Residents of Annapolis, especially in Eastport, were shocked to learn that the City is even considering approval of a fence permit application for the SAYC project with no public hearing. Mayor Buckley and your staff promised that the fence application would be open and transparent and would include a public hearing/meeting since the six foot, black, iron fence was installed last July 1st. At that time the "temporary" fence was constructed it was clear that the fence was NOT a construction fence. In fact, SAYC had to remove the chain link construction fence to erect the new iron fence with a key pad ready, entrance.

Eastport Civic Association members and neighborhood residents met you and your staff on several occasions (July 2, July 7, July 9, Sept. 15, October, 15) to discuss that the fence application process. Everyone agreed that the newly erected fence was meant to keep the public out, which you and staff agreed was not what was agreed to when the site was approved.

Walling off the water to keep the public out is in direct conflict with presentations made by SAYC at numerous community meetings as well as in conflict with our WME zoning district and Critieria for review of a site design modification of this nature as well as the Maritime Task Force's findings and recommendations.
The public has accessed the water access at this site for over three decades and despite the fact that it has been privately owned. Pedestrian water access (not just water taxi pick up and drop off for marina slip holders) was a condition of site design and final plat approval.

Fast forward to today. The new fence application Notice was posted on a sign on the property a day before the long July Fourth holiday weekend with public comments due by July 16th. These very subtle signs do not even contain an email address for comments. Nor was Notice mailed to surrounding residents.

The code allows for a public meeting. We need a public meeting in order to show Dr. Nash that the fence application does not meet the standards set forth in Review Criteria listed in Title 21.22.080.

Actions - Please:

Deny the Fence permit. Or at the very least:

* Require the City to extend the comment period. 60 days rather than 15 days is reasonable. There is no imminent threat of a problem and the construction fence has successfully kept "trespassers" a/k/a the public out for over a year. Please allow for a reasonable time to comment.

* Require the Planning and Zoning director to hold a public meeting after a 60 day comment period and before proceeding to make a determination of whether the addition of this fence meets the standards of review. This important meeting will allow the residents of Eastport to show that the substantive change this fence imposes on the neighborhood is NOT in harmony with the character of the surrounding neighborhood, nor compatible with other boatyards in Eastport and more.