Preliminary plan OK’d for Brown Station Road

The Michael Company donated four of the 17.45 acres of the site to the Kettering-Largo-Mitchellville Boys and Girls Club last September. The remainder of the acres is designated for single family homes.

The building will provide storage space for the club, which for nine years has stored equipment in the garages and basements of club board members following a 1998 fire at the Kettering Community Center.

The Kettering-Largo-Mitchellville Boys and Girls Club offers programs such as cheerleading, football, basketball, softball, soccer, and baseball.

‘‘The KLMBGC builds character so the kids can become successful and good stewards in the community,” said Towns of Kettering resident Arthur Turner at the hearing. ‘‘The KLMBGC doesn’t have a facility they can call home but I am prayerful they will continue to do work for the children.”

Planning board members assured residents gathered at the hearing of their support of the club having its own land but stressed the importance of creating a safe environment for the children.

The main causes for concern was safety for the children from the already existing homes and the prevention of trespassing.

‘‘We want to ensure there is no trespassing by non-boys and girls club members on the adjacent properties. We want a sign or some control measure once the club gets a permit,” said attorney Arthur Horne from Largo based Shipley and Horne. ‘‘We want to make sure the community knows we heard their concerns. We don’t believe a fence is necessary but we are going to address this issue to the best of our ability.”

Horne represents applicant Tom Millbourne, the developer proposing the single family homes.

Aside from a fence, no other alternatives were provided for the prevention of trespassing. Though boys and girls club representatives were wary of the cost associated with building a fence, development company Maryland Reclamation offered to foot the bill.

‘‘We are very supportive of this development. This is an opportunity for us to keep our program going,” said Bobbie Mack. ‘‘We are trying to find a way to make it happen. We have more than enough people to help us and we will do our best as far as signage. I’m sure we can work something out.”

E-mail Brooke N. Garner at bgarner@gazette.net.