Wouldn’t It Be Great?

Wouldn’t it be great if the matters we concern ourselves with proceeded along a straight continuous line?  If we could gather supporters, harness the energy, amass the information and then drive the germ of an idea through to a conclusion?

In your experience, how often do events unfold in that fashion?

The more common reality is that all projects are comprised of periods of frantic activity mixed with equally long periods of empty space where we wait interminably on events unfolding.  This is clear when looking at Crystal Spring Forest:  Periods of heavy activity; periods of inactivity.  How about Rocky Gorge, the Reserve at Quiet Waters,  the Annapolis Yacht Club expansion project and the Eastport Plaza Shopping Center to name only those recently in the news.

How do we productively use this space in-between causes, controversies and concerns?

Wouldn’t it be great if we could find the time in our busy lives, which are focused on work, family and the other pursuits that define our days, to just pause.  To take a moment to read an eye-catching mailing rather than throwing it away.  To write an editorial to the Capital, or to write a post to a community action blog like this one, focused on the welfare of the community we share.   To take a look at what’s there and even make a contribution to a conversation for the betterment of Eastport and all of Annapolis by taking an interest in our community.

Why not fill the empty space between the hot spots of proposed projects and the waiting game while nothing at all seems to be happening?   We are calling out to all residents of Eastport, of Annapolis, owners and renters alike.  We are each and every one of us invested in our future.  Our kids attend the same schools, we get stuck in the same traffic, we vote for those we hope will represent us as they promised in the heat of campaign rhetoric.

If we live here, what happens here matters.  All of our voices need to be heard.                                                                                 

(This post, slightly revised, was originally published in  May and is being re-presented primarily for newer visitors)

A Comment From T. Davis on Let’s Be Clear

People, we better wake up. These developers don’t care about anything but making money. Eastport is one of the few remaining places that are not overridden by buildings, stores, etc. The owner of the shopping center wants to put 200 apartment units where the old theatre was.. Really???? How is this going to make Eastport better ? He lives in Potomac and the developers are from Baltimore. Do you think they care about the long term effect once they make their money ? NO. The plan for the building is unimaginative and looks like the junk being built in Canton, Fells Point, and Locust Point. Do we really want to see a 7 story building as we enter Eastport ? Eastport is an old “village” where waterman built their homes. If we let these developers build this type of thing, our village will be gone forever, traffic will get worse and everything will be more crowded. Who wants that? If these developers want to build so badly, why not build where the abandoned car dealerships are on West Street? And don’t be fooled by the developers when they say that this will increase tax revenues. It will also increase costs as we’ll need to provide water, police schools, etc. The net effect will not be positive. And then there is the school issue. Did anyone notice that Eastport Elementary is going to expand? Why…because it is already overcrowded……so lets add another 200 units to Eastport and where will the kids go? My kids don’t need more kids in their classroom…they need less. Get informed……go to town hall meetings, ECA meetings, and City Council meetings and make your voice heard. And do it now……the developers are moving in.

This comment was sent in February.  It is still completely relevant.

 

Recommended Course of Action

Tell me, I forget

Show me, I remember

Involve me, I understand

(Moore and Davis  1997)

All of the major projects proposed for our community have significant impacts on our quality of life:  the environment, our schools, traffic patterns, the health of the Bay.  We need to employ an objective standard by which to evaluate each of these projects in their own right and in relation to each other.  Using computer simulation modeling is a standard by which we and the project proponents can actually work with the same set of “facts,” rather than talking over each other as to whose “opinion” is the best.  Collectively, we can present project input assumptions, develop scenarios and mutually assess outcomes.

The project proponent would be expected to provide funding for the computer simulation modeling and the Office of Planning and Zoning (P&Z) would select a prequalified, objective university or research firm to actually conduct the work.

Computer Simulation Modeling

Computer simulation modeling is a discipline gaining popularity in both government and industry.  Computer simulation modeling can assist in the design, creation, and evaluation of complex systems. Designers, program managers, analysts, and engineers use computer simulation modeling to understand and evaluate ‘what if’ case scenarios. It can model a real or proposed system using computer software and is useful when changes to the actual system are difficult to implement, involve high costs, or are impractical. Some examples of computer simulation modeling familiar to most of us include:  weather forecasting, flight simulators used for training pilots, and car crash modeling.

Benefits:

• Gain greater understanding of a process
• Identify problem areas or bottlenecks in processes
• Evaluate effect of systems or process changes such as demand, resources, supply, and constraints
• Identify actions needed upstream or downstream relative to a given operation, organization, or activity to either improve or mitigate processes or events
• Evaluate impact of changes in policy prior to implementation

(Copied from web research)

This technology is not new.  It should become a staple, used for all projects that exceed a predetermined cost or scope.

(This article was initially posted on 6/21/15 and is being re-presented now for our newer visitors.  It was forwarded to the Office of Planning and Zoning in June.)

 

Let’s Be Clear

We are re-presenting a series of posts from earlier in the year for those of you who are relatively new visitors.  “Let’s Be Clear” was originally posted on February 14.

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We’re not only  concerned with projects we oppose.  We’re equally concerned about projects planned for Eastport that we may want to rally around.

