Annapolis council hears divided public testimony on Tyler Avenue complete community overlay

Annapolis City Council members heard more than a dozen residents testify for and against ordinance O29‑25, the Tyler Avenue complete community overlay, during a public hearing Tuesday evening.

Supporters described the overlay as a targeted, voluntary tool to add housing options and calm traffic along Tyler Avenue. “This is gonna give an opportunity for people that are less fortunate, be able to afford housing in Annapolis,” said Yannis Cauquiani, a Tyler Avenue resident. Longtime residents and planners said the overlay would encourage reinvestment without changing underlying zoning. “The Overlay District maintains the underlying zoning district that’s there in existence,” said Larry Tom, a former Anne Arundel County planning director, and he called the proposal “a very stable neighborhood” approach that could unlock underused properties without up‑zoning.

Opponents warned the overlay would accelerate gentrification, reduce single‑family yards and push longtime homeowners out. “This is phase 1 of getting rid of single family homes with backyards in the city of Annapolis,” said George Gallagher. Gabriel Solano, who lives on Tyler Avenue, raised cost concerns, arguing that new four‑unit buildings would require additional land acquisition and would likely sell for “$600,000 to $700,000,” not the lower prices sometimes promised.

Speakers who support the proposal said participation is voluntary: property owners can opt in. “If anyone that owns property on Tyler Avenue has the option to participate and perhaps build a multifamily dwelling on their property or sell their property and maybe allow someone else the opportunity to do so,” said Jennifer Wilhoite. Proponents also emphasized traffic calming and streetscape repairs tied to the overlay; Alderman Gay noted street repairs and traffic calming will occur before any major development.

Council accepted the planning commission’s findings into the record and closed the public hearing; no final vote on the ordinance was taken at the meeting. City staff and the council’s planning liaison, Eric Leshinski, were thanked several times by speakers and aldermen for meetings and outreach. Alderman Gay said procurement issues delayed some street repair work that would be completed before larger development proceeds.

What’s next: The council did not adopt O29‑25 at the meeting. The matter will remain in the public record for future committee consideration and potential action by the council.

Votes at the meeting: Council accepted the planning commission findings into the record and closed the public hearing on O29‑25 (no final ordinance vote was taken).