Residents Cry Foul Over 5-Story Buildings at City Dock

More green space and room for new business ventures could benefit a transformed City Dock, but the potential for five-story buildings at the historic destination has some residents urging planners to take caution.

At a public hearing at Annapolis City Hall on Thursday, dozens of residents spoke out about the City Dock Master Plan that establishes guidelines on how the gateway to the city's downtown could grow over time. The plan was unveiled in October, created by the 25-member City Dock Advisory Committee.

Many residents at the Thursday hearing said the plan doesn't do enough to protect building height. Buildings of up to five stories could be built along Dock Street under the proposed recommendations for the plan, and up to three stories at the Fawcett site.

Donna Ware, representing the Historic Annapolis Foundation, said the proposal— even in its infancy—represents a threat for the future of downtown Annapolis. The organization's primary concern is how the plan will impact zoning laws regulating building height in the area, Ware said.

"What's being portrayed is that this is a long-term plan. But the reality is if this plan is approved and adopted, it then becomes part of the comprehensive plan for the city," Ware said. "It does have a very real impact, and it's not necessarily long-term."

Ware commended the citizens group for the difficult job they had in creating a new vision for City Dock, but she said this plan needed rethinking.

Proponents of the plan highlighted the increased public space, but noted that the space came with a reduction in parking spaces from 199 to 90.

The city's Planning Commission is expected to meet again to discuss the plan April 4. Their recommendation will then be passed on to the City Council, which will host its own public hearing before calling for a vote on the matter.