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SOMD Sports Plex
Currently, Building One is open and operating under a temporary Certificate of Occupancy (U&O). The U&O is contingent upon U&O being issued for Building Two prior to October 18, 2024. This includes review and approval of a revised site plan for Building Two which has not yet been submitted.
History:
Calvert County Government approved a site plan (SPR-2019-291) on March 20, 2022, for two flex space buildings and associated site improvements for 7630 Meadow Run Lane in Owings. The zoning use category Zoning Flex Space can be used for a mixed use of retail, warehouse and office.
The proposed use, SOMD Sports Plex (formerly MMG Sports Performance Center), has different Zoning, Fire Marshal, Environmental Health Department and Building Code requirements than flex space, as well as different requirements for site development standards such as parking, site access and circulation, septic system design and building code requirements.
On April 29, 2022, the Calvert County Government departments of Planning & Zoning and Economic Development met with property owners and stated that under permit #COM2020-1789, the proposed recreational use would not be able to be approved, permitted or obtain a Use and Occupancy permit.
At this time, the building is only permitted for the shell and has not received Final Inspection. The property does not have permits for tenant fit-outs (uses), nor have any been applied for. The building cannot be occupied until all tenant fit-outs have been permitted, approved and received Certificates of Occupancy.
A letter was sent informing the property owner and lessee that any use of the building before the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy for indoor recreation will be a zoning violation and subject to enforcement until the buildings have been approved and inspected.
Inspections have not been requested for the building, interior electrical or plumbing. Fair enforcement of permitting, inspections and zoning regulations is important to protect public safety by ensuring that buildings, structures and activities comply with laws, codes and regulations in order to prevent accidents, fires and other hazards that could endanger patrons and staff.
Timeline
- March 20, 2022 - Site Plan was approved for two flex space buildings (Flex Space – mixed use of retail, warehouse, and office).
- June 9, 2023 - Email sent by Planning & Zoning to property owner and lessee stating that Flex Space and recreational facilities are two different land uses, which have different requirements for site development standards such as parking, site access and circulation, as well as septic system design and building code requirements. MMG Sports Performance Center would not be able to be approved, permitted, or obtain Use and Occupancy under permit #COM2020-1789.
- June 14, 2023 - Email sent by Economic Development to the owner to request a meeting (owner turned down meeting request).
- Nov. 9, 2023 - Email sent by Planning & Zoning to property owner and lessee notifying them that permits for the recreational use of the buildings will not be issued until the site plan has been revised and approved for this use. The site plan SPR2019-291 is for a flex space building, a mixed use of retail, warehouse and office space. Indoor recreational facilities fall under a different zoning use category, Fire Marshal codes, Health Department requirements and building codes required based on public assembly. The property owner and lessee were made aware that revisions to the plan are required to be submitted and re-reviewed per Zoning Ordinance Section 4-2.05 Modifications after Approval of a Category I and Category II Detailed Site Development Plan, to meet the requirements of an indoor recreation facility. The following recommendations were made:
- Contact your engineering firm to discuss revising your site plan for your proposed advertised use, and
- Resubmit your revised plan through the site plan process for approval. The plan will be sent to the reviewing agencies to ensure compliance with all County and State regulations for an indoor recreation facility. Once revised plans have been submitted to the County, this process could take 60 days or more to obtain approval.
- Nov. 9, 2023 – The owner indicated an engineer was working on the revisions to the site plan for indoor recreation approval.
- Jan. 21, 2024 – Planning & Zoning received a call about events taking place at MMG Sports Performance Center. The county responded and shut down the building and ensured everyone was out.
- Jan. 22, 2024 – The Department of Planning & Zoning, with assistance from Sheriff's Department, placed a stop work order on both buildings to cease use.
- Feb. 21, 2024 – The Planning Commission approved the intensification of use from Flex-space to Indoor Recreation for Building One only. Approval of the red-lined site plan is pending review and approval of all agency comments. Once the site is approved, permits and inspections will need to be successfully completed prior to issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy. A revised site plan has not yet been submitted for Building Two.
