Members Present: Lina Vlavianos, Chair
Sally Hornor, Vice Chair
Dave Hanson
Charlotte Lubbert
Joe Rubino
Jeff Schomig
Michael Shultz
Debra Smith
Bob Whitcomb
Scott Hymes, MD DNR (Ex officio)
Sam Shropshire, City Council (Ex officio) Guests and Staff: Jay Baldwin, Reliable Contracting
Masoud Ghatineh, AACo. DPW/WERS
Albert Johnston, Greater Severn Park Council
Donna O’Neill, Point Field Landing Community
Brenda Weeks, AACo. DPW/WERS Members Absent: Virginia P. Clagett, MD House Delegates (Ex officio)
Veronica Jagoe for AACo.Councilman Benoit (Ex officio) CALL TO ORDER Chair Vlavianos called the regular monthly meeting of the Severn River Commission (SRC) to order at 4:02 p.m. in the Severn Room, 2664 Riva Road, Annapolis, MD. A quorum was declared present. MINUTES The Minutes for the December 4, 2008, regular monthly SRC meeting was presented for approval. There were no changes or corrections. MOTION: A MOTION, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES FOR THE DECEMBER 4, 2008, REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING OF THE SEVERN RIVER COMMISSION, WAS MADE BY HORNOR AND SECONDED BY LUBBERT. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE AND THE MINUTES WERE APPROVED AS WRITTEN. ANNOUNCEMENTS / CORRESPONDENCE - Virginia Clagett will not be present at this meeting.
- Vlavianos will be out of town from January 20-30, 2009. Contact Vice Chair Hornor with any Commission concerns/needs during that time.
- Vlavianos is writing the required 2007-2008 SRC Biennial Report.
- Because of other commitments, Hanson is unable to continue serving on SRC. Mayor Moyer will appoint his replacement. Hanson stated he has enjoyed working with SRC members and will continue attending meetings until a replacement has been appointed. Vlavianos thanked Hanson for his efforts and contributions to the Commission.
- The County Executive has reappointed Hornor and Schomig and appointed Kurt Riegel to 3-year terms (2/1/2009-1/31/2012) on SRC. Riegel will replace Shultz. Vlavianos thanked Shultz for his contributions. Shultz noted it has been a pleasure working with the Commission and if he can help in the future, let him know.
- SRC received a letter from Maryland Board of Public Works approving the Wetlands Application involving dredging the navigable waters of Maryland, specifically, Fox Creek on the Severn River.
- On behalf of SRC, Vlavianos sent a letter to Mr. David Bolton of Maryland Geological Survey requesting a progress briefing on the Atlantic Coastal Plain recharge study. SRC had requested that the Jabez Branch subwatershed be part of that recharge study.
DISCUSSION AND VOTE Dredging of the Upper Severn Vlavianos introduced Mr. Masoud Ghatineh, Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works, who was present to address the dredging plans for the Upper Severn. During his presentation, Mr. Ghatineh discussed the specifics of the dredging process and described the details of the project slated for the Upper Severn. He responded to numerous questions posed. The purpose of the dredging program is to open clogged waterways. Funding comes from the Department of Natural Resources. Per the County’s agreement with the federal government, the County is obligated for any federal dredging that arises. About 20-25 projects are presently scheduled with 3-6 projects being dredged every year. Finding space to dump the dredged materials is more complicated than the dredging itself. Dredged materials that qualify as usable sand can be used for beach replenishment. The main channels proposed to be dredged in the Upper Severn will be wider and deeper and channels closer to the houses will be narrower and shallower. Main channel widths will vary from 40-50 feet; spurs will vary from 10-20 feet. The goal is to minimize the impact to the waterway and maximize the benefit of the dredging. Of the16,728 acres in the watershed, 20% (3,342 acres) is impervious creating an enormous amount of runoff including sediment. A SAV survey was done in the spring and summer but the dredging will not disturb the SAV beds. Overall, studies have concluded that dredging stimulates growth of SAV. If SAV were impacted, mitigation must be provided. Waterfront homeowners will be given the opportunity to have the County dredge access spurs to their piers but they will have to pay for their portion of the dredging. It would be to the advantage of each homeowner to have the dredging done because the County would dispose of their dredge material at the County DMP site at no cost to the homeowner and the County would acquire the required permits as well. Permit fees, however, are the responsibility of the homeowner.SRC thanked Mr. Ghatineh for his informative presentation. Following a discussion later in the meeting, the Commission approved a motion to support the dredging project for the Upper Severn River. Because Vlavianos lives in the area where dredging is proposed and is also a boat owner, she recused herself from any discussion or vote on the subject. MOTION: A MOTION, THAT SRC SUPPORTS THE DREDGING PROJECT FOR THE UPPER SEVERN RIVER AS DESCRIBED BY MASOUD GHATINEH, WAS MADE BY WHITCOMB AND SECONDED BY LUBBERT. THE MOTION WAS APPROVED BY EIGHT VOTES. Kaufmann Park Mr. Jay Baldwin from Reliable Contracting was introduced to Commission members. SRC was asked to decide whether or not to give relief on the Kaufmann Park project and Mr. Baldwin was invited to this meeting to present the relevant information to the Commission. He gave a brief history of the project. The stormwater management system, originally in the buffer, was relocated and assurance given that there would be no further issues. However at the time of leasing, the Health Department would not approve occupancy because of insufficient septic systems. Mr. Baldwin and Vlavianos met with and discussed several options with Larry Tom, AACo. Planning & Zoning Officer. Following a lengthy discussion, the Commission decided, due to the unusual circumstances surrounding this development and its approval, not to oppose a plan that would allow five additional dry wells in the Resource Conservation buffer that would serve as a back-up system if needed. Hanson’s original motion was modified and approved. Vlavianos will contact Mr. Tom with SRC’s decision. Commission members praised Mr. Baldwin for his cooperation with the work at the Preserve at Severn Run. MOTION: A MOTION, THAT GIVEN THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THIS DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY THE REGULATORY HISTORY THAT LED TO ITS APPROVAL, SRC DOES NOT OPPOSE A PLAN THAT ALLOWS FOR FIVE (5) ADDITIONAL DRY WELLS IN THE RESOURCE CONSERVATION BUFFER THAT WOULD SERVE AS A THIRD SYSTEM, SECOND BACK-UP, IF NEEDED AT 331 GAMBRILLS ROAD, GAMBRILLS, WAS MADE BY HANSON AND SECONDED BY SHULTZ. THE MOTION WAS PASSED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE. General Development Plan (GDP) Hornor reported a current schedule for the GDP has been emailed to SRC members. The GDP draft report will be available on line January 20, 2009. Four meetings have been scheduled for public comments. Public comments can be submitted until February 16, 2009. Forty-four properties requesting “spot zoning” will be removed for consideration from the plan as assured by Larry Tom, Planning & Zoning Officer. The County staff is reviewing SRC’s request for “no net loss of forest cover.” A “steep slope” definition needs to be addressed. All SRC members are urged to review the draft document, attend one of the public meetings and make comments to staff. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. The next monthly SRC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 5, 2009, 4:00 p.m., in the Severn Room (4th floor), 2664 Riva Road. (In a report submitted by Lubbert at the meeting, the SRC website had 781 hits during December.) |
