Work continues on the new Ladysmith Elementary, which is slated to open this fall. A study says more schools will be needed by 2027. Peter Cihelka/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

While construction continues on the new Ladysmith Elementary, a report says more schools may be needed. Peter Cihelka/THE FREE LANCE-STAR

Ladysmith plan predicts more public services needed over 20 years, supervisors take it up Jan. 22

Date published: 1/8/2008

By COREY BYERS

A land-use plan for the Ladysmith area predicts a need for as many as five new schools in the Caroline County community over the next 20 years.

Developed by a panel of Ladysmith residents, the village community concept plan identifies future residential, commercial and industrial growth and directs it to certain parts of the district. There are designated areas for business, industry, office space, residential use, open space and mixed-use development.

As a result of population growth in Ladysmith, countywide projections include the need for new schools, more sheriff's deputies, more recreational facilities and programs and more library space.

A new elementary school is under construction in the Ladysmith area. It is slated to open this year.

"The Ladysmith community will need up to three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school over the 20-30 year life span of this plan," the committee wrote. "It appears that the most pressing need will continue to be additional elementary school space."

Ladysmith envelops residential developments such as Lake Caroline, Lake Land 'Or, Campbell's Creek, Ladysmith Village, Pendleton and Glen Meadows. The roughly 8,000 people who live there comprise about two-thirds of the county population.

Several major mixed-use developments already approved by the board will add 6,600 homes in the area, as well as retail development over 20 to 25 years.

The report identifies several community assets: a population to serve as an employee base for business growth, existing businesses on which to build a commercial center, fire and rescue services, and water and sewer infrastructure.

The plan, however, suggests that more career firefighters be hired to supplement the volunteer staff.

The committee distributed surveys to residents to compile opinions on community strengths and weaknesses.

Residents said rural character and low tax and crime rates were major strengths. Weaknesses included future traffic congestion, too much residential development, the quality of public schools and rising taxes.

In addition to strengths and weaknesses, the report also identifies potential threats to Ladysmith. Those include a lack of transportation funding, outside development pressures, increased crime and a loss of rural character.

"The majority of the roads in the Ladysmith area are inadequate to accommodate the projected traffic that will result from the planned growth," the plan said.

"The traditional approach to transportation has been to predominantly rely on increasing the road capacity. This advisory committee plan suggests a more balanced approach, including walking and biking facilities for recreation and local trips, and the potential expansion of transit service."

The Ladysmith plan is one of several citizen-generated plans for separate areas of the county. They are used to update the county's comprehensive land-use plan.

Last month, approval of the Ladysmith plan stalled when property owner Frederick Roseman lobbied supervisors to have 550 acres added to the land-use plan.

Even though the Planning Commission approved the plan as-is, supervisors voted to table it until Jan. 22 to give Roseman the opportunity to get his land parcels consolidated.

The supervisors indicated that they will add his acreage, which will change the planning boundary.

As the plan is written now, Roseman's property holdings would be split, with some land in the primary growth area and some outside, which includes land in another district.

The Ladysmith Area Community Planning Advisory Committee has estimated what facilities and services will be needed as a result of growth there. The projections include: Up to three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. A minimum of 20 new deputies in the Sheriff's Office Hiring career firefighters in addition to volunteers Close to triple the amount of available library facilities

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Date published: 1/8/2008