Citizens against hollywood shopping center

[So_what]

CITIZENS AGAINST HOLLYWOOD SHOPPING CENTER
(CORNER OF Rt.235 and Sotterley Rd.)
Community Meeting
Wednesday February 1 @ 6:30
Hollywood Fire Dept. Bingo Hall
Please join fellow community members for an update on the appeal of the Concept Site Plan.

Brief Background: The St.Mary’s County Planning and Zoning Board denied the application to build the shopping center at the corner of Rt.235 and Sotterley Rd. in Hollywood. The developer appealed to the St.Mary’s County Appeals Board which approved the concept plan. Several Hollywood residents have filed a suit to appeal that decision. They aren’t opposing the shopping center, just the fact that the main entrance will be across the street from the current Burch Mart. They plan on widening Sotterley Road at the Rt.235 intersection to 5 lanes wide instead of having the entrance further North on Rt.235 across from the Hollywood Fire Dept. If you know and use this intersection you know how bad it is currently. (there was another accident there just last week) Imagine how bad it will be if Sotterley is widened to 5 lanes right there.
Please show up for the meeting and learn more about the situation and what you can do to help.

 

[Restitution]

Go through that intersection every day. The problems with it pertain to the horrid layout of the Burchmart and the lack of positive intersection control. It has nothing to do with a new shopping center.

Personally, I don't care if they build it or not but..... that intersection is horrible as it stands now. :shrug:

 

[BernieP]

Just what is needed, another entrance / exit on 235 that will require a traffic light
Probably within 0.2 mile of the one at 235/245.

Pick your poison. An entrance on 235 is sure to contribute to an increase in collisions at that intersection - given the speed limit is 55.
Oh, let's just drop the speed limit on 235 to 35 and put meters up to charge for the parking.

This is what happens when all the power is vested in one place - the governors office and you get "smart growth".
"Don't build it because it will cause new development". So we don't build or plan for the traffic
You want all the development on the 235 corridor except McMansions, well this is what you get.

 

[ltown81]

I would rather they redesign the current intersection to flow right rather than have another entrance. These people don't want the shopping center make no mistake. The name of the group is "Citizens against hollywood shopping center". The whole intersection complaint is just cover because it is the only remotely valid argument left.

 

[tipsymcgee]

I would rather they redesign the current intersection to flow right rather than have another entrance. These people don't want the shopping center make no mistake. The name of the group is "Citizens against hollywood shopping center". The whole intersection complaint is just cover because it is the only remotely valid argument left.

I believe the citizens are also arguing about the use of the Old Route 235 that runs from 235 back to Sotterly Road, which they proposed to have a back entrance to the center from off the back road, and worry about the delivery trucks using that entrance or Sotterly Road. Problem is they can't have or don't want a light at the Fire House light, as that may hamper them exiting in emergencies. With Burchmart supposed to move there and CVS moving there from the St. John's location, it's likely to happen regardless.

 

[Forkian]

BUILD IT! I'm all for it! Can't wait!

 

[BernieP]

I would rather they redesign the current intersection to flow right rather than have another entrance. These people don't want the shopping center make no mistake. The name of the group is "Citizens against hollywood shopping center". The whole intersection complaint is just cover because it is the only remotely valid argument left.

What we like to call NIMBY

 

[BernieP]

I believe the citizens are also arguing about the use of the Old Route 235 that runs from 235 back to Sotterly Road, which they proposed to have a back entrance to the center from off the back road, and worry about the delivery trucks using that entrance or Sotterly Road. Problem is they can't have or don't want a light at the Fire House light, as that may hamper them exiting in emergencies. With Burchmart supposed to move there and CVS moving there from the St. John's location, it's likely to happen regardless.

A light at the current cut through wouldn't hamper the emergency service vehicles. The stupid drivers coming from the shopping center might be a problem as would thru traffic on 235.

The real problem would be having two lights stacked so close that traffic would get back up in that area during rush hour.

Using Old Rolling Road as a feeder is probably a good start, along with improvements at Sotterly Road at Old Rolling Rd and 235.

But as a previous poster said, it's the shopping center and NIMBY effect.

 

[terbear1225]

Seems odd to look at creating another shopping center when the area with the movie theater and Aldis seems to be at a stand still as far as additional development.

