I hope you have had an enjoyable August. Given that the Council is in recess all of August, I took the opportunity to go on a nice two week family vacation. But now I’m back in the swing of things responding to your concerns.

Here are a few things I wanted to notify you about:

TOMORROW NIGHT - Public Forum on the “Lofts at Eastport Landing” (i.e. the redevelopment of the Eastport Shopping Center)

The public forum is sponsored by the Eastport Civic Association, and will be on August 28, 2018 at 7:00 PM at the Annapolis Maritime Museum. It will give you an opportunity to review & comment on the proposed plans. To view the current proposed plans or letter written by the public thus far, go to www.annapolis.gov  permits page and search under Projects.....then type
SDP2018-006.  Please see the developers' responses to questions raised by Tom Smith, Chief Planner City of Annapolis are also online there.  Look for Lofts at Eastport Landing Agency Response Letter 7-9-18.pdf at the bottom of the page.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT - Work session on Edgewood Rd development

This Wednesday at 7pm the Planning Commission is having a work session on the proposed development of the historic Bembe Beach property on Edgewood Road, called “Chesapeake Grove.” This 5-acre development would construct 42 townhomes on this site that is a mix of forest and field, located in the Critical Area. To be more specific, it’s located in the IDA (Intense Development Area) of the Critical Area, which allows them to build more than you would typically see in this type of sensitive coastal environment.

Will they commit to providing public access to the water, as stated in their annexation agreement, and in alignment with the historic use of this property as a quasi public beach? Will there be a public trail connecting the waterfront to Back Creek Park? Will they have any moderately-priced houses? How much of the forest/wetlands will they be protecting? How much stormwater will they be treating? Have they looked at traffic impacts? What will the buildings look like? While I have answers to many of these questions, and would be happy to provide them to you, I would encourage you to attend this work session if you want to learn more about this project. I’ll provide more of a description after the work session and give you my thoughts.

NOTE: the public is not allowed to speak at Planning Commission work sessions. You will have an opportunity to comment on this project when it returns to the Commission for a public hearing, which I will be sure to notify you about.

It appears the city’s permit tracking site is down, but in the meantime here is a site plan showing the development:

Ward 7 Concert & Happy Hour at Back Creek park

The Annapolis Maritime Museum is hosting a community Happy Hour at Back Creek Park (Ellen Moyer Nature Park) from 5-6pm on September 6th. Called "Wine, Goats, & Goat Cheese", this event is hosted by the Museum with support from Baywoods and the Chesapeake Bay Trust. You can enjoy complimentary drink while watching local, environmentally-friendly eco-goats transform the park. Following the reception will be the first installment of the new "September Sunsets Concert Series" from 6-8pm.

Citizen Police Academy to Start in September

The Annapolis Police Department will hold an eight week Citizen Police Academy to start September 26. The purpose of the Citizen Police Academy is to educate residents about their local police department, give them a better understanding of law enforcement, how officers work in the community and the specific programs offered by the Annapolis Police Department.

The Academy will meet weekly on Wednesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at the Annapolis Police Department, 199 Taylor Avenue. Sessions will include classroom learning, field trips and hands on training. The Citizen Police Academy will meet September 26, October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31 and November 7 and 14.

Attendees must be at least 18 years old and live or work in Annapolis. Those interested in attending can find more information and complete an online application form on the City’s website at www.annapolis.gov/police. You can also contact Sergeant Amy Miguez at 410-268-9000 or [email protected]. All applicants must authorize the Annapolis Police Department to conduct a criminal history background check. Simply having a criminal history does not necessarily exclude you from participating. The application deadline is September 19.

July Town Hall a success

I would like to thank everyone who came out to my July Town Hall meeting. We had a great turnout, and it’s always a pleasure to chat with my constituents, neighbors, and friends. A big “thank you” to everyone who helped to leave flyers in their neighborhood. Your hard work paid off! I will let you know when the next Town Hall gets scheduled.