P&Z must deny the AYC request for a special exception for the use of the 300 block of Burnside Street to allow parking and access for their expansion project. The 300 block of Burnside is a narrow dead-end street. It has only one entrance/exit.
There is an existing alternative… Compromise Street, where the AYC already has ready access to their property.
P&Z: You cannot grant the AYC, a private entity, control over a public street. At the very best, it would provide an unnecessary access point onto Burnside Street for significant additional heavy construction vehicle traffic, trash trucks, delivery trucks, SUVs and cars that would, again, at best, cause major inconvenience and at worst, make this small street unusable by the residents and a public safety hazard. Case in point: Last week there was a fire at the end of Burnside requiring a fire truck. What if the street had been blocked by some or all of the above-mentioned vehicles?
This is the start of the AYC using the plan currently before P&Z, for the sites on both sides of Compromise Street, as a starting point for more expansive developments. In order to maintain fidelity with its neighbors and the community at large, we urge the AYC to be open and transparent about the future of the Eastport sites. What we are now seeing is just a peek under their tent. I would be willing to bet a hard-earned nickel that they are only showing us the preliminary phase of a multi-phased plan which will include more dense building, more traffic, and much more activity.
I challenge the AYC leadership and membership to stand before the community and declare that the proposed project is all there is and all there is going to be. That they will not ask for waivers, exceptions, expansions or changes, or any other such thing.
I assure the community that they will NOT make any such commitment. What we are seeing with this request for the special exception is just another step in their grand vision.
AYC: Please prove me wrong.
P&Z: Do not allow the special exception.
Here are the comments of another concerned resident after a Ward 8 Town Meeting was held on 4 Feb 16. The purpose of the meeting was for the AYC to do a preliminary initial briefing for their proposed Eastport projects, and the comment was in response to our post, Fair is Fair.
I was at the meeting. I own a condo at the adjacent property. Although I like the “concept” illustrations there is a lot of information that they chose to skip around. One being parking. There is a fixed mathematical equation for parking spaces for a development. They may try to skirt this issue with a “private club” status however there needs to be more transparency.
They said that fire truck access/exits requires an entrance on Burnside and they need an entrance. I don’t buy it. There are two access alleys already in place for that. One already has a Burnside access.They conveniently chose to ignore that fact.
The AYC over time has purchased 4 houses with the intent to demolish for expansion. How could the City of Annapolis allow a house to be in condemnable condition? The city regularly inspects properties ( including my rental) and will not allow this. How come AYC is allowed to own a property in such disrepair? Why have they not been forced to fix it? I would be forced to fix it were it mine. Yet, they are clearly hoping that it will be condemned so that they can tear it down and get the property rezoned.
There are a lot more questions to ask.
eastport defined 
How is it that the private entities like the Yacht Club Condominium and other property owners on Burnside feel THEY should be the sole arbiters of access to a public street? Haven’t there been traffic studies already that say the traffic impact on Burnside St. will be minimal? It seems to me that with the removal of deteriorating housing and the installation of new sidewalks/curbing, the residential density on Burnside will decrease while parking spots and property values are likely to increase, given the landscaping and upscale development proposed. It sounds to me like you’re just opposed to any and all change in Eastport.
My comments were not about the project, but about the request for a special exception which is the subject of the hearing next week. The removal of the AYC housing units will have only a negligible impact on owners/tenants of the 300 block of Burnside.
The bulk of the residents of the 300 block of Burnside live in the Newport and the Annapolis Yacht Club condos. These residents will need to have unimpeded access and egress to and from Burnside Street. The residents also need assurance that emergency vehicles will also have easy access.
Since there are already two existing routes that can serve the site for the proposed project, the proposed special exception appears to be unnecessary.
Isn’t that the kind of assurance and protection you would expect?
Am I asking for anything more than you want for yourself and your family?
Sent from my iPad
>