Committee recommends against proposed harbor-line extension at Back Creek over navigation, safety concerns

Annapolis — The Housing and Human Welfare Committee issued an unfavorable recommendation for legislation that would extend the harbor line at 423 Chester Avenue on Back Creek, citing navigation and safety concerns raised by staff and the maritime advisory board.

Tim Jacobs, acting deputy (harbormaster), told the committee the proposed harbor-line extension would reduce the distance between navigation channels in a sharp turn of Back Creek from about 213 feet to about 156 feet, a reduction of roughly 57 feet in a tight area where larger vessels, including tour boats, make turns and refuel. Jacobs said earlier harbor-line policy allowed up to one-third of the way across the creek for some historic marinas; the city later set a 25% policy to protect navigation. He said the proposed extension merits careful consideration because changes in that corner of Back Creek are not minor.

Alderman Shandermeyer told the committee he would vote no and said he was concerned an extension could set a precedent for private entities to encroach on public rights-of-way and further reduce public harbor space. Alderman Huntley asked whether the related Sixth Street street-end project would proceed with or without the harbor-line ordinance; staff said the Sixth Street project is proceeding and that necessary permits and compliance would be confirmed through project managers.

Jacobs said the staff report indicated the harbor-line change could result in the marina reconfiguring slips and that the city could receive up to seven slips as part of related negotiations, but he and committee members emphasized there is no clear revenue benefit and that changes could worsen congestion in an already busy channel.

On a voice vote the committee recommended unfavorably on O2125; members recorded no opposition to the unfavorable recommendation.