Planning Commission approves 75,292 sq ft addition to La Plata High School
May 06, 2026 | La Plata, Charles, Maryland
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The Planning Commission voted to approve Major Site Plan MJSP 04-20-25, clearing the way for a 75,292-square-foot addition to La Plata High School and related campus improvements.
Keener Johnson, the townngineering senior planner, told commissioners the Charles County Board of Education acked the proposal to expand capacity at the school to about 1,594 students. He said the project is intended to start construction in July 2026 and be built in a single primary phase with five subphases through June 2028; interior renovations would follow from June 2028 through December 2030.
The site plan calls for traffic and circulation upgrades to separate bus movements from parent drop‑off and student pedestrian flows, Johnson said, adding the design includes a dedicated parent drop‑off loop with a bypass lane, expanded bus staging and 94 new parking spaces. A traffic impact study and an independent review by Mead & Hunt agreed that, with the proposed mitigations and continued use of traffic control personnel during peak periods, most nearby intersections would continue to operate at acceptable levels of service, though coordination with the Maryland State Highway Administration at Radio Station Road and MD 488 will be required.
Representing the project design team, architect Ron Ilkovich of SEI Architects said the addition will accommodate spaces that are difficult to renovate within the existing 1970s building, including science labs, art spaces and career‑tech classrooms. Steve Andritz, director of planning and construction for Charles County Public Schools, described an "occupied" phasing strategy: the new addition is built first, students move into the new space, and then renovations proceed in the older wings to minimize disruption.
Commissioners pressed the applicants on construction impacts, safety and operating details. Andritz said the construction manager‑at‑risk will coordinate work to limit noise and schedule critical tasks during downtimes, and confirmed the design and phasing have been reviewed with the fire marshal. He also said the school currently maintains cameras in parking lots and that background checks and contractor identification systems will be used during construction.
The plan includes a townwide shared‑use path project valued at $3.2 million that will link Milton Summers Middle School to Laurel Springs Regional Park; the school applicant will construct the portion along its Radio Station Road frontage as a condition of approval. Dooley and staff explained the school will temporarily maintain the path segment until the town accepts it.
The commission discussed but declined to add a binding condition requiring the police chief to mandate cameras; members said camera installation and some security measures are typically within the Board of Education
nd school safety staff purview, though the chief can be asked to provide recommendations. After a motion to approve the site plan with the staff conditions and the added advisory to consult with the police chief on safety, the commission voted. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Wale, Vice Chair Hudnall, Councilman Guttenberg and the chair voted "aye" and the motion passed.
The approved resolution is titled for Major Site Plan MJSP 04-20-25 and incorporates the conditions detailed in staff
ttachment 1, including site circulation, traffic mitigation measures and coordination with external agencies. The commission iscussion closed with staff noting certain conditions (e.g., conditions 28 and 29) reference specific traffic mitigation steps and that additional coordination with SHA and county staff is anticipated.
The commission
pproval allows the applicant to proceed to permitting consistent with the adopted conditions; construction timing and any later technical adjustments will be handled through the town
nd permit review processes.
Keener Johnson, the townngineering senior planner, told commissioners the Charles County Board of Education acked the proposal to expand capacity at the school to about 1,594 students. He said the project is intended to start construction in July 2026 and be built in a single primary phase with five subphases through June 2028; interior renovations would follow from June 2028 through December 2030.
The site plan calls for traffic and circulation upgrades to separate bus movements from parent drop‑off and student pedestrian flows, Johnson said, adding the design includes a dedicated parent drop‑off loop with a bypass lane, expanded bus staging and 94 new parking spaces. A traffic impact study and an independent review by Mead & Hunt agreed that, with the proposed mitigations and continued use of traffic control personnel during peak periods, most nearby intersections would continue to operate at acceptable levels of service, though coordination with the Maryland State Highway Administration at Radio Station Road and MD 488 will be required.
Representing the project design team, architect Ron Ilkovich of SEI Architects said the addition will accommodate spaces that are difficult to renovate within the existing 1970s building, including science labs, art spaces and career‑tech classrooms. Steve Andritz, director of planning and construction for Charles County Public Schools, described an "occupied" phasing strategy: the new addition is built first, students move into the new space, and then renovations proceed in the older wings to minimize disruption.
Commissioners pressed the applicants on construction impacts, safety and operating details. Andritz said the construction manager‑at‑risk will coordinate work to limit noise and schedule critical tasks during downtimes, and confirmed the design and phasing have been reviewed with the fire marshal. He also said the school currently maintains cameras in parking lots and that background checks and contractor identification systems will be used during construction.
The plan includes a townwide shared‑use path project valued at $3.2 million that will link Milton Summers Middle School to Laurel Springs Regional Park; the school applicant will construct the portion along its Radio Station Road frontage as a condition of approval. Dooley and staff explained the school will temporarily maintain the path segment until the town accepts it.
The commission discussed but declined to add a binding condition requiring the police chief to mandate cameras; members said camera installation and some security measures are typically within the Board of Education
nd school safety staff purview, though the chief can be asked to provide recommendations. After a motion to approve the site plan with the staff conditions and the added advisory to consult with the police chief on safety, the commission voted. Commissioner Miller, Commissioner Wale, Vice Chair Hudnall, Councilman Guttenberg and the chair voted "aye" and the motion passed.
The approved resolution is titled for Major Site Plan MJSP 04-20-25 and incorporates the conditions detailed in staff
ttachment 1, including site circulation, traffic mitigation measures and coordination with external agencies. The commission iscussion closed with staff noting certain conditions (e.g., conditions 28 and 29) reference specific traffic mitigation steps and that additional coordination with SHA and county staff is anticipated.
The commission
pproval allows the applicant to proceed to permitting consistent with the adopted conditions; construction timing and any later technical adjustments will be handled through the town
nd permit review processes.
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