(2/10) The Emmitsburg Planning Commission approved a concept plan for the redevelopment of east wing entrance of the old Provincial House located on Daughters of Charity’s property.

The east wing houses the Mounts’ new graduate school of health professions. The primary focus of the program is for a Master of Science degree in physician assistant studies as physician assistants are expected to have some of the highest level of growth of any particular employment in the next ten years. The graduate program also cover nursing, as well as athletic training and applied behavior analysis.

The entrance redesign plan includes demolishing the existing parking lot and drop off loop, repaving with new sidewalks and landscaping.

The Town’s engineer, Rummel Klepper & Kahl Civil Engineering, reviewed the plans and added requirements such as the relocation of light poles and electrical conduits, adding one bicycle rack per 20 auto parking spots, wheel stops to each parking space, and providing a clear line of sight for the entrance/exit and a stop sign at the exit of the lot.

Commissioner Valerie Turnquist asked how many trees would be removed and how many would be replanted. "The trees being removed are in the proposed parking lot area and they are all dead," replied Commissioner Dan Garnitz. Town Planner Najila Ahsan assured the Commission that more trees and plants would be planted than what is being removed, totaling more than 150 in total.

Some of the varieties of trees that are going to be replanted include Red Maple, Eastern Redbuds and Thornless Honeylocusts. Shrubs to be replaced include Boxwoods, Hydrangea, Sweetspires, Spruces and Knockout Roses. Native grasses and perennials are also to be planted.

Typically, there is a fee applied to buildings where multiple trees and plants are removed. The fee serves as a last resort for projects where greenery is taken out and it is not possible for the builder to replace them due to space. With this project, they are replacing more than they are removing so the fee will not apply.

The above changes to the east wing entrance will also require an additional .56 acres of BMPs. BMPs or "Best Management Practices" are practices using structures, vegetation, and/or planned management to prevent, treat or reduce water loss and pollution. Solutions such as impervious pavers in the parking lot which allow water to flow into the ground and submerged gravel wetlands which use wetland plants in a rock base to filter the water will be utilized in the redevelopment plan.

Town staff recommended a conditional approval of the plan which means the plan is fully approved as long as the agreed upon conditions are met.

Saint Joseph’s Provincial House was originally built in 1964 as a housing for approximately 400 sisters for what used to be the southeast providence, according to Brenton. However, with the declining numbers of women joining the order, in the early 2000s, many of the administrative activities conducted in Emmitsburg for the Daughters were moved to their St. Louis Provincial House, and need for the massive facility became problematic. As a result other uses for the facility were explored.

One wing of the four wing X-shaped facility is currently dedicated to the Shrine of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton which was originally designed as the chapel for the Daughters.

Another wing is known as Setonville and was converted into low-cost senior living for Houses for America 10 years ago. A third wing is being rented by Mount St. Mary’s University for storage. St Catherine’s nursing home, which shut its doors in November of 2021, encompassed the remaining wing.