We can talk generalities about how to influence projects we do or do not want.  We can petition to force our elected officials to accede to voter desires.  We can email and snail mail and call City Council to our heart’s content, but when it gets down to the wire on these projects perhaps that’s all that remains for us to do.  Because by that time it’s basically an “after the fact.”  So let’s be clear about the reality of the planning process:

Rules and Regulations are determined at the beginning of the planning process.  At the beginning!  Policies and Procedures are set early on.  Zoning guidelines/restrictions are put in place.  All of this constitutes the seeds of a project, a project like Crystal Spring Forest and like all the other projects being planned for Eastport.  A developer looks at the guidelines already determined and submits a proposal for a project.  If the submittal meets the criteria of what has already been determined to be acceptable by the Planning Commission, that may be the end of that particular story.

The seeds of a project could be planted YEARS prior to public knowledge of that project.  By that standard, public responses to a project… again, take Crystal Spring Forest which is currently invoking hot debate…  We are coming very late to that process.

We must be informed and involved early on if we have are to have any hope of shaping the internal footprint of the Eastport of the future.

Hall of Fame (Second Thoughts)

What is a hall of fame?  Basically, the inductees are no longer in their prime, and are recognized for what they did in their past.  That was not my intent when I praised the original Hall of Famers for their desire to be involved in the community, so a more appropriate construct may be the NFL Draft of individuals who show enormous potential and who will express that potential by being an invaluable part of a team.

Those of us who’ve been able to step back and concern ourselves about the welfare of the community understandably tend to aim our passion at ‘single games,’ specific proposed projects affecting neighborhoods where we live or travel.  But to be effective, we need to view what’s happening in the larger context; we need to be players for the whole season on a community team.  Why make that larger commitment?  Think about it!  We’re losing our forests and our open spaces in favor of more and more housing and shopping centers to add to the tax base and further foul up traffic.  Who, besides us, will fight for us?

The recent City Council ‘work group’ on Crystal Spring, Rocky Gorge, and the disposition of the rec center on St. Mary’s Street and Compromise demonstrated that Council, as a body, may not support the interests of the community as a whole.  Some on City Council seem unable to find a proposed project NOT to support. (Is anyone keeping a tally of City Council’s voting record on these projects?)  If the public interest is ever to be a guiding principle in determining our community’s future we must function as a team. And this team, as in sports, has to work on fundamental planning if we ever hope to score.

Okay, enough of the sports stuff.  My point is that our voice has to be heard as an area-wide voice.  As the rec center in Annapolis demonstrates, City Council is disposed to vote the City’s economic interests.  We need to be the human factor by turning up at work groups and town halls, by voicing our opinions in Capital editorials, by taking a moment to comment on sites such as this one.  We need to put ourselves out, to involve ourselves.  We need ask our aldermen and women to include us on their mailing lists so that we know how they are voting on issues. We obviously need to turn up at elections.  If we don’t like what our reps are doing, we need to vote them out.

Here’s our original Hall of Fame – our MRE Draft.

Alex Hertzek, S. Lee Caudle, Zora Lathan, Phil Reynolds, Ralph Naranjo, William Small, Ellen Moyer, James Urban, Michael Long, Catherine E. Stavely, Marilynn Katatsky, Harold Sherman.  These are the writers whose editorials I read in The Capital earlier this year.  At that time they were primarily on Crystal Spring Forest.

And here are the newer nominees, on a variety of issues since more projects are actually making the news and flooding has finally been recognized as the huge problem it represents to all water communities:

Jennifer Abner, Ted Weber, Liz Vanden-Heuvel, Ray Sullivan, Harold Sherman, Wilfred Candler, Marilynn Katatsky, Steve Johnson with Margery Silverton, Forbes Leland, Alex Hertzek, Nicholas Christhilf, Dr. Robin Nuskind. (Several of these draftees are not first-time nominees.)

So why should we care what people are writing about?  How about because these editorials are intelligent, thoughtful,  well-researched and organized. These people gave of their time. Their writings can be used as a jumping off point to restate the larger discussion about the future of Eastport.  We have at our fingertips many of the elements that may shape our community.  These are:

• We are concerned and will be involved
• We are fully aware of the importance of the environment
• We are concerned that a wealthy community group could have an excessive influence over the greater community
• Our concern for the greater community is not limited by jurisdictions
• Alternative resources exist in the community; Just because you have the resources to do something does not mean that you should.
• Jurisdictions need taxes to function

We are rapidly losing our chance to step up and challenge the impact of all the proposed projects as a whole. The developers and project proponents will carry the initial project costs.  We will have to suffer the life-cycle costs.

These proposed projects may cause:

• Excessive density of condo/rental units
• Misuse or elimination of open land
• More pressure on the environment
• Elimination of middle-class housing
• Pressure on the Bay
• Pressure on community infrastructure
• Acceleration of the effects of sea-level rise

I can’t say often enough that if we care about our community, we must be present from the inception through to the conclusion of the process.  By that I mean we need to show up when zoning laws are proposed, as well as other area designations such as “Opportunity Areas.”  In reality, no matter is too small to be of concern.  What appears to be of little long-term importance may well play a pivotal role in our community’s future.

It will never be time to declare victory and head for home.

The challenges are guaranteed to keep right on coming.