ANPF OPPOSES ANNEXATION

The following letter was sent by the President of the Annapolis Neck Peninsula Federation to the County Executive.  Representatives of the County Executive responded with their full support of ANPF's position.

The Honorable John Leopold
County Executive
Anne Arundel County

Over the last several years the City of Annapolis has pursued an aggressive annexation policy, annexing single properties one by one. These annexations resulted from single properties (owners) requesting annexation to achieve higher development densities than allowed by County regulations. The results have been a gradual degradation of the quality of life on the Annapolis Neck Peninsula.

Most recently, The owner of the Annapolis Roads Golf Course (May 18, 2009) requested annexation and the request is now before the City.

The Annapolis Roads Community is a Special Community Benefit District and the Golf Course is an integral party of the community and pays its fees as a member of the community.

John Stamato, President of the Ribera Development, LLC, wrote a letter to each member of Annapolis Roads Community (ARPOA) describing the rationale and plans for the Golf Course. According to those in the community with whom I have talked, the letter is a masterpiece of misrepresentations and stretching of the facts. One paragraph, in the letter, however, is most disturbing and is quoted here ...

"As we have explained to ARPO representatives, annexation into the City
is necessary in order for the City to purchase the property and obtain special
restoration funding available only to publicly owned golf courses. The City
intends to use funds from Program Open Space to acquire the property. ..."

It is our understanding that no Open Space funds are available to the city to make this purchase and we also know the City is under immense budget constraints.

So why is the City even considering this? As it is, the annexation will strip land that is a part of the community, out of the heart of the community. While Mr. Stamato talks of Golf Course restoration, City Officials have already said they may not honor the community covenants.

We have yet to see an annexation request turned down by the City in recent years. Even if Open Space funds are not available, I believe the City will annex the property. Once annexed, it then becomes almost impossible to undo. We believe the City has other motives for annexation than preserving the Golf Course.

Since the community is a Special Community Benefit District (SCBD) it looses a sizable portion of its annual funding.

Respectfully,

A. Scott Mobley
President ANPF