District 6 Dispatch

Legislation proposed to reduce stormwater pollution in Anne Arundel County, comply with Chesapeake Bay "pollution diet."

2011-11-16T11:35:00.000-08:00

(Annapolis, MD) November 7, 2011 – Legislation to create a dedicated funding source to reduce polluted stormwater runoff in Anne Arundel County was introduced at the November 7th County Council meeting. The bill was authored by County Councilman Chris Trumbauer (District 6) and co-sponsored by County Council Chairman Dick Ladd (District 5).

The bill is intended to clean up local rivers and streams, create jobs, and improve communities throughout Anne Arundel County. The bill establishes a “stormwater utility,” a proven model that is helping to address stormwater runoff in many other counties and municipalities across the country. The dedicated funding will allow the County to begin working on the large backlog of needed restoration and retrofit projects already identified, but for which there is no funding. The bill would also help Anne Arundel County meet its mandatory obligations to reduce pollution in accordance with the Chesapeake Bay TMDL “pollution diet” and local Watershed Implementation Plans.

“This bill is a much-needed investment in Anne Arundel County,” said Councilman Trumbauer. “The money from this dedicated fund will go directly back into our communities, creating local jobs and cleaning up our waterways. Designing and building projects to reduce stormwater pollution will put County residents to work – in management, planning and engineering type jobs, as well as much needed construction work.

“Reducing polluted stormwater runoff in Anne Arundel County will help clean up our local rivers so we can once again feel safe swimming and fishing in our waterways. In addition, we are protecting our economic industries that rely on clean water – like our tourism and recreation, marina, and seafood industries – and our property values”

Bob Burdon, President/CEO of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce welcomed the introduction of the bill. “The Chamber of Commerce supported similar legislation a couple of years ago and we were disappointed it was not adopted at that time. We appreciate Councilman Trumbauer bringing this issue back again,” said Burdon.

Nearly one-third of the nitrogen pollution in Anne Arundel County is estimated to come from urban and suburban stormwater runoff, which is also the fastest growing source of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay. Pollution from stormwater runoff is created when developed land, no longer able to act as a “filter” for precipitation, causes rain water to quickly run off paved surfaces directly into nearby waterways. Stormwater runoff carries harmful pollution from nutrients, bacteria, fertilizer, sediment, chemicals and trash straight into our waterways.

Councilman Trumbauer continued, “For too long, Anne Arundel County has suffered from beach closures, waters unsafe for swimming and fishing, and costly flooding and erosion from uncontrolled stormwater runoff. We pride ourselves on our love of the water here in Anne Arundel County – it’s time we got serious about cleaning up our rivers and streams, putting people to work and making this County a safer, cleaner, better place to live.”

The bill would propose a $35 annual fee on the property tax bill for residential properties ($25 for attached units such as condos and townhomes). Non-residential properties will be assessed via a determination of impervious surface, with an Equivalent Dwelling Unit equal to 2,500 square feet. The fee will go into a dedicated fund that can only be spent on the defined purposes – reducing stormwater runoff – and that cannot be raided or diverted.

Projects that reduce polluted stormwater have significant benefits to local communities and neighborhoods. Several other jurisdictions in Maryland currently have some kind of a dedicated stormwater fee, including the City of Annapolis in Anne Arundel County.

The bill number is 79-11 and the legislation will be posted on the County Council website at www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/pendingLegis.cfm. The public hearing is scheduled for December 5.

Rezoning Post Game Report

2011-09-13T18:28:00.000-07:00

During the last Council meeting, on Tuesday, September 6, the long saga of Comprehensive Rezoning for our District (District 6) finally came to a close. During that meeting, the Council considered the County Executive’s line-item vetoes of 16 amendments from Bill 44-11. Bill 44-11 was passed three weeks prior on August 15, and it contained 46 amendments – some of which were inconsistent with the County’s General Development Plan and the communities’ Small Area Plans. Bill 44-11 dealt with both District 6 (the Greater Annapolis area) and District 7 (South County, and parts of Crofton and Gambrills). 15 of the 16 vetoes were in District 7, and the one veto in District 6 was an amendment that passed despite my opposition. Throughout the entire process, I worked with our communities and the staff of the Office of Planning and Zoning (OPZ) to adhere to the principles of responsible growth, to protect the character of our neighborhoods, and to respect the land use policies outlined in the General Development Plan and the Small Area Plans.

