Finally, a Moratorium

Well, on Monday night, the Annapolis City Council, led by Alderman Josh Cohen, decided to do the right thing. They put a moratorium on major new development projects until the City can ensure adequate public facilities are in place. Though the moratorium doesn't apply to projects already under way, it will affect future projects coming into the pipeline. Mayor Ellen Moyer and two allies on the Council, Wayne Taylor (D-Ward 4) & Classie Hoyle (D-Ward 3) opposed the measure, offering that "It doesn't stop traffic and it doesn't stop development that is in the hopper." True on both counts. Of course, having $850k cut from the public transportation budget doesn't help much either, but that's neither here nor there.

A representative from the beleaguered development community, Dennis Murphy of Murphy and Hogan Commercial Real Estate in Annapolis stated (with a straight face, apparently), "I think a blanket moratorium sends the wrong message that Annapolis is anti-growth and anti-development." Mr. Murphy, I think a casual drive down just about any of Annapolis' congested arteries, flanked by construction cranes, would disabuse the naive of that notion.

Now, if only we could get the County Council to act so sensibly.