Update from Mayor
Good evening. Tonight marks five meetings left in this Council term, and the last meeting
before our legislated August break. As we look forward to a change of pace and possibly a
few vacation days in the next few weeks, I know that everyone in the Council remains
focused on the work we have before us and will continue right up until our last meeting in
October.
This time of year also marks a quieter period for City events but one series that is
currently underway is our Summer ‘pop up’ resource tour. These resource fairs are held
each Thursday afternoon in different neighborhoods across the City. The goal is for
service providers to come out to meet residents where they live. So far we have visited four
communities - Robinwood, Bay Ridge Gardens, Eastport Terrace, and Woodside Gardens.
At each event vendors provide information on a wide range of education, housing, health
and other resources available in the City and the County. At each event we also distribute
food and gun locks, and we ask residents to complete surveys on their resource needs and
concerns. Over the past four weeks we have provided over 250 sandwiches to hungry kids
and residents, distributed over 35 gun locks, and received over 140 completed surveys,
which will be used to assess how we can improve services to our residents. Thank you to
the No Harm Violence Prevention Team who coordinate the pop up series and thank you to
all our partners and vendors who turn out to support our residents.
The next resource pop up will be at Allen Apartments on Center Street this Thursday
afternoon. We hope to see you there!
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As I mentioned, we have a busy slate of legislation before us in the next few months.
Tonight I’d like to speak to one of the bills up for Public Hearing: O-14-25 which
addresses a range of zoning issues in locations across the City to ensure we are able to
deliver on the goals adopted in the Annapolis Ahead 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
The legislation covers a number of issues as well as some specific locations where
flexibility for multiple uses will help to ensure that future development decisions deliver
strong outcomes for local communities. One example is on Forest Drive where we used to
have a thriving seafood retailer. O-14-25 will allow for mixed uses in that area to help us
address both housing needs and ensure we can attract quality are-appropriate businesses
that provide economic stimulus, local jobs and improved amenity.
Another example is along Dock Street where provision in the bill will expand rooftop use. I
want to emphasize that this bill does not add one inch to the height limit in the area. All
buildings will be required to meet the current height of to 22 feet at the cornice and 32 feet
at the ridge.
What the bill will do is update what appurtenances and types of rooftop structures are
allowed on rooftops and set specific standards and criteria they will be required to meet. As
the staff report says ‘this will address the practical difficulties in newly constructing
permitted land use types on lots fronting the approved City Dock Park, east of Craig
Street, and more specifically the reality that modern building and architectural practices
can deliver eco-friendly green roofs and maintain architectural integrity of building
facades and minimize noise to protect to pedestrians and neighboring properties.
It seems that any time any kind of change is proposed downtown, no matter how small or
sensible in terms of modern building standards, the rumors start and misinformation
spreads. So let me repeat, O-14-25 does not, and will not, alter the scale of development or
zoning height restrictions.
It is NOT expanding height limits, it is about updating what types of functional roof top
structures can be approved, similar to the existing exceptions for elevators, chimneys, and
antennas.
I’ve made no secret of my view that this area has a history of commercial under
performance, with multiple restaurant operations failing in the same location over the past
few decades. Zoning that allows for different uses makes sense if we are to revitalize this
area. It will help to provide better economic activation, which will in turn improve public
safety, complement the adjacent City Dock Park, and reduce reliance on late-night
restaurant traffic.