The vast majority of rezonings that occurred in District 6 were proposed by OPZ in Bill 44-11 as introduced by the County Executive. I introduced a handful of amendments to include some proposals not originally put forward by OPZ, and I also modified some of their original proposals. None of the amendments I introduced was strongly opposed by OPZ. There was one particular proposal in the original bill, known as the “Wedding Chapel” property on Generals Highway, which I sought to remove with an amendment. I did this because it was strongly opposed by the neighboring communities and was inconsistent with the Crownsville Small Area Plan. Unfortunately, that amendment was defeated. I asked the County Executive to strike that proposal from the Bill using the line-item veto, but he was unable to do so due to a technicality resulting from the way the Bill 44-11 was structured. In my opinion, that is the one blemish on the District 6 rezoning.

District 7 rezoning was a much different story. Councilman Walker of District 7 introduced dozens of amendments, some of which I supported, but many I opposed. Many friends and colleagues in South County appealed to me to support their communities and vote against the proposals that violated the long-range planning strategies designed to “Keep South County Rural”. I voted against many of these amendments, but despite my opposition, most of them were passed by the other members of the Council. Some of the rezonings were so egregious that I considered voting against the entire bill. Ultimately, I decided to vote for the bill, but to work with the County Executive to strip out some of the rezonings using the line-item veto. I worked hard publicly and behind the scenes to try to uphold many of those vetoes. I solicited an opinion from the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Planning concerning a 2009 state law that stated that local land ordinances needed to be consistent with local planning documents. I met with members of the community and spoke to my Council Colleagues one-on-one. In the end, six of the sixteen vetoes were upheld.

I want to thank the members of our communities for working with me during this very complex process. We have some good work to show for our efforts. In several of the District 6 rezonings, we were able to secure conservation easements to ensure environmentally sensitive areas were preserved and forever protected from development. In others, we were able to negotiate community covenants which forbid certain objectionable activities or uses on the properties. All in all, I am proud of what we accomplished, and I am proud of the communities I represent for being so engaged in the process.

In other news, I hope that we are finished with natural disasters for a while. I know all of us were affected in some way by this summer’s extreme temperatures, the earthquake, Hurricane Irene, or the remnants of Tropical Storm Lee. As our communities continue to clean up, let us be thankful that the cooler temperatures of autumn are on the way. Hopefully the mosquito population will allow us to enjoy being outside once again. I will be celebrating the dedication of the new Reading and Butterfly Garden at Quiet Waters Park on Wednesday, September 14 at 4:45. See here for more information.

As always, I enjoy hearing from my constituents. Feel free to contact my office any time. Also, please let Janice or me know of important events in your community.

I continue to feel honored to represent you on the County Council.

- Chris

410-222-1401
ctrumbauer@aacounty.org

Rezoning proposals in District 6

2011-07-15T14:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Community Leaders and Residents of District 6,

I have been working over the last several weeks to finalize the zoning

amendments that I wish to make onto Bill 44-11. I have listed the proposals

below. Some are modifications of existing proposals in the bill, and others

are new amendments, submitted by applicants in accordance with the

procedures laid out before the bill was introduced. In all cases, I have

worked with the Office of Planning and Zoning (OPZ), the applicants, and

nearby communities or civic associations to try to come up with the best

possible proposal.

I intend to introduce these amendments at the Council Meeting on Monday

night (7 PM on 7/18). There will be a public hearing on the amended bill

prior to the voting session. Amendments will be introduced during the voting

session. If you have opinions on the current version of the bill, any of my

proposed amendments listed below, or any other potential amendment requests,

please let your voice be heard. You may testify during the public hearing,

or simply call or email my office. Information on the bill, and the other

amendment requests may be found here:

http://www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/pendingLegis.cfm.

