Be Part of the Conversation
By: Gerald Winegrad, Capital Gazette Columnist The destruction of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem began more than 400 years ago with the clearing of forests and later, the filling and draining of wetlands. About 66% of our tidal and freshwater wetlands were destroyed, including thousands of acres drained with federal and state funds to create farmland. read on >
Tag: City Forest Conservation Act Ordinance
Council to hold Public Hearing on No Net Loss Ordinance to Prevent Loss of Forest
The City Council is currently considering legislation O-38-16 that would add a no net loss provision to the Forest Conservation Act (FCA) that was passed last fall. Essentially this legislation would require developers to replant trees on a 1 to 1 basis. We commend Aldermen Littmann and Arnett for introducing O-38-16 and pushing for its read on >
Capital Op-Ed: “City going in wrong direction”
By: David Prosten It has been a year since family ties lured me to retirement in Falmouth, Massachusetts. But my two decades of environmental activism “back home” in Annapolis aren’t easily forgotten, or abandoned. So, I’ve been following the issues I care about and I’m dismayed at what I’m reading in The Capital. During much read on >
Capital Op-Ed: “Forest conservation measure gutted”
By: Fred Kelly, Severn Riverkeeper As Severn Riverkeeper, I can attest to the degradation of water quality from the clearing of forests. Unfortunately, instead of concentrating on redevelopment of deteriorated or vacant property, the city annexes county land, most of it forested, and then supports its development. On the other hand, the county works with read on >
Capital Op-Ed: “Will officials protect Priority Forest?”
By: Kurt Riegel Civic tensions are perpetual between two positives: preservation of nature for the enjoyment of our citizens, and quality housing for the benefit our residents. Government has an essential and unique duty to represent a broad spectrum of interests to serve us best. But can we have such a government and also fund read on >
Capital LTE: “Annapolis Needs a Strong Forest Conservation Ordinance”
I’m an Annapolis native, and for 16 years, a science teacher, mostly at Annapolis High and Broadneck. Living in the City of Annapolis is a privilege. But like many other residents, my concern grows about overdevelopment: a permanent eraser on our community, our environment and way of life. We teach students that surreptitiousness, seeking fast read on >
Capital LTE: “Developers have too much influence over Annapolis”
Gerald Winegrad hit the nail on the head with his recent column (The Capital, July 23). I am appalled by the fact that developers, many of whom don’t even live here, continue to run our town and influence our laws. For many years we have seen the city continue to annex land from the county read on >
Capital Op-Ed: “Development strangles city quality of life”
By: Gerald Winegrad, Stop Crystal Spring Traffic, school overcrowding, and environmental degradation linked to city annexations of land from the county and other developments make most residents suffer, especially on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula. Developers, land speculators and their attorneys exert an undue influence over city elected officials to the detriment of the common good, read on >
The Capital: “Annapolis City Council to hold public hearing on Forest Conservation Law”
By: Chase Cook, Capital Gazette reporter Get ready for a slew of public hearings in Annapolis on Monday. The City Council returns from the Fourth of July holiday to hold public hearings on annexed properties, legislation to protect forests and an attempt to increase how often the city requires traffic analysis for developers. The council read on >
New Forest Conservation Act Ordinance in Need of Major Amendments
The newest proposal for the City’s version of the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 0-22-16, is currently under review by the City Planning Commission. Alderman Littmann and three other council members have introduced this new Ordinance to respond to the legal insufficiencies and lack of clarity with the City’s current FCA compliance, problems that have arisen read on >