 

[ShyGirl]

They aren’t opposing the shopping center, just the fact that the main entrance will be across the street from the current Burch Mart.

Traffic on Sotterly, waiting for the light, would block cars from turning left to enter the shopping center. When the light changes, the waiting cars clear, but cars going straight through or waiting to turn into the shopping center could create a jam that backs into 235.

Cars waiting to turn into the shopping center also prevent cars, exiting from Burchmart onto Sotterly Road, to move.

Bad idea.

 

[Grumpy]

Isn't there enough shopping down here already?? 4/235, aldi's area..and now 235/sotterly?? St Mary's getting its very own Waldorf..

 

[BernieP]

Seems odd to look at creating another shopping center when the area with the movie theater and Aldis seems to be at a stand still as far as additional development.

What is the saying about a fool and his money?

Dislike the idea all you want, but in this country we believe the property owner has the right to do as he sees fit - of course we've strayed from that a bit with "plans" and zoning laws. So do we believe in the constitution, or are we becoming a socialist nation, where the government tells you what you can and cannot do?

 

[ltown81]

This. From what I understand, the new shopping center has tenants already. The Aldi one may be held up because the developers want too much or national chains don't like the location. The new shopping center that has tenants and proper zoning should not be held up because the Aldi shopping center is slow to develop.

What is the saying about a fool and his money?

Dislike the idea all you want, but in this country we believe the property owner has the right to do as he sees fit - of course we've strayed from that a bit with "plans" and zoning laws. So do we believe in the constitution, or are we becoming a socialist nation, where the government tells you what you can and cannot do?

 

[So_what]

Traffic on Sotterly, waiting for the light, would block cars from turning left to enter the shopping center. When the light changes, the waiting cars clear, but cars going straight through or waiting to turn into the shopping center could create a jam that backs into 235.

Cars waiting to turn into the shopping center also prevent cars, exiting from Burchmart onto Sotterly Road, to move.

Bad idea.

What she said! Traffic coming out of Sotterley backed up at the 235 intersection would block traffic trying to enter/exit the shopping center. It's going to get built, citizens just want it done properly. The developer BS'd the planning board on a lot of the aspects of the project. Tenants so far are CVS, Burchmart moving and Windgardner Chevrolet and some sort of food place which is lacking in the Hollywood area anyways. Oh yea and probably a nail salon and other requisite places.

The intersection by the firehouse already exists. Putting a light there wouldn't be a problem as it can be timed/controlled to match the one at 235/Sotterley. The firehouse can control the flashing lights already and would be able to control the traffic light also.

 

[tipsymcgee]

What she said! Traffic coming out of Sotterley backed up at the 235 intersection would block traffic trying to enter/exit the shopping center. It's going to get built, citizens just want it done properly. The developer BS'd the planning board on a lot of the aspects of the project. Tenants so far are CVS, Burchmart moving and Windgardner Chevrolet and some sort of food place which is lacking in the Hollywood area anyways. Oh yea and probably a nail salon and other requisite places.

The intersection by the firehouse already exists. Putting a light there wouldn't be a problem as it can be timed/controlled to match the one at 235/Sotterley. The firehouse can control the flashing lights already and would be able to control the traffic light also.

SHA has a lot of say-so in these things also, and I believe at one of the board hearings it was said that SHA did NOT want a light at the Firehouse intersection.

 

[So_what]

SHA has a lot of say-so in these things also, and I believe at one of the board hearings it was said that SHA did NOT want a light at the Firehouse intersection.

One of the lies the developer said, they never asked SHA, they referred to a request 10 years ago.

 

[somdforever]

Bad Intersection Idea

CITIZENS AGAINST HOLLYWOOD SHOPPING CENTER
(CORNER OF Rt.235 and Sotterley Rd.)
Community Meeting
Wednesday February 1 @ 6:30
Hollywood Fire Dept. Bingo Hall
Please join fellow community members for an update on the appeal of the Concept Site Plan.

