In its final meeting of the year, the Annapolis City Council approved a few items, including legislation banning new drive-thru windows.

The legislation, introduced in April, passed 6-3. It affects new fast-food restaurants, banks and pharmacies. Alderman Rob Savidge, a Democrat representing Ward 7, wrote the bill following a trip to the Netherlands with several other legislators and elected officials last year to study resilience infrastructure and other issues.

Alderwomen Rhonda Pindell-Charles of Ward 3, Shelia Finlayson of Ward 4 and Karma O’ Neill — all Democrats who expressed their opposition to the legislation in September — voted against the bill.

“I think that we should not be in the habit of addressing any legislation that puts any group at a disadvantage in our city,” Finlayson said Monday.

The legislation aims to fulfill the goal of more “pedestrian-focused” development set by the Annapolis Ahead 2040 plan. Drive-thrus do not “mesh” with that goal, Savidge said in April.

The Annapolis Planning Commission agreed in July that the legislation is the city’s “chance to move forward with the [2040 plan],” said Diane Butler, a member of the Planning Commission.

Despite agreeing that drive-thru facilities are inconsistent with the plan, the commission acknowledged the value of drive-thru windows to vulnerable populations, such as older adults, when patronizing businesses like banks and pharmacies.

However, the legislation does prohibit drive-thru windows in new buildings, including banks and pharmacies, according to Savidge.

Maritime Economic Development Fund

The Maritime Economic Development Fund, sponsored by Mayor Gavin Buckley, will charge fees to maritime property owners who do not set aside “floor space for maritime industry use.” The fees are based on the amount of square footage that is considered “non-maritime uses.”

The bill is related to legislation passed in 2021 that allowed property owners in three of four maritime zones additional flexibility to build restaurants, laundromats, gyms, and dry goods stores on their property in an effort to remain economically viable. However, it came with the caveat that they have to maintain certain maritime uses.

In order to receive this type of flexibility, properties must maintain what are called “triggers” or maritime uses such a working yard of 20,000 square feet, a 30-ton boat lift, at least 25,000 square feet of land-based boat storage, and/or a fuel dock. The legislation sets up a fund that will encourage activities such as development of maritime industrial parks and promoting Annapolis’ maritime industry.

Gas-powered leaf blower penalty delay

A resolution, sponsored by Savidge, delays the enforcement of legislation passed in February banning gas-powered leaf blowers. The resolution passed 5-4.

The ban is set to take effect Jan.1, but the resolution, also sponsored by Savidge, delays fines until April 1 — two months earlier than initially proposed, to give city staff time to develop a voucher program that would provide discounts on electric leaf blowers. The program is still in its early planning stages, according to Jacquelin Guild, deputy city manager for Resilience and Sustainability.

Alderman DaJuan Gay, a Democrat representing Ward 6, who voted against moving up the start date of the fines, said that he thought that the proposed five-month delay was sufficient.

Other council members like Harry Huntley, a Democrat representing Ward 1, want enforcement to come sooner.

“I opposed this resolution for the simple reason that I get multiple emails a week from constituents in support of implementing this ban as soon as possible,” he said.

Withdrawn

The council withdrew legislation introduced in July that would establish a fund for tenants who live in rental units the city deems unfit for habitation. The account would have been funded with city budget allocations “as available.” The legislation, sponsored by Gay, was withdrawn Monday because it puts the funding responsibility on the city when his intention was to place that responsibility on the landlords, he said. Gay would like to rewrite the legislation so that the onus is placed on landlords.

Gay tried to pass similar legislation last year that would require landlords with property in the city to pay for tenant relocation if their housing is condemned. The council ultimately withdrew the legislation due to a potential conflict with state law.

The next council meeting will be Jan.13.

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