There will be one more meeting, on August 1st, where amendments will be allowed to be

introduced. The final bill will be voted on during the Council Meeting on 8/15.

Here are my proposed amendments for 7/18. They are listed by either the

proposal number in the current bill, e.g. 6-3, or by the amendment request

number, e.g. CC-2.

Proposals in the bill:

6-2: This amendment concerns multiple properties on the south side of

Bestgate Rd near Old Admiral Court. The existing zoning is R15, and OPZ

recommended converting all parcels to C2 in the existing bill. We contacted

all of the landowners and some of them did not wish to be rezoned, and

preferred to retain their residential zoning. This amendment carves out

those residents, which fortunately were in a block in the rear of the area.

6-3: This amendment concerns multiple properties on the south side of

Bestgate Rd, near Medical Pkwy. In the bill, OPZ recommended a Commercial

District here, with an existing gas station getting C1 zoning, and the

remaining properties getting C2 zoning. All properties are currently zoned

R22 (high density residential). My amendment will change the proposed zoning

for three parcels (the gas station and the two immediately behind it) to C4,

to conform to the existing uses. The other parcel on Bestgate will remain

C2, and the parcel furthest to the south will revert to residential, in

accordance with the wishes of the owner.

6-25: This amendment will restore the original RLD zoning to the "Wedding

Chapel" property on Generals Hwy. The current bill proposes SB (Small

Business), but this is strongly opposed by the surrounding communities and

is not supported by the GDP or Crownsville Small Area Plan.

Amendment Requests not in the bill:

CC-19: This is an amendment request which concerns the Holy Temple Church on

the north side of Bestgate Rd, near Lincoln Pkwy. This amendment will

split-zone the property. The front portion of the property is already

developed and this proposal will change it to C2. The back side of the

parcel is very environmentally sensitive and will not be rezoned. The owners

wish to place the rear portion into conservation easement so that it may be

preserved forever.

CC-18: This amendment concerns a parcel on Crownsville Road owned by Jones

of Annapolis. The applicant had requested a change of zoning for this parcel

from R2 to W2. Jones currently uses the adjacent parcel (immediately to the

east and fronting Crownsville Rd.) for a rock-crushing operation. OPZ has

recommended W2 for that parcel, but not the second parcel. The applicant has

indicated that he will not expand his construction use, but will instead use

this parcel for parking and storage, which is only allowed in C4 or W2

zoning. He has also indicated he will maintain a buffer to the R2 property

to the East. This will allow the applicant to move his vehicles from their

current location at the corner of Generals Hwy and Housely Rd.

CC-9: This amendment concerns a parcel owned by Ralph Simmons, near the

intersection of Housely Road and Defense Hwy. It is surrounded on two sides

by high density commercial (big box retail, gas stations, etc). There is a

small, single family residential community immediately to the west, but it

is buffered by a strip of community property. I had originally pursued a SB

zoning change here, but OPZ did not feel that was appropriate use in this

vicinity. After consulting with them, I am considering a C1 or C2 change

here.

CC-2: This amendment concerns the Chesapeake Veterinary Center on the north

of Bestgate Rd near Severn Grove Road. This veterinary clinic, which serves

the Annapolis and broader community, is in need of additional space for

rehabilitation and other specialty facilities which can not be accommodated

in the existing facilities. This amendment will allow them to expand their

facility along the frontage of Bestgate, while preserving the

environmentally sensitive area behind it (which they own). The owners intend

to place the environmentally sensitive portion into conservation easement

for permanent preservation.

Thank you for taking the time to read this rather long and tedious email. It

is my goal to help my constituents make informed opinions on legislation

being debated. I hope you will let me know what you think. I want to

represent you as best as I can.

-Chris

410-222-1401

ctrumbauer@aacounty.org

Comp Rezoning - here we go!

2011-06-17T13:43:00.000-07:00

Over the past several weeks, I have hosted a series of community meetings to provide information and solicit feedback regarding the upcoming Comprehensive Rezoning for District 6. Over 100 residents attended these meetings, and there was a good information exchange. Also, last night (6/16), the Planning Advisory Board (PAB) conducted a "listening session" for the public to comment on proposed amendment requests. The three community meetings and the PAB hearing were all very valuable for me as your District 6 representative. Thanks to all of you who attended.

