Potential Waldorf housing development draws outcry from residents

Richland’s Crossing — a proposed housing development along Route 5 — could put nearly 50 townhouses on 10 acres, and some residents of the area are not pleased.

The June 3 meeting of the Charles County Planning Commission allowed those residents to write in or voice their concerns on the development, which will be between Mirkwood Lane and Council Oak Drive in Waldorf.

The planning commission noted that they do not take action on conceptual subdivision plans.

“We strongly disagree with the building of this new development. We chose to live in this community specifically because of how peaceful and quiet our neighborhood is,” Marichelle Lapating, a resident of one of the nearby neighborhoods, said. “Given this development’s extremely close proximity to our backyards, our neighborhood’s peace and privacy would undoubtedly be negatively affected.”

Traffic was a foremost concern among residents, with some saying the area can barely handle the current volume of traffic.

“Additional housing will create more cars, traffic and no thought of better infrastructure,” Dale Ward, another resident of the area, said.

“The addition of 50 more homes in the area will be a traffic nightmare,” Judy Clary, a resident of Mirkwood Court, said. “The current infrastructure — roads — is not sufficient as it is to handle the current traffic. The flow of traffic on Mattawoman Beantown Road will be a major nightmare.”

“Mattawoman Beantown Road, aka alternate Route 5, was widened by eminent domain, in which my family’s land lost 5 acres, in the mid-1990s,” Tara Bouchard of Millersville said. “This was done for use as a bypass for commuter traffic since Route 5 farther in Waldorf was and continues to be overdeveloped and unable to handle the volume of vehicles without significant time delays.”

A concept plan for the development shows that acceleration and de-acceleration lanes would be along the southbound lane, but there is no indication if new traffic lights are planned.

“Though this is early in the process, I expect a traffic impact study will be performed and Charles County will provide input with the state of Maryland making the final decision,” Bouchard said.

The project would also result in a substantial amount of trees being removed, which create a buffer between the neighborhoods and Route 5.

“The wood line provides the community a small aspect of nature while also muffling sounds of the heavy traffic from Route 5,” Britney Greenwood of Fernwood Court said. “Please consider keeping some of the woods in Charles County. The animal population is having a hard time in identifying shelter with all the demolition of wooded areas.”