The Anne Arundel County Council recently voted to preserve existing zoning for nearly a dozen properties in northern Annapolis, disappointing a group of Black landowners who say they want to divide their land among relatives.

As part of the county’s comprehensive zoning review for Region 4, which includes Severna Park, Pasadena, Arnold, Cape St. Claire and Gibson Island, the council heard from dozens of residents. The review is part of a once-in-a-decade rezoning effort for each of the county’s nine planning regions, which differ from council districts.

Council member Amanda Fiedler, a Republican representing Arnold, proposed an amendment at the June 17 meeting to maintain the existing lower density residential zoning for nearly a dozen properties on Shot Town Road in Annapolis. The county had recommended increasing the density.

Though longtime Black landowners who want to be able to share their land with their families spoke in favor of increasing the housing density, the council voted 4-3 to preserve the current zoning, with council members Allison Pickard, Lisa Rodvien and Julie Hummer voting no

Located in a small wooded residential area off Route 50 in Annapolis, most of the Shot Town Road properties are zoned for residential low density, often referred to as RLD, which allows for one house per 5 acres. The county suggested upgrading those parcels to allow for one house per acre, or R1 zoning. Not all property owners applied for changes, however.

Three of the properties have multiple zoning classifications — two include the lower residential density, while a third is zoned for low to medium density residential development and open space.

Though some Shot Town Road residents expressed their preference for keeping the zoning as is, striking a balance between conservation of the area’s natural resources and existing land use, some Black residents wanted changes allowing for more than one home per acre.

For Keisha Ricks, Shot Town Road is all she’s known. Her family has owned land there for generations, dating to the 1800s.

“My grandmother left it to us as a family compound, which we are still here [on] today,” she said.

When Ricks’ grandmother subdivided the land, it was zoned for one home per acre. The zoning changed to the lower density in 1989 which Ricks said “severely hindered” the family’s ability to develop their own property, prompting her to ask for a new classification.

“Building a home or two in addition to what we have is not a problem — we can’t build a community, we can’t build a city,” she said. “We’re just asking for additional lots so that we can continue to carry on our legacy of being able to be on our property.”

Mary Daniels, who also lives on Shot Town Road, said the lower density zoning was limiting to the Black families who have called it home for generations.

“When my new neighbors speak about, ‘Let’s keep it RLD,’ I think they’re not considering the fact that our ancestors were on that property and it was meant for legacy,” she said. “And so, when you limit from R1 to RLD, then you say, ‘No more legacy.’”

Addressing residents’ split testimony, Fiedler said there was concern about spot zoning if the council removed properties that did not apply for zoning changes from her amendment, as the zoning wouldn’t be contiguous.

Spot zoning allows some properties to be used differently than surrounding properties.

If her amendment was approved, Fiedler said, she wanted to look at alternatives in the zoning code to allow for development for familial passage as well.

The county’s Office of Planning and Zoning suggested including neighboring properties on Shot Town Road in the change to create contiguous zoning there, said Deputy Planning and Zoning Officer Christina Pompa.

Pickard, a Democrat representing Glen Burnie, said she couldn’t support the amendment.

“We’ve heard very powerful testimony tonight from property owners on Shot Town Road, and I don’t know how you can’t really be affected by the thought of being able to leave property to families,” she said, later adding: “People should be able to use their property the way they want to.”