Brief Background: The St.Mary’s County Planning and Zoning Board denied the application to build the shopping center at the corner of Rt.235 and Sotterley Rd. in Hollywood. The developer appealed to the St.Mary’s County Appeals Board which approved the concept plan. Several Hollywood residents have filed a suit to appeal that decision. They aren’t opposing the shopping center, just the fact that the main entrance will be across the street from the current Burch Mart. They plan on widening Sotterley Road at the Rt.235 intersection to 5 lanes wide instead of having the entrance further North on Rt.235 across from the Hollywood Fire Dept. If you know and use this intersection you know how bad it is currently. (there was another accident there just last week) Imagine how bad it will be if Sotterley is widened to 5 lanes right there.
Please show up for the meeting and learn more about the situation and what you can do to help.

Just wait until they have tractor-trailer car haulers wanting to make the turn from 235S and blocking Sotterley traffic.

 

[BernieP]

The intersection by the firehouse already exists. Putting a light there wouldn't be a problem as it can be timed/controlled to match the one at 235/Sotterley. The firehouse can control the flashing lights already and would be able to control the traffic light also.

Check the timing out between Rt 4 and Gate 1. Particularly around Walmart.

SHA might think it's working, but I bet those that drive it during rush hour would have another opinion.

 

[SamSpade]

How big a shopping center are they proposing? Is there a web site with the idea?

 

[So_what]

How big a shopping center are they proposing? Is there a web site with the idea?

Leonardtown, MD -- The St. Mary’s County Planning Commission, on a 5-2 vote, has denied a concept site plan for the proposed Hollywood Commercial Center across from the firehouse on Route 235. In making the motion to deny, Vice Chairman Shelby Guazzo cited concerns about the proposed entrance to the development off Sotterley Road and the need to protect Route 235 for the base.
The decision at the March 28 commission meeting came after the developer’s representatives presented video simulations of what traffic would look like at peak traffic from 4:45 to 5 p.m. after the development was completed. It also showed what traffic would look like in 2020 without the development. The developer contended the level of service would still be acceptable with their development that was to include a CVS Pharmacy, convenience store and gas station, and other shops.
But even after looking at the simulation Planning Commission Chairman Howard Thompson, who lives in the neighborhood, said he didn’t believe what he was seeing accurately replicated what he sees every day traveling the roads.
The developer proposed to increase from two to five lanes the 600-foot stretch of Sotterley Road between Route 235 (Three Notch Road) and Old Three Notch Road. Those lanes would include turn lanes into the shopping center and a left turn lane onto Route 235.
There was a lot of discussion about the state changing the current pattern of having turning traffic and through traffic proceed at the same time. If the development had been approved their engineering representative said they would urge the state to have separate cycles for turning and through traffic.
The proposal before the planning commission only included 14 acres of the existing 22 acres now owned by the Dean Partnership, LLP. The remaining eight acres would be sold off by the contract purchaser at settlement, according to Terry McFadden representing the developer. The planning commission had been told at a previous meeting that if is believed Winegardner Chevrolet would be moving onto the eight acres in a separate proposal that would have to come before the planning commission.
The developer’s engineers told the planners that even with the development of the extra eight acres the level of service at the Route 235 and Route 245/Sotterley Road intersection would be at acceptable state standards.
The March 28 meeting at one point was opened by Chairman Thompson to additional public testimony in addition to that received at two previous hearings. But only three people spoke, all of whom expressed concern about Sotterley Road.
Keith Dobson, a new resident in Hollywood with a young family, told the commission, “Having that entrance (on Sotterley Road) at that particular spot seems ridiculous.” He added, “I would; like to call your bluff” on the assertion by the developer that the proposed businesses required that entrance. “I don’t think those businesses are going anywhere if they don’t have that entrance.”
Guazzo noted that the maximum development allowed on the property with its Town Center Zoning could be 1,600 residential units or two-million square feet of commercial development and she just didn’t see how Sotterley Road could accommodate that level of development. She also concluded it could not handle the smaller development proposed before her for the property.
The decision caught the developer’s representatives off guard and one asked what they had done wrong, that they had done what they were asked and that the project had received the stamp of approval from the Department of Land Use and Growth Management. But County Attorney George Sparling stepped to the microphone and informed everyone in the meeting room that the planners had made their decision and there was nothing else to be said.
Thompson informed them that they could revise their plan and resubmit if they choose