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Council removes outdoor-dining seating requirement from first-reader ordinance after Eastport concerns
Summary
Council amended the agenda to remove an ordinance provision requiring outdoor dining patrons to be seated (O7-26) from first-reader consideration; Alderman Thorpe later urged a pause and additional resident engagement, saying Ward 8 constituents were surprised and concerned by the proposal.
At the start of the March 23 meeting, the Annapolis City Council approved an amendment to the agenda removing language from Ordinance O7-26 that would have required outdoor dining patrons to be seated, effectively taking that provision off the first-reader calendar.
The motion to approve the agenda as amended was moved and the council voted to carry the motion. "At this time, I would entertain a motion to approve the agenda as amended to remove O7-26, eliminating the requirement for outdoor dining patrons to be seated on first reader," the mayor said. The motion carried by voice vote.
Later in the meeting, Alderman Thorpe asked the council to pause to better engage residents after what he described as a difficult weekend for Ward 8 constituents who were surprised by the outdoor-dining language and felt they had not been given notice. "I speak tonight on behalf of the constituents of Ward 8 who have had a pretty tough weekend ... I appreciate the council voting unanimously today to defer it," Thorpe said, asking the council to "take a pause and look at how we work together, to ensure that we positively listen to the residents who are impacted the most."
Why it matters: changes to outdoor-dining rules can have immediate impacts on neighborhood livability, parking and enforcement; the council’s decision to remove the seating requirement from first-reader consideration means more time for community engagement and for staff to consider revisions.
Next steps: the removed provision will not proceed on first reader at this meeting. Council members signaled readiness to work with residents and refine legislative language before any future readings.