- March 4, 2024 – Revised red-lined site plan for Building One was submitted for review of agency comments.
- April 9, 2024 – The final red-lined site plan for Building One has been approved pending approval stamps by all required agencies. The applicant’s architect is revising the architectural drawings to address code requirements for the Use Permit. Upon submittal, review and approval of the drawings, a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy can be issued for Building One.
- April 18, 2024 – A temporary six-month Certificate of Occupancy (U&O) has been issued for Building One and is contingent upon U&O being issued for Building Two prior to Oct. 18, 2024.
- Oct. 18, 2024 – A six-month extension was requested and granted on the temporary U&O issued April 18, 2024.
- April 17, 2025 – A meeting was held with the owner to discuss progress.
- April 18, 2025 – A temporary Certificate of Occupancy (U&O) extension was requested and granted until Oct. 18, 2025.
- Aug. 18, 2025 – A 60 day notice of U&O expiration was sent to the owner.
- Sept. 18, 2025 – A 30 day notice of U&O expiration was sent to the owner.
- Oct. 6, 2025 – Revised site plan for Building Two was submitted.
- Oct. 17, 2025 – A temporary Certificate of Occupancy (U&O) with conditional extension was requested and granted until April 18, 2026.
Meadow Run Lane Recreational Buildings – Next Steps
- Site Development Plan
- A red-lined site plan must be submitted for Building Two
- Building One - Permits
- A 6-month temporary Certificate of Occupancy (U&O) has been issued and is dependent upon Building Two receiving U&O prior to October 18, 2024.
- Building Two - Permits
- Shell building – final inspections required for building, electrical, and grading permits.
- A red-lined site plan must be submitted, reviewed and approved for the change from flex-space to recreational use. This plan will require Planning Commission approval for the recreational use.
- Use permit applications for the recreational use must be submitted but cannot be issued until the revised site plan has been approved. Required permits include use, electrical and plumbing. Once the permits are issued, all required inspections must be done prior to occupancy of the buildings.
The property owner and lessee have been notified that any occupancy of Building Two is prohibited until a Certificate of Occupancy has been issued.
February 29, 2024 Update
We acknowledge the concerns raised regarding recent actions taken to close an unpermitted and uninspected facility that was being used for indoor children’s sports activities. We stand behind our actions, which are guided by a commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community residents, especially children.
The decision to close the facility came after we received reports from vigilant residents, allowing us to address the situation proactively rather than reactively, in a scenario that could have involved serious safety consequences.
We are thankful for the community's engagement and for the diligent efforts of the Zoning Code Enforcement team within the Department of Planning & Zoning. This team operates under the authority granted by the Calvert County Zoning Ordinance, specifically Article 1-7, which empowers our staff to make inspections to determine satisfactory compliance with the ordinance. This includes weekend site visits as was the case when the county was notified on a Sunday afternoon that the future MMG Sports Complex was being occupied without the required permits and inspections.
Despite early guidance provided by the Department of Planning & Zoning, the property owner failed to meet the minimum standards and failed to disclose the actual intended use of the building, and the site of the future MMG Sports Complex remains an active zoning violation. It remains with the property owner to address all comments and rectify all violations to obtain final approvals. Enforcement staff have and will continue to execute their duties in good faith to protect the health, safety and welfare of all county citizens and, specifically in this case, children.
Calvert County is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of safety and compliance, and will not be swayed by any form of pressure that might compromise the safety of our residents. We stand by our commitment to transparent, fact-based communication and encourage constructive dialogue to resolve any issues or concerns.
We extend our sincere appreciation to the many businesses within our community that diligently follow the permitting and inspection requirements, despite the complexities and challenges that sometimes accompany these processes. Your commitment to compliance and safety not only contributes to the well-being of our residents but also sets a standard of responsibility and integrity. We understand that navigating through regulatory requirements can be demanding, yet your perseverance ensures that our community remains a safe and thriving place for everyone. Calvert County is proud to support and partner with businesses that share our dedication to public safety and community welfare.