The next phase of the Comprehensive Rezoning process begins on Monday night, June 20. The Comp Rezoning Bill, #44-11, will have a public hearing at the County Council meeting. This is the best opportunity for residents to voice their opinions on any proposals within the bill, or any of the amendment requests. There is expected to be a very large turnout, so if you plan to testify, be prepared to stay a while.

To view the bill as proposed, see here: www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/Resources/2011/44-11.pdf
To view the amendment requests, see here: www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/pendingLegis.cfm

In order for the bill to be amended, a Councilmember must propose an amendment, receive a "second" and then the amendment must receive a majority vote. If the bill is amended, it will then necessitate a public hearing at the following Council meeting. I do not expect any amendments on June 20, but I do expect the bill to be amended on July 5, which would then mandate a public hearing on the amended bill on July 18. It could be amended further on July 18, which would then mandate a public hearing on August 1. The bill must receive a final vote by August 15 or it will expire.

The bottom line is that there will be multiple opportunities for public comment on Bill 44-11. Even if you are not able to attend a meeting, I would encourage you to send written testimony if you have a strong opinion about anything contained within the bill, or any of the proposed amendment requests.

My Dad and me, circa 1975

As we enter this weekend, I want to take a moment to say Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there. As most people know, I have two children myself. Although juggling two jobs is very challenging, I sometimes think that being a good parent is the hardest job of all. Luckily it is also the most rewarding. My Dad helped instill in me my love for the natural world, and my interest in science and nature. I plan to go fishing with him this Sunday.

Happy Fathers Day!

Chris
ctrumbauer@aacounty.org
410-222-1401

Comprehensive Rezoning for District 6

2011-05-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

On Monday, May 16, bill 44-11 was introduced. This bill encompasses all the proposals from the Office and Planning and Zoning for the Comprehensive Rezoning of Districts 6 and 7.

Each of the proposals is listed, along with a brief justification, in a table which can be found here. You can view the proposals on a map here. These proposals will be the topic of a County Council work session on June 13 at 9 am. The public is welcome to attend but there will not be an opportunity for public comment at the work session. The bill will have a public hearing at the June 20 County Council meeting. At that point, amendments may be offered to the bill.

Amendments may be submitted to this bill adding, subtracting, or changing the existing rezoning proposals. Any requested amendments must be submitted by 5:00 pm on June 1. The amendment request form is located on the County Council website. Amendments submitted after the deadline may not receive consideration.

Comprehensive Rezoning is an important aspect of county land use planning. It has the potential to affect growth and development in our area for years to come. I will be holding a series of informal meetings during the first two weeks of June to provide more information on the proposals and to seek community feedback. I believe in smart, responsible land use policy, and I will consider each of these proposals by its merits. I hope residents will take the opportunity to get involved in this process and I will be looking forward to working with our communities during the process.

Here is the schedule of important Comprehensive Rezoning dates:

5/16 Bill 44-11 introduced
6/1    Amendment requests due (by 5:00 pm)
6/1    District 6 community meeting @ 2664 Riva Road, Chesapeake Room, 2nd Floor. (6:30 pm)
6/7    District 6 community meeting @ Hillsmere Elementary School (6:30 pm)
6/9    District 6 community meeting @ Rolling Knolls Elementary (6:30 pm)
6/13 County Council work session (9:00 am)
6/20 Bill 44-11 public hearing

Bill 44-11 will likely be discussed during several subsequent Council meetings. The last opportunity to amend the bill will be August 1. The bill must be voted on by the Council Meeting on August 15.

For more infomation on the Comprehensive Rezoning process, see the Long Range Planning site on the county webpage: http://www.aacounty.org/PlanZone/LongRange/CompZone.cfm

As always, please don't hesitate to call my office if you have any questions. 410-222-1401. Janice and I love to hear from you!

