McFALL BELIEVES GROWTH ALLOWED
IN COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IS UNACCEPTABLE

Plan represents a future most Annapolitans don’t want

Annapolis, MD (June 19, 2009) – Trudy McFall, a Democratic candidate for Mayor, will provide testimony on June 22 before the Annapolis City Council on the proposed Comprehensive Plan to be considered by the Council (see www.trudymcfall.com/comp.pdf).  Ms. McFall stated, “The plan calls for an amount and scale of new development that I do not believe most residents want. It is a future that most Annapolitans find unacceptable.”

The Plan calls for increasing both density and the size and scale of buildings in four “Opportunity Areas” around the City – Outer West Street, West Annapolis Village, and two areas that involve some annexation along the Forest Drive/Bay Ridge Avenue corridor.  Ms. McFall believes that “although the resulting density impact on these four areas has been reduced in the latest revision of the Comprehensive Plan, the density is very significant—and, in my view, still unacceptable.”  The Plan now projects up to 1,850 new housing units and over 600,000 square feet of additional commercial space.

In addition, she stated that allowing 4 story buildings throughout the four opportunity areas, and 8 stories in a portion of Outer West Street, “would certainly change our City from its historic and small town feel to a higher density urban/suburban area.  Many people think Annapolis will also lose what is uniquely Annapolis.”

Because the Plan lays out only general transportation principles without specifics to deal with traffic and congestion, Ms. McFall believes that “until we know more specifically how we will solve our mobility/traffic issues, we should not compound our present problems by increasing our density to the levels projected in this plan.” Although she feels that growth is inevitable, she believes that “we need to plan for growth that is more modest, more carefully controlled and at a scale and design that keeps Annapolis the unique and special place it is.”

In conclusion, Ms. McFall recommends that the proposed density be cut in half, especially in the Outer West Street and Forest Drive/Bay Ridge Avenue areas. Furthermore, as to scale, Ms. McFall recommends that “we should continue to restrict the size and scale of our buildings to 1-3 stories consistent with the City’s historic pattern.” She urges the City Council “to respond to the will of the residents of the City and take the actions necessary to preserve the Annapolis that we cherish.”