Private septic expansion in Dunkirk proposed

For nearly 30 years, the words “Dunkirk” and “sewer” appearing in the same paragraph have raised eyebrows. While the previous opposition came from those against residential expansion in Calvert’s northernmost town center, the commercial development growth there has been served by large private septic systems.

According to a memo to the Calvert County commissioners from Tay Harris, planning and zoning’s long-range planner, the department has received a request “to change a designated planning category for 17.15 acres of a 49.89-acre parcel from the resource conservation district to the Dunkirk Town Center.”

The land is located off Ward Road in Dunkirk.

“The applicant proposed to utilize the land [identified as the Red Hall Property] as future septic/sewer effluent disposal fields to better serve the Dunkirk Gateway Shopping Center,” according to the memo.

While the county’s comprehensive plan would need to be amended for the proposal to be accepted, Harris noted in her memo, “The proposal is consistent with the Calvert County Comprehensive Plan’s visions to promote sustainable development, encourage a stable and enduring economic base and provide for health and safety.”

The county commissioners discussed the proposal at their Feb. 13 meeting.

Commissioner Catherine M. Grasso (R), as Dunkirk resident, asked Mary Beth Cook, planning and zoning director, to verify the 17.15 acre parcel “is a backup drain field for the shopping center in anticipation of a failure.”

Cook affirmed that it was, adding that the parcel in question does perk and a “restriction” limiting the land as a drain field would be placed on the recorded plat.

“We don’t want to encourage development,” Cook said. “We want it to be for that use only.”

Grasso indicated she wanted an “ironclad” stipulation that development wouldn’t happen there.

“I think they [the shopping center] are on the last leg of their current system,” Commissioner Mark C. Cox Sr. (R) stated, adding he supports the measure to maintain the shopping center’s septic system.

Cook said the public would have ample opportunity to weigh in on the proposal, starting with the amending of the comprehensive plan.

Commissioner Todd Ireland (R) made the motion to begin the public input process for the proposal. The motion passed unanimously.