-Chris

Budget Time

2011-05-06T08:22:00.000-07:00

Budget Time is in full swing. The Council has been hearing presentations on both the capital and operating budgets from various county agencies this week.

The view from my desk during a budget hearing...

These budget hearings will continue next week. Next week also presents the opportunity for the public to speak on the budget.

There will be two public hearings, both held at 7 pm:

Monday, May 9 @ Old Mill High School (600 Patriot Lane in Millersville)
Wednesday, May 11 @ Arundel Center (44 Calvert Street in Annapolis)

These meetings are your opportunities to express your thoughts on the Fiscal Year 2012 county budget. The final county budget will determine many important aspects of our government including school, transportation and infrastructure funding, and the level of service for many government functions. There is no question that these are challenging economic times, and that the Council will have to make many difficult decisions. Good government works best when residents participate. You may view the budget here: http://www.aacounty.org/Budget/FY2012.cfm

Please let me know what you think.

Also, the Office of Planning and Zoning has released their recommendations for Comprehensive Rezonings for Districts 6 and 7. The bill is planned to be introduced on May 16, and the first public hearing will be held at the Council Meeting on June 20. Click here to see a list of the proposals. There is also a public meeting of the Planning Advisory Board concerning their review of the proposals on May 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the Chesapeake Room, Second Floor, Heritage Office Complex, 2664 Riva Road in Annapolis.

Finally, a word of thanks to all of the Mothers this weekend. I am thankful for the love and support of my Mom, and also to my wife Mary, who is such a great Mom to Johnny and Josephine. Happy Mothers Day to all!

-Chris

410-222-1401
ctrumbauer@aacounty.org

Next up: Budget and Comp Rezoning

2011-04-06T19:30:00.000-07:00

The two most important issues of my young Council term are right around the corner: The Budget and Comprehensive Rezoning.

On April 15 at 11:00 am, the County Executive will present his budget to the Council. While I don't know exactly what it will look like, most observers agree that it will not be anything to cheer about. We can be sure that county employees will once again be forced to take a large number of furlough days. Some positions may even be cut. The Executive has signaled that he will not fully fund K-12 Education as required by state law. I also fear cuts to the Library system, community service organizations, and other services that county residents depend on.

Education funding is especially important to me. I have been touring our area schools and studying the master plan for school construction. Many schools in the Annapolis Feeder area are due for feasibility studies to determine if they need to be renovated or replaced. In this lean budget, we will need to speak as a unified voice and insist that our schools get the funding they deserve.

Once the Executive's budget is submitted to the Council, there will be ample opportunities for public comment. It is important that your voice be heard, especially during these tough times. You can find out the public meeting schedule here: http://www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/councilSchedule.cfm. Also, please contact me and let me know what is important to you in this budget.

Comprehensive Rezoning is underway. Rezoning in Districts 1 and 4 is being heard before the Council now. On April 27, the Office of Planning and Zoning will publish its findings on the rezoning applications filed for Districts 6 and 7. The Planning Advisory Board will have a public hearing for the proposals in our District on May 11. To see a complete schedule of the Comprehensive Rezoning timeline, see here: http://www.aacounty.org/PlanZone/LongRange/CompZone.cfm

The decisions made in the Comp Rezoning process can affect our County for decades to come. It is important that we make the right choices concerning future development so that we promote smart, sustainable growth - not haphazard rezonings based on political influence. This is another issue where it is very important for community input. I will do my best to reach out to communities in District 6 that could be impacted by rezoning and solicit their positions. But communication is a two-way street - if you have an opinion about a rezoning application, please let me know. Information will be available at http://www.aacounty.org/PlanZone/LongRange/CompZone.cfm

As the weather warms and the blossoms sprout, remember to get out and enjoy our District. We live in a beautiful place with vibrant neighborhoods. Now that winter is over, be sure to take a stroll downtown, ride your bike at Quiet Waters Park, or just walk down the street to chat with your neighbors. Building our sense of community will benefit us all!

