[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6639319,"mediaKeyId","3798050-2adc12699831e0c0df7c80d9d8eb1a85","parentId",3798050,"title","Committee backs amended Title 21 fence-permit ordinance after removing privacy-fence restriction","audioSeconds",2505,"startMs",427000,"endMs",2932000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798050-2adc12699831e0c0df7c80d9d8eb1a85&start=427&end=2932","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798050-2adc12699831e0c0df7c80d9d8eb1a85/thumbnail_427000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6639319/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Committee-backs-amended-Title-21-fence-permit-ordinance-after-removing-privacy-fence-restriction","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639319-969a55cf4e4fe6c963d732b96a36a332/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174666&Signature=O1LNqnUJ1vVWtwx7gOJ06XMqmEXkmvsiMuLkrJyHQQxBOda1OGKlThY-WNU-Na9SkNn1lFf6z5GcvDqJ5BVlaoYYfdFnVmrpGi9QQKY8Eh2u5S~55Ks-uNf0RSZTnKODuiEWFqeegSnCs07pqJnKNBp75zCzwH6qHWxOIFE66x8XWvh2Xfa~DJdRUNkm07YLAYhEWJADdCaqKTP9er54unpVR37zo2dvnndeEmbY9I0esACugeCmiV2-B4CiMEHP-E~4KO1cqzoqGRMqg39NAE2E26wN6MTsBcAAC2jJWIf924I7Gxm9w4gz3KbFSHGa2WNiPJ6ZS5G2wJryY6rseA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Annapolis, MD","date","2025-06-07T10:06:50.04Z","article","The Annapolis Rules and Government Committee voted to recommend favorably on Ordinance O-3024 — an update to Title 21 of the zoning code addressing fence permit requirements and clarifying provisions on \"light and air\" obstructions — after the sponsor substituted a revised amendment and the committee removed a proposed privacy-fence restriction.

Alderman Savage, the ordinance sponsor, told the committee she withdrew three earlier amendments and presented a substitute amendment (amendment 4) that rewrote the legislation to simplify it. \"I would ask that the committee take no action on amendments 1 through 3 because I'm going to be I'm not gonna be introducing them,\" Savage said.

Under the substitute language described by the sponsor, the code would: require fences along forests or open space with no homes within 50 feet to have gaps equal to at least 50 percent of the fence surface; prohibit \"privacy fences\" (defined as constructed primarily of non‑translucent material with minimal openings) within 10 feet of a facing window on an adjacent property; and give the planning and zoning director discretion to adjust fence height on rear or side yards with slopes of 15 percent or greater.

Committee members debated the privacy-fence prohibition at length. One alderman argued the 10‑foot rule would effectively bar privacy fences across many R‑2 zoned side yards where side-yard setbacks typically are six feet. After discussion, the committee approved a motion to strike subsection b (the privacy‑fence prohibition) and the accompanying definition from the substitute amendment. The motion was adopted by voice vote.

The committee also directed staff to add language to the ordinance allowing nonconforming fences to be requested \"by special exception\" (Cynthia Reuter, Office of Law, read the proposed language back to the committee: \"at the end of 5 a, it'd be a comma, or other fences by special exception.\"). That special‑exception path would allow property owners whose proposed fences do not meet the new minimums to seek relief.

The committee and staff discussed the 15 percent slope threshold used in the substitute amendment. City Attorney Mike Lyles cautioned that the question raised was primarily spatial/technical rather than legal: \"This is not a legal issue. It's a spatial issue...\" Participants asked whether the code should reference \"15 percent grade\" or \"15 degrees,\" and staff said they would confirm standard drafting and correct the technical phrasing before the full council.

Committee members also noted the planning director had reviewed and supported the amendments in concept. The committee voted to recommend the ordinance to the full council as amended; the recommendation was by voice vote and no roll-call tally was recorded in the committee record.

The full council will receive the ordinance, the substitute amendment and the committee's recommendation; committee members said they expect any remaining technical fixes (slope wording and drafted special‑exception language) to be handled prior to or on the council floor.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Rules and City Govt Committee Meeting June 6 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Annapolis Rules and Government Committee voted to recommend favorably on Ordinance O-3024 — an update to Title 21 of the zoning code addressing fence permit requirements and clarifying provisions on 'light and air' obstructions — after the sponsor substituted a revised amendment and the committee removed a proposed privacy-fence restriction.","taxTitle","Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, Maryland","taxId",59348,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6639324,"Committee approves series of reappointments to city boards and commissions",238,188000,426000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798050-2adc12699831e0c0df7c80d9d8eb1a85&start=188&end=426","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798050-2adc12699831e0c0df7c80d9d8eb1a85/thumbnail_188000.jpg","/articles/6639324/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Committee-approves-series-of-reappointments-to-city-boards-and-commissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639324-c7c239a96d8bd10cc66286e1a0a4ee73/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174666&Signature=o9PFimBzu~RPHtb7mKcVOaICiUbNHZ6JdJ5ff1Zv4~mRhYOb~cUcN7fzqgLtIuXXHHwaCu9R3VNOmxstjip~R6qmbJTcs6lr1~eZhApAV8m8MX0yl3VS5sxOKxV5pYIsHKrqTu1wcr~LqgWMGYDU5Y60gWCoYOHh~R7IeRfDFTgNwfFVQFaPHM4sCEtAlR4ffgpBkH8csQ~cZiFcot4ibSN68D3jdq8R3DAZ-4x4RcPLND07dznB3gEkpbm02ZMZ-pcA7~cZqc-xcZSlghGi-6SEUFg861ykTl4uRXovwSy5H2r4RwVGng-zp3MAnl3hvwu-oNFTdTmye5r65AYi0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Annapolis Rules and Government Committee on Thursday recommended reappointing multiple citizens to city boards and commissions, the committee chair said, forwarding the slate to the full City Council by voice vote.

