Construction Canceled: Nonprofit Withdraws Plans To Erect Office Building In County Park

ANNAPOLIS, MD — An environmental nonprofit on Sunday canceled its plans to construct an office building in an Annapolis park.

The organization, named Chesapeake Conservancy, scrapped the project slated for Quiet Waters Park after pushback from neighbors.

Chesapeake Conservancy hoped to construct the Earl Conservation Center, a $10 million space on the waterfront where local nonprofits could collaborate.

"While we still believe that the Conservation Center would have had a tremendously positive community impact by bolstering local environmental organizations, some members of the community have strongly objected to the new building design," Chesapeake Conservancy said in a Sunday press release.

Why Plans Fell Through

The Conservancy originally hoped to renovate existing buildings on the site, but the group said arson and storm damage thwarted those plans.

Related: Fire Near Quiet Waters Park Investigated As Arson, Officials Say

The organization eventually pivoted to erecting a new structure on a recently acquired piece of land that the county added to the park.

"We want to expressly state how deeply grateful we are to the Earl family for their generous donation that helped expand Quiet Waters Park by 19 acres for all to enjoy while staving off the development of private homes," the Conservancy said. "Without this altruistic and visionary family, the park expansion would simply have not happened."

Chesapeake Conservancy backed out on its plans two days after residents expressed opposition at a community meeting.

Neighbors were largely supportive when the project was first announced in 2019 and the proposal focused on renovating existing buildings. Many jumped ship in March 2022, however.

The Capital reported that was when the County Council "unanimously voted in favor of leasing 5 acres of the land to the Chesapeake Conservation Center, a subsidiary of the Chesapeake Conservancy[,] for $1 ... a year for at least 30 years."

The Conservancy then pitched the roughly 8,300-square-foot center, journalist Megan Loock said. The project would have been funded with a $2 million donation from philanthropists James and Sylvie Earl, a $1 million gift from the U.S. Navy and contributions from the state and county governments.

Residents voiced their concerns about the larger development during a Friday town hall at Bay Ridge Christian Church, The Capital said.

County Government Supported Plan

Politicians, like Anne Arundel County Executive Steuart Pittman, have supported the proposal from the beginning despite the pushback from some community groups.

Pittman said this public-private partnership would have created an engaging conservation center "at a waterfront site with an inspiring view that everyday people in our county rarely experience."

"I am very disappointed that the Chesapeake Conservancy's outstanding work to create the Earl Conservation Center was met with such vitriol by nearby residents, leaving the Conservancy no choice but to direct its efforts elsewhere," Pittman said Monday on Facebook. "I am saddened that recent threats to surveyors by neighbors and online attacks on the organization and its director left the board with no appetite to continue."

The county executive praised the Earl family and Joel Dunn, the president and the CEO of Chesapeake Conservancy, for their work.

The Conservancy also thanked Pittman and the entire County Council for their unanimous support of the proposed center.

Community Response

Pittman's post drew mixed responses.

"What a disappointing take on a site plan that would have set a dangerous precedent to build new private construction on public land," Nic Berg replied, pointing to the currently undeveloped waterfront. "That view is currently available, rather undisturbed, to the public. A little more accessibility will be wonderful, especially once the shoreline is reinforced within the parameters of the [Quiet Waters] Master Plan."

Berg instead suggested "a building of modest size where Maryland Public Schools can bring their students to learn about our forests and rivers, and how every human can make a difference in preserving the watershed."

Others suggested that the Conservancy build its center at the county's Discovery Village public water access point in Shady Side or the future Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park.

Related: County Passes 2023 Budget, Including Money For Crownsville Hospital Memorial Park

Some residents wondered if there were enough opposers to warrant throwing out the plan.

JoAnne Zoller called them "small-minded people blocking an innovative approach which would have given momentum to environmental progress."

"Does this vocal group of residents speak for the entire county?" Zoller commented.

What's Next

Pittman invited public comments from neighbors as the Anne Arundel County government decides what to do with this now-available section of Quiet Waters Park.

"I hope that as we move forward on creating public access to this extraordinary site, we hear from those who will benefit from its magic," the county executive said. "We try to achieve equity in resource distribution, but until we achieve equity in community engagement, progress will be difficult to achieve."

The Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works had a meeting scheduled to "discuss the infrastructure improvements proposed to support the development of the Earl Conservation Center as required by the County's lease agreement with The Chesapeake Conservancy."

The meeting announcement said "these improvements will increase the number and types of amenities available to visitors. Construction, which will include an access point from Forest Hill Drive, is expected to begin in spring 2024. We welcome your input on the project description, design, and schedule."

The meeting was slated for Feb. 13 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Quiet Waters Park Blue Heron Room, located at 600 Quiet Waters Park Road.

The Office of Planning and Zoning still lists that meeting on its calendar. The proposed vicinity map is posted here, and the site plan is available at this link.

It is unclear if the meeting will continue as scheduled because Chesapeake Conservancy nixed its development plans.

The Conservancy will now prioritize other efforts in Anne Arundel County.

"Chesapeake Conservancy looks forward to helping with the next phase of the new heritage park at Elktonia/Carr's beach, furthering bilingual outreach efforts at Sandy Point State Park and supporting Anne Arundel County's forest protection plans and green infrastructure goals," the organization said. "Together, we'll continue our important work to conserve land, protect wildlife habitat and increase public access for everyone."

Related: Historically Black Elktonia Beach Converted Into Annapolis Park

To learn more about the opposition to the Earl Conservation Center, read The Capital's full story. That article is only available to the newspaper's subscribers. Anne Arundel County Public Library members can read The Capital by signing in with their library card number at this link.

Editor's Note: Patch has a partnership with Chesapeake Conservancy. The Conservancy writes a weekly list of environmental events, and we post it as a story on our website. All of those articles are viewable here.

This story was not part of that partnership. Patch Field Editor Jacob Baumgart independently verified all the facts in this article. We also included comments from all perspectives on the debate.