Monday time-slot.  The Board of Commissioners did not grant the request and let the matter stand as it was.

County Planning and Growth Management Department says that the developer will install a traffic light at the project’s main entrance across from Dorchester’s St. Phillip’s Drive.  However, The Bay Net was not able to confirm that detail with project developer, Archstone-Smith, or discover that they had conducted the additional traffic impact study which they promised to attendees at last year’s neighborhood meeting on the issue. 

Area residents also felt that Archstone-Smith underestimated the quantity of children the development would add to Wade Elementary, Davis Middle School and Westlake High School.  Archstone-Smith expects 176 new students.  County formulas estimate 306. 

The developer has nearly finished paying the County its $10.3 million for school allocations, fees for use on new school construction based on the number of housing units in a project.  The money would pay for one third the cost of a new elementary or middle school, but only a tenth of the cost of a new high school.

Luxury apartment buildings will be the first constructed, according to the County Department of Planning and Growth Management.  Last year, Archstone-Smith anticipated that the units would rent between $1,380 and $1,400 a month, depending on market conditions.  A two-bedroom luxury apartment in the recently completed Sheffield Green complex goes for about $1,200 monthly.

After much negotiation with county development planners, Archstone-Smith agreed that 6 percent, or 45 of its apartments would be available at what they claim is a reduced rate.  According to Commissioner Cooper, developments usually set aside 10% of their units for reduced rates.  20 ‘‘Hero” units (set aside for emergency services personnel, police officers and teachers) and 25 “workforce housing” units would have rental rates negotiated to 30 percent of the renter’s income. 

Given that financial experts advise that no more than 1/3 of ones income should be spent on housing anyway, that 1/3 of a new sheriff’s deputy’s pay comes to about $1,250, and that Archstone-Smith expects the renters of such units to contribute community service hours to the complex, it doesn’t seem like much of a deal.  Additionally, Archstone-Smith didn’t have to pay school allocation fees for those 45 units, which saved them $675,000.

The Bay Net’s initial inquiries through Archstone-Smith’s media relations department yielded brusque refusals to discuss any topic not part of their archived press releases; no press release exists mentioning the Town Center South project specifically.  An additional call for information made directly to the project manager’s office was cheerfully returned by the media relations officer.  Archstone-Smith guards its project information with a passionate degree of reticence The Bay Net hadn’t yet encountered among private companies.  While they did promise to get us an artist’s rendering of the project, they would absolutely not discuss or confirm any details on individual projects.  At least this time they were polite about it. 

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Charles County Editor, Anna Dailey welcomes your comments on all Charles County issues.
Please leave feedback in the box below or contact her via email:  annadailey@thebaynet.com.