Committee backs transfer of Spire Road parcel to resilience authority to pursue Brownfields cleanup grant

Annapolis — The Housing and Human Welfare Committee voted to recommend transferring city-owned parcels at 932 and 935 Spire Road to the Resilience Authority so the authority can apply for a Brownfields grant to pay for site cleanup.

The transfer is intended to make the Resilience Authority the responsible party eligible to apply for up to $4,000,000 in Brownfields funding; the application deadline is in November, and staff said the transfer must happen before the application is submitted. Allison DiMateo, Annapolis Public Works engineer, told the committee the city is currently considered the contaminator of the site and therefore is not eligible to apply for the grant itself.

The recommendation included a technical amendment from Alderman Finlayson that limits the authority's holding period to "up to seven years" and clarifies that the property will revert to the city earlier if remediation is completed before the end of that period. Christina Alexander, director of operations for the Resilience Authority, told the committee the reverter clause will return title to the city without a sale and without additional payment beyond the nominal dollar consideration the city pays initially. City Attorney Leonard clarified that the city still pays routine closing costs but that many fees (for example, recordation) are waived for governmental transfers and so closing costs would not be substantial.

Committee members said the transfer is primarily a legal step to secure grant funding rather than a binding commitment on future land use. Jackie Garl, deputy city manager for resilience and sustainability, said that if the city pursues a Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) or other housing program later, those programs would require additional legally binding agreements with partners including HACA, the EPA and HUD to set project requirements.

Committee members also asked about archaeological review. Garl confirmed she had checked the applicable Brownfields guidance and said that if historical resources are suspected, the grant process requires an evaluation as part of the remedial action plan; staff also reported a preliminary background assessment by John Tower indicating that further study is likely warranted.

The committee took a favorable recommendation, as amended, on the legislation to transfer the parcels to the Resilience Authority. The vote was taken by voice with no recorded opposition.

The item is expected to appear on the full council agenda pending the rules committee meeting noted by members.