The reappointments included Philip Taylor Chambers to the Ethics Commission; Jim Dozel and Jim Martin to boards noted in the meeting record; Lynn Farrow, Cynthia Coles Crucen and David Arthur to Arts in Public Places; Jennifer Beard to the Veil Service Board; and Diane Butler to the Planning Commission. Committee members voiced approval for each nomination one by one during the meeting.

Committee members said the nominees were familiar to the panel and that no formal objections were raised during the discussion. Philip Taylor Chambers’s full name was confirmed on the record when his appointment was discussed. Several motions to approve each reappointment were made and approved by voice vote; specific vote counts were not recorded in the transcript.

The chair noted that some nominations had been submitted by the mayor’s office. One committee member said there had been controversy around some nominees raised by former committee members, but that those former members had removed themselves and the committee proceeded to approve the reappointments.

All motions were handled individually and approved by voice vote; the committee did not identify any additional conditions or follow-up requirements for the nominees. The slate will be placed on the full City Council agenda for final action.","The Annapolis Rules and Government Committee unanimously recommended reappointment of multiple citizens to the ethics commission, Arts in Public Places, the Veil Service Board and the planning commission, forwarding the slate to the full council by voice vote.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6639315,"Committee recommends Chesapeake Children's Museum lease renewal; staff to assess building and lighting",461,2939000,3400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3798050-2adc12699831e0c0df7c80d9d8eb1a85&start=2939&end=3400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3798050-2adc12699831e0c0df7c80d9d8eb1a85/thumbnail_2939000.jpg","/articles/6639315/Annapolis/Anne-Arundel-County/Maryland/Committee-recommends-Chesapeake-Childrens-Museum-lease-renewal-staff-to-assess-building-and-lighting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6639315-176a26319912c4c75d93344c16e92b5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771174666&Signature=BEMLpwmKP4OqfHAqFm1dEuZ4cO3rNCb2UaItIQ7CHnltMH5OVRv1Hi35f~1Q5f92FPoguF-ZFNWzuydXvQird~~RwkiuvIuPiZ-sTuFgTTK84iEHLmclR1Dt5ry8eS0oIpJOfhn2lHqxt9crwOlIdpPSQNNyQgf-Tjh2e9tiQkySgt3ttfBcB7ufOTL4AnkGYO7MtThj38oj-1ewNfwRm~SwZnXT~6Kg8smMOr7BaaKdNzl3mzbPOO~rJF3lZg8RhfTNAbRZFT7gF8Z~AqUdcGgM1it1PuJG1R-z476krWtO2ov7mPmrue8ehHJqBZQqcgprezPDgB7ee~gR3BdTQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Annapolis Rules and Government Committee recommended favorably that the city approve a lease renewal for the Chesapeake Children's Museum extending through June 30, 2030, and asked staff to assess the building’s condition and nearby lighting to address public-safety concerns.

A sponsor present told the committee the museum occupies a city‑owned property that has fallen into disrepair in the past but that lessees have worked to maintain the structure; the sponsor asked staff to speak to outstanding concerns. Matt Flint, central services director, said the city will replace security lighting as part of the lease terms and offered to assess whether additional lighting along the pedestrian path adjacent to the museum should be added: \"While we're adding security lighting to the property, we're happy to assess the whole thing. We can bring light meters out and assess the lumens projecting on different spaces and try to bring dark areas up to industry standards,\" Flint said.

Committee members raised safety concerns about a long, unlit stretch of the path used by downtown workers and asked whether the lighting work could include motion‑activated or dusk‑to‑dawn fixtures; Flint recommended dusk‑to‑dawn LED fixtures for continuous coverage and energy efficiency. The committee also asked whether the project might qualify for capital improvement plan (CIP) funding; Flint said the scope—replacing fixtures versus adding new ones—would determine whether the work should be handled in the existing facilities budget or elevated to a CIP project.

On the building’s condition, Flint said the city's facilities and engineering teams are launching a facility condition assessment of all city‑owned property and that the museum site would be included in that review to identify deferred maintenance and any needed structural repairs. Committee members said they wanted a better understanding of the building’s soundness because of the building’s public use by children and the lease's requirement that lessees perform maintenance in lieu of a monetary rent.

The committee moved and approved a favorable recommendation to the full council by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the committee transcript. Staff said they will report back with assessment results and, if necessary, seek funding options to address deferred maintenance or additional lighting.","The Rules and Government Committee recommended favorably on a lease renewal for the Chesapeake Children's Museum through June 30, 2030, and asked staff to assess facility condition and security lighting along an adjacent path.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee backs amended Title 21 fence-permit ordinance after removing privacy-fence restriction

Committee approves series of reappointments to city boards and commissions

Committee recommends Chesapeake Children's Museum lease renewal; staff to assess building and lighting