Annapolis City Council Joint Committee Meeting on Spa Road Brownfield Transfer and Maritime Zoning - July 23, 2025

The Environment Matters and Rules & City Government committees held a joint meeting on July 23, 2025, to discuss two major items: legislation authorizing the transfer of city-owned property at 932 and 935 Spa Road to the Resilience Authority for brownfield remediation (O 2025), and an ordinance to permit certain maritime activities in the R4 residential zone (O 0925). The meeting included a detailed presentation on environmental site assessments, public testimony, and extensive deliberation on amendments and timelines.

Public Comments & Testimony

• John Clemens (resident, 17 South Date) expressed concern that the council had been presented with the Spa Road transfer proposal "backwards," without adequate prior information. He supported the overall concept but urged transparency, noting that the Phase II environmental assessment (completed in February) and MDE responses should have been shared earlier. He opposed rushing a vote and requested more time to review the Resilience Authority's amendments.
• Teresa Sutherland (treasurer/board member, Resilience Authority) clarified the timeline for the EPA brownfield grant application: the deed must be recorded by end of October to meet the November deadline. If the council makes substantive amendments to O 2025, the ordinance must pass on second reader by the end of September. She urged the committee to act promptly.

Discussion Items

O 2025 – Transfer of Spa Road Property to Resilience Authority for Brownfield Remediation

• Dan Hodley (principal, Haley & Aldrich) presented the Phase I and Phase II environmental site assessments. Key findings: contamination is limited to metals and semi-volatile compounds from a former landfill, incinerator, and DPW operations; no hazardous waste was detected. Remediation can be achieved through engineered caps, soil management, and capping during redevelopment – the construction itself serves as the remediation. The site is entering the Maryland Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCP) and the city is eligible for a $4 million EPA brownfield grant, but only if the property is transferred to a non-responsible party (the Resilience Authority) before the November 2025 application deadline.
• Alderman Savage and Alderman Arnett raised concerns about the rushed timeline, lack of prior information, and the need to review amendments. They questioned the urgency of a Monday vote, but staff (Ashley Leonard, assistant city attorney) explained that the deed recording process requires at least a month, making a September council vote feasible but tight. The Environment Matters committee recessed the meeting until Friday, July 25 at 1:00 PM to allow further discussion of amendments.
• Matt Fleming (Director, Resilience Authority) presented amendments clarifying the authority's role and the existing MOU with the city. He noted the EPA had confirmed the transfer mechanism is permissible.
• Director of Housing Authority (unidentified) stated that the CNI redevelopment plan is still conceptual; the environmental assessment is a critical first step to determine feasibility. The developer (HACA) is ready to proceed, but the timing of the brownfield grant is essential.

O 0925 – Maritime Activities in R4 Zone

• Alderman Arnett (co-sponsor with Alderman Savage) introduced an amendment to the original ordinance, which would add boat rentals, boat services (e.g., fireboats, pilot boats), boat storage (dry land and wet slips), and a definition of "paddlecraft" to the use table for the R4 district. These uses would be permitted by right or subject to standards, rather than by special exception. The amendment addressed pre-existing activities (e.g., paddleboard rentals, a virtual yacht club) that were being cited for non-compliance. The planning commission and Maritime Advisory Board had reviewed the proposal favorably.
• Alderman Savage’s original amendment (Amendment 1) would have limited the change to non-motorized vessels under 17 feet. Alderman Arnett moved an unfavorable recommendation on that amendment, arguing it was too narrow. The committee agreed.
• The committee discussed the need for editorial corrections (e.g., removing the word "or" from the definition of paddlecraft to avoid confusion with oars).

Key Outcomes

• Environment Matters committee recessed its meeting on O 2025 to Friday, July 25, 2025, at 1:00 PM to continue reviewing amendments and reach a recommendation.
• Rules committee took no action on O 2025 (the legislation had not been referred to them).
• Rules committee approved Alderman Arnett’s Amendment 2 to O 0925 by voice vote, with the following components:
  • Add "Boat Rentals, Charters, and Charter Services" (permitted by right)
  • Add "Boat Services" (tugboats, fireboats, pilot boats, etc.) (permitted by right)
  • Add "Boat Storage – Dock Slips, Piers, and Other Facilities" (permitted by right)
  • Add "Boat Storage on Land – Open Areas, Paved or Unpaved Structures" (permitted subject to standards, to be included in Section 21-64.125)
  • Add definition of "Paddlecraft" (amended to remove the word "or" to clarify no reliance on motors or other mechanical devices)
  • The committee directed staff to make the editorial changes and forward the amended ordinance to the full council for the July 28 meeting.