Politics & Government
City Of Annapolis: Press Release: City Announces Agreement On Wells Cove Easement
In 2020, the issue came to the forefront because of an application submitted to the Board of Port Wardens.
August 11, 2021
Press Release
Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Press Release
Mayor Gavin Buckley
Find out what's happening in Annapolisfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Mayor Gavin Buckley
Public Information Office
Public Information Office
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
160 Duke of Gloucester Street
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media contact: Mitchelle Stephenson, 410-972-7724 or mwstephenson@annapolis.gov
Media contact: Mitchelle Stephenson, or mwstephenson
City Announces Agreement on Wells Cove Easement
City Announces Agreement
Annapolis, MD (August 11, 2021) – The City of Annapolis recently finalized the paperwork concluding negotiations on an agreement for a five-foot easement from Boucher Avenue to the waters of Wells Cove in Eastport. The agreement comes after months of negotiations between the City’s Office of Law and the attorneys for the Blue Heron Cove Condominium Association.
Annapolis, MD (August 11, 2021) – The City of Annapolis recently finalized the paperwork concluding negotiations on an agreement for a five-foot easement from Boucher Avenue to the waters of Wells Cove in Eastport. The agreement comes after months of negotiations between the City’s Office of Law and the attorneys for the Blue Heron Cove Condominium Association.
When the Blue Heron Cove Condominiums were developed in the 1000 block of Boucher Avenue three decades ago, the City failed to follow up on a potential easement. The plat showed where an easement could go if the City ever requested it. A stormwater outfall runs the length of this small area of property. While Eastport residents sometimes used the area, there was no formal or legal right to access. Over the tenure of five Annapolis mayors, none took on the issue of negotiating the easement.
When the Blue Heron Cove Condominiums were developed in the 1000 block of Boucher Avenue three decades ago, the City failed to follow up on a potential easement. The plat showed where an easement could go if the City ever requested it. A stormwater outfall runs the length of this small area of property. While Eastport residents sometimes used the area, there was no formal or legal right to access. Over the tenure of five Annapolis mayors, none took on the issue of negotiating the easement.
In 2020, the issue came to the forefront because of an application submitted to the Board of Port Wardens. In reviewing land records, the City determined that it had a stormwater outfall on property that did not have an easement. Eastport residents rallied for legal access to the parcel.
In 2020, the issue came to the forefront because of an application submitted to the Board of Port Wardens. In reviewing land records, the City determined that it had a stormwater outfall on property that did not have an easement. Eastport residents rallied for legal access to the parcel.
The five-foot walking path will be available dawn to dusk. There are no riparian rights, in part due to a four-foot in diameter stormwater outfall located there, which makes watercraft deployment treacherous. The property on either side of the easement are privately owned. The City has agreed to install a privacy fence differentiating the path. The mature trees on the site will be retained to provide shade. The City has agreed not to install lights or develop the property in any way.
The five-foot walking path will be available dawn to dusk. There are no riparian rights, in part due to a four-foot in diameter stormwater outfall located there, which makes watercraft deployment treacherous. The property on either side of the easement are privately owned. The City has agreed to install a privacy fence differentiating the path. The mature trees on the site will be retained to provide shade. The City has agreed not to install lights or develop the property in any way.
The easement agreement was signed by the City on August 6. The Blue Heron Cove Condominium Association will sign the agreement in the coming days.
The easement agreement was signed by the City on August 6. The Blue Heron Cove Condominium Association will sign the agreement in the coming days.
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This press release was produced by the City of Annapolis. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
