Sally Nash should not be the next planning and zoning director

It is currently perceived by many residents of Annapolis that the city’s Planning and Zoning Department prioritizes the demands of developers and has little concern for the effect of development on the quality of life in our city.

Annapolis needs a director of planning and zoning — and a planning and zoning staff — that more fully considers the needs of the citizens.

The redevelopment of the Eastport Shopping Center is a prime example of the department’s emphasis on the demands of developers. The department determined there were adequate public facilities for this project, but the city’s board of appeals recently found, after an expensive and lengthy appeal by citizens, this determination was faulty in five categories. The board of appeals asked the department to reconsider these areas.

Another example is the Forest Drive and Eastport Sector Study, which recommended substantial increases in density along Forest Drive, totally ignoring residents’ repeated and severe concerns regarding traffic and safety along this important corridor, which has significant congestion and five of the ten intersections with the highest level of accidents in Anne Arundel County.

A state-county-city task force is meeting now to resolve conflicts the planning concepts in this study contain.

The Planning and Zoning Department also refused to require a traffic study for the Central Park development (45 units near Truxtun Park) despite residents’ requests and the director having the discretion to order one.

With the current vacancy for the director of planning and zoning, the city has an opportunity and the responsibility to hire a person with the strong background and qualifications to incorporate residents’ concerns in planning the city’s future development, land use, zoning and therefore the quality of life of every Annapolitan and residents of the county who visit Annapolis daily for shopping, cultural events, medical appointments, dining and many other reasons.

However, it appears the city is seriously considering promoting Dr. Sally Nash from acting director to director. The city should not continue moving in this particular direction. For one thing, the City Charter requires an advanced degree in planning, and Nash’s doctorate is in geography.

More importantly, decisions made under the direction of Nash and the previous director, Pete Gutwald, have left us with the situations described above in Eastport and in planning for controversial actions along Forest Drive. We need to move in a new direction.

It would be in the best interests of the residents of Annapolis if Mayor Gavin Buckley expanded the search nationwide for a director of planning and zoning for a person who has the experience, background, track record and credentials to logically and responsibly address the planning challenges of our city with the residents’ organizations as active participants at the table.

Mayor Buckley, close enough is not good enough! The residents of Annapolis and nearby residents of the county who love our city and contribute to keeping the Annapolis economy vibrant deserve a Planning and Zoning Department that is much more receptive to the quality of life and the concerns of its residents.

Jim Wildley has lived in Annapolis for 22 years and currently is a member of the Eastport Civic Association Planning and Major Development Committee.