Mayoral Debate Reveals Different Plans For City Dock, Downtown Construction

ANNAPOLIS, MD — Annapolis mayoral candidates revealed dueling approaches to flood protection and downtown construction at a Wednesday candidate forum.

Republican Bobby O'Shea painted himself as an outspoken critic of the status quo. He aspires to protect historic charm and cut wasteful spending.

Democrat Jared Littmann, the first candidate to enter the race, billed himself as a savvy businessman with a passion for environmentalism.

Fellow Democrat Rhonda Pindell Charles said her 12 years on the City Council display her experience. With multigenerational roots in Annapolis, she thinks she would offer a seamless transition after term-bound Mayor Gavin Buckley (D) leaves office this winter.

City Council candidates in Ward 1, Annapolis' downtown, also debated at the event. Patch plans to post a separate story on that forum on Friday. Readers can follow that coverage and all of our election news at this link.

Opposing Visions For City Dock

O'Shea, a business consultant in the defense and medical industries, called for a scaled-back City Dock Park. The planned park would be a raised earthen berm with green spaces and flood gates to protect Dock Street businesses.

O'Shea supports the project but wants to trim costs by cutting frills like the Maritime Welcome Center. Critics of the modern glassy building question its "size and scale" and say it's not essential to flood mitigation.

"They have built a greenhouse," O'Shea said of the welcome center's proposed design, which sparked a lawsuit from Historic Annapolis. "It will be good to grow plants."

Plans also call for the welcome center to be adjoined to the Burtis House, a 19th-century home at the water's edge that is currently fenced off and sitting on blocks.

"If the Burtis House is so darn important, why does it look like it's an afterthought?" O'Shea asked rhetorically at the forum, hosted by Historic Annapolis at the William Paca House and Garden.

O'Shea said spending on City Dock, set to exceed $70 million, is "irresponsible." He pointed to construction beginning before the Federal Emergency Management Agency has finalized its two-year review of its expected $33 million grant for the project.

"Saying nice words and not doing anything does not help," O'Shea said.

Littmann, who owns K&B Ace Hardware with his wife, did not have any plans for sweeping changes to the park. He instead emphasized the importance of fortifying downtown.

Littmann serves on the Resiliency Authority of Annapolis and Anne Arundel County, a position he believes prepared him to take over the city's most complex infrastructure project ever. He pointed to his engineering and environmental law degrees as further qualifications.

Littmann, who served as the Ward 5 alderman from 2013 to 2017, said his hardware store is the city's only business completely powered by solar panels.

"When it comes to sea level rise, you have three options. You can elevate, you can retreat and you can protect," Littmann said, pointing to the city's 22 miles of shoreline.

Even after City Dock is elevated, Littmann envisions protecting the oft-flooded Compromise Street. He also has an eye on the Eastport coastline, where protections are more complicated since most of it lies on private property. He proposed creating special tax districts for waterfront homeowners to grant them money to protect their properties.

Pindell Charles, the current Ward 3 alderwoman and an attorney, did not list any major changes to the plans for City Dock either.

Pindell Charles, whose family has lived in and around Annapolis for three centuries, said she would push flood protection over the finish line. She highlighted her voting record, saying she's supported every piece of pro-environment legislation since she took office in 2013.

"Protecting our businesses is vital. It's not an option," Pindell Charles said. "The urgency of resiliency cannot be overstated."

Hotel Proposal Divides Candidates

Debate over a proposed hotel downtown revealed the largest differences among the candidates.

The Capital Gazette reported that Harvey Blonder, owner of Dock Street's Latitude 38 restaurant, and architect Peter Fillat proposed building a boutique hotel with a rooftop terrace to replace the eatery.

The construction does not fit within the current height restrictions in place, so the Capital Gazette said Mayor Buckley introduced legislation this June that would let stair towers and elevator shafts extend 10 feet above the current 38-foot height limit.

Supporters think the hotel would boost the local economy, while opponents worry it would compromise downtown views. Detractors also call it spot zoning, a law change to benefit a single property.

O'Shea was the loudest critic among the mayoral candidates.

"I 100% oppose changing the height regulations," O'Shea said. "The minute you do that, you start the slippery slope."

When asked about her stance on the hotel legislation, Pindell Charles was the most reserved. She called it "a loaded question" and didn't give a definitive position.

"I want to talk to the people that are impacted the most by it," Pindell Charles said, calling for a "holistic" look at the issue.

Littmann was in the middle. He acknowledged residents' "loud and clear" concerns while also saying the hotel taxes could reduce the tax burden on Annapolitans.

"I've only heard residents against this particular legislation, and so I would be concerned about going against the voice of the residents," Littmann said. "I would be very protective over height and bulk restrictions."

Tourism Policy Could Benefit Locals

Each candidate outlined how their tourism policy would also help locals.

Pindell Charles wants to rein in short-term rentals, usually marketed to out-of-towners. She pointed to a recent Baltimore Banner report stating that only half of the city's short-term rentals are licensed. Wards 1, 2 and 8 may have the most overproliferation of Airbnb and VRBO units, exacerbating noise and parking troubles, Pindell Charles said.

O'Shea agreed that excessive vacation rentals are troubling. He would also want to add a human worker to the unstaffed parking garages. This would make them more inviting to tourists and Annapolitans who are not comfortable with the digital payment options currently available.

Littmann lobbied for bike paths to connect neighborhoods, pleasing residents and visitors alike.

He also called for a "long overdue" overhaul to the city's laborious permitting process, which frequently delays business openings and turns off many investors. He envisions templates for the most common permits to make smaller projects easier to approve.

The primary election is on Tuesday, Sept. 16. The General Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 4.

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• Annapolis Mayor Pushes For City Dock Park Before Court Hearing: Reports
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• Homes, Businesses Flood As Hurricane Debby Remnants Soak MD: See Photos
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