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Wetlands Case No. 87-WL-0163
Page 3
VI. COMMENTS OF LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL AGENCIES:
The Baltimore City Department of Planning outlined its
policy for limited housing on piers should the State and
federal permitting authorities consider granting approvals for
this kind of development. In brief, the policy includes a
list of requirements for structural integrity, long-term
maintenance of piers and pilings, adequate emergency access,
proper utilities, and a formula for allowing additional over-
water expansion based upon a percentage of the area of other
existing piers removed on the same property.
No Federal comments have been received; however, the
applicant has applied to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for
a permit.
VII. COMMENTS FROM OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES:
A number of letters were submitted to the Department
and/or the Board of Public Works in opposition to this
project.
The Nestos Contracting Company owns a marina one lot to
the north of the applicant's project site. This marina is at
the head of a cove, off Aliceanna Street. Nestos Contracting
Company also owns the Captain James Landing restaurant on the
north side of Aliceanna Street. The restaurant and the
marina's waterfront presently have a view south across the
Northwest Branch of the Harbor, including much of the Fells
Point area. They objected to the applicant's project for the
following reasons:
1. The buildings on the pier would block the view of the
Harbor and cause financial loss to the restaurant;
2. The pier and the proposed community would create boat
safety problems by drawing more boats into the cove;
3. The project would block views of the Harbor from the
public promenade and from Boston Street, and therefore
contradict the goal of preserving and enhancing views of
the Harbor;
4. The warehouse that previously existed on the marine pier
at the project site had been torn down before the Captain
James Landing restaurant was built; and
5. The riparian rights established under common law and the
Maryland Wetlands Act do not extend to residential
buildings on piers.
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