Annapolis City Dock flood prevention plan could face delays due to lawsuit
BALTIMORE -- A development plan that would address flooding issues at City Dock in Annapolis could face delays after an anonymous group filed a lawsuit to stop the project, city council officials said Tuesday.
The City Dock Action Committee (CDAC) unveiled the nearly $60 million plan in November 2023 to address rising sea levels that have caused flooding issues in Historic Downtown Annapolis since 2019.
What the Lawsuit Argues
On Oct. 23, Hartman Attorneys at Law, on behalf of their anonymous client "John Doe," filed a petition for judicial review of the Historic Preservation Commission of Annapolis's decision to approve the proposed City Dock resiliency project, claiming it violates city code.
"John Doe" is a resident who testified that the project would impact his property values and real estate taxes. He claims HPC did not adhere to legal requirements for such projects.
According to the petition, HPC was supposed to get a majority vote to approve the applications. Instead, out of the six members present, only three voted in favor and the rest abstained. The petition also states that HPC approved plans to demolish the Harbor Master building without a plan to replace it as required by the city code, and HPC switched the designated time and location of public hearings during the process.
"John Doe" also claims the project goes against guidelines laid out in the Annapolis Historic District design manual aimed at preserving the area's historic context.
In response to the filing, Annapolis Mayor Gavin Buckley released a statement expressing confidence that development and approvals of the project were done by the book.
"What the lawsuit will bring is costly delays, degradation of historic structures, and, inevitably, more downtown flooding," Buckley said.
The Solution to City Dock Flooding
After five years of meetings, the CDAC proposed the city build a natural park barrier to protect downtown from flooding.
"Not only are we going to stop sea level rise, and the next catastrophic weather event, but we also have the opportunity to create a world-class park," Mayor Buckley said after the project was announced.
The project would replace a parking area at City Dock with a terraced park that will include an 8-foot barrier, rain gardens and shade trees to protect from flooding.
Approval Process
In March 2024, the Annapolis Planning Commission approved the plan.
After hundreds of community stakeholder meetings, community briefings and public work sessions, a final plan was developed.
Lawsuit Could Bring Delays
The motivation behind the lawsuit filed in Anne Arundel Circuit Court remains unclear, according to Mayor Buckley.
"Due to the anonymous nature of this filing, it is impossible to understand the motivation behind the lawsuit thereby blunting our ability to adequately defend against it," he said in a statement.
According to city council officials, City Dock has seen an increase in flooding in 2024, including two that prompted State of Emergency declarations. Officials said Annapolis is on track to see 120 flooding events in 2024.
"What the lawsuit will bring is costly delays, degradation of historic structures, and, inevitably, more downtown flooding," Mayor Buckley added.