Keep in touch,

Chris

410-222-1401
ctrumbauer@aacounty.org

First Contact

2011-02-24T11:12:00.000-08:00

Dear friends and colleagues,

This is the first of what will sure to be many periodic updates that I will send out to constituents and community leaders to discuss pending legislation and other issues affecting our community. (If you would like to receive these updates by email, please let us know. Contact info is at the end of this post.) Since this is the first communication, let me first say that it is truly an honor to represent District 6 on the County Council. I look forward to working with you, and I encourage you to reach out to me anytime. I want to hear from you! You can find contact information at the end of this message.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to introduce my Legislative Aide, Janice Hayes-Williams. Many of you will already know Janice, as she has been very involved in our community. Her broad experience in the corporate world and the non-profit world, together with her ties to our community and passion for history make her an excellent resource for all of us.

For those of you who followed my campaign, you remember that I often referred to the “3 E’s” of the Economy, Education, and our Environment. In the coming months, important decisions will need to be made on each of these priorities. The County Executive introduces his budget on April 15. It will then head to the Council where we will go over it in detail. I will work hard to ensure that there is appropriate support for essential county and community services, and that priority projects (including schools) in our District are funded.

Also in April, the Comprehensive Rezoning process will begin for our District. You can find a timeline which details the various steps on the county webpage: www.aacounty.org/PlanZone/LongRange/CompZone.cfm

This is an important and involved process and I will be seeking input from residents. How we handle growth and development will affect our county for many years to come, and it’s crucial that we get it right. I plan to hold two public meetings once the Planning and Zoning review is made public for those applicants in District 6. Stay tuned for details.

Some Upcoming Legislation:

Bill 4-11 (Binding Arbitration) This bill was introduced at the request of the County Executive. The bill modifies the binding arbitration process by “un-binding” the County Council from the decision of an arbitrator. It also requires the County Executive to fund only the County’s final offer in the budget. It also contains a provision which would repeal binding arbitration entirely if the bill is invalidated in court. It was heard on February 22 at the Council Meeting, and amended. I don't support the bill as written, and I voted for the amendment. There will be another public hearing on the amended bill on March 7th.

Bills 6-11, 7-11, 8-11, 9-11 These four bills were introduced by Councilman Fink, and are co-sponsored by Councilmen Grasso, Ladd, and Walker. They generally deal with the permitting process for business owners and developers, and would seek to institute deadlines for the County to provide comments and recommendations, exclude some improvements from needing a site development plan, and would amend the provisions related to the test for Adequate Public Facilities. These bills will be heard at the Council Meeting on Monday, March 7.

Bill 10-11. This is my first legislation. It amends the code relating to the placement of telecommunication facilities (cell phone towers) on Open Space to make it more difficult to locate more than one tower on an Open Space parcel. It also increases some of the setback requirements, and fixes some inconsistencies in the code regarding permitted versus conditional uses of land in relation to cell towers. I introduced this bill because I believe our open spaces need some added protections. It will be heard at the Council Meeting on Monday, March 7.

For a list of all pending legislation, please visit: http://www.aacounty.org/CountyCouncil/pendingLegis.cfm

Forest Drive Pole:

When I first contacted county staff regarding the pole in the eastbound lane of Forest Drive shortly after I was elected, I was told it wouldn’t be removed until August 2011. I, along staff from the County Executive’s office, encouraged Verizon to do everything they could to expedite the removal. Now, the pole is finally gone. I am told that the third lane can be completely open within several weeks, but it is somewhat dependent on the weather. I know we will all be glad when this project is complete!

As I said at the beginning, I want to hear from you. I believe that good representation starts with good communication. Please feel free to distribute this to friends and neighbors in our community. If you would ever like to discuss an issue with Janice or me, please call or email to setup a meeting. I try to generally be in the Council office between 3 – 5:30 pm prior to Council Meetings, and I am always happy to meet with constituents for coffee in the morning before work.

Thanks for listening.

-Chris

Chris Trumbauer
Councilman, District 6
Anne Arundel County
410-222-1401
ctrumbauer@aacounty.org

Janice Hayes-Williams

Legislative Assistant, District 6

Anne Arundel County Council

410-222-1401, office

410-222-1755, fax

jhayes-williams@aacounty.org