Minutes Kent Narrows Development Foundation Board of Directors Meeting April23,2024  Board Members Participating Jody Schulz, Chair (via Zoom) Joel Pomerantz, Vice Chair Patricia Worns, Secretary (via Zoom) Victorial Hoffman, Treasurer Bill Oertel Kim Hannon Justin) Kiernan Kelly Phipps Jeffs Smith Absent with Notice Jakel Boulay Mike Foster Jason) Ruth Commissioner Liaison Commissioner Phill Dumenil (absent with notice) Queen Anne's County Staff Steve Chandlee, QAC Parks and) Recreation Stephanie. Jones, QACI Planning and Zoning April) Plummer, QACTourism Development Gerald Irby, Piney Narrows Marinal Board Kirby Schulz, Kent Narrows Rentals  Guests  Lindal Friday, Queen Anne's County Chamber of Commerce  Call to Order  Vice Chair Joel Pomerantz called to order the regular meeting of the Kent Narrows Development  Foundation at 9:03 a.m. The meeting was conducted inj person and via Zoom.  Public Comment Queen Anne's County Chamber  Lindal Friday reported that the Chamber willl hold its April Mixer here at the Hilton Garden) Inn on April 24.1 It will alsol hold: al legislativel breakfast at thel Holiday Innl Express on April 25,  where Statel Legislators will review the outcomes of the 2024: session.  1    Minutes RESOLUTION unanimously approved.  Kelly Phipps made a motion to accept the KNDFmeeting minutes of March 26, 2024. The Board  Financial Report (Victoria Hoffman)  The following balances are from financial reports ending 3/31/2024:  Shore United Checking Account: $75,977.04; QAC: 5701 Fund, $251,706.44; Amenities Fund, $67,191.36; Chesapeake Charities Fund, $7,923.31. Total assets are $403.798. 15. Restricted funds balances: QACI Land] Maintenance, $11,487.00; ESHI Grant, $1500; and Safety Grant, Planning and Zoning Report (Stephanie. Jones, Long Range Principal Planner) Stephanie Jones reported that COUNTY ORDINANCE24-09: Al BILLI ENTITLED AN ACT CONCERNING: Short-Term Residential Rentals in Queen Anne's County (TACO 24-09) will be introduced at the QAC Commissioner's meeting today. The bill contains standards designed to protect residential communities from excessive and disruptive commercial activity. There will be noj public hearing this evening. Tonight'sa action is simply an administrative process. The proposed ordinance will be conveyed to the Planning Commission. After review by thel Planning Commission, that body will review and make a recommendation' back to the to the County Commissioners. The Commissioners would then hold aj public hearing. Once the Thej purpose of the billi ist to regulate short-term residential rentals in Queen Anne's County. The bill revises certain definitions and adds a definition: for Short-Term Residential Rentals" in Chapter 18:1 App of the Code of Public Local Laws of Queen Anne's County. Currently, short-term rentals are not aj permitted usei in the county. The proposed ordinance allows for short-term rentals int the county asa permitted use. Short-term rentals are defined as a The ordinancei is specific to dwelling units across all zoning districts, not specific to one: zoning Ifenacted, the ordinance would require the property owner to apply fora zoning certificate and register thel business with the QAC1 finance department. Thej property owner is required toj the hotel tax which is currently at 5%1 but could eventually rise to up to 6% ift the Commissioners pay The amendment defines the number of occupants that can occupy the house and considers the  $96,200.  ordinance is passed, iti is effective 48 days afteri its passage.  rental thati is thirty days or less.  district or another. It's across the entire county.  vote to change thej percentage.  following factors: sewer Iseptic, and number and size ofbedrooms.  2    Guests would be required tol leave by 1la.m. Outdoor music must comply with existing noise ordinances andi must end by 8:00 p.m. Parking has tol bep provided on the site, on the property, so When someone: submits their zoning certificate tot the county, they will havet to show that they Thej property owner willl havet to apply for apply foraz zoning certificate for every year the Length ofs stay is capped at 30 days. It can roll over toi thei next person but must be less than 30 There must be a responsible party (property manager/property owner) within 25 miles oft that property to respond toi issues. With thez zoning certificate, the property owners must have an initial inspection done by the county. Then property owner may self-certify the property for five years. The county does an inspection on the 5th year. There'll be an: affidavit that they must sign saying yes, they checked all these certain characteristics and codes, ift they must meet as well. Ift therei is an enforcement issue, they will not be able to do the self-certification. So, ifthere are complaints, ifthereisar reason for the county tol have to come in and do an inspection regarding compliance ori issues that havel been filed, then they will not be able self-certify.  therei is noy parking on ther road or blocking other traffic.  have adequate parking on the property.  property owner wants tol havea a short-term residential on the property.  days.  Properties muse bei in good standing tos self-certify.  Special events such as weddings and large parties are not permitted unless the property owner goes through thep proper application process, which requires approval by the board of appeals. Thej property owner willl havet to register with the finance office. When they submit their zoning certificate, there willl be a process that automatically checks tos seei ift they have submitted their appropriate taxes. Ifnot, the County will not approve the permit and the applicant will be Enforcement is also addressed. The county may goi in at any time toi inspect, which they already have that authority to do. Ifc compliance issues are found, then the County may void the zoning The County will work with a third-party IT provider that specializes inj providing back-office data collection, monitoring and communication: services related to short-term rental compliance, code enforcement ini terms of processing and addressing and adjudicating complaints 24 hoursa day seven daysa a week. Third party booking sites are automatically set up to convey the taxes to Other counties inl Maryland have successfully updated their codes to accommodate the home- sharing economy and they are successfully using the back-office support systems to manage the process across departments. The counties include but are not limited to' Talbot, Anne Arundel,  notified that they must bei in good standing with the finance office.  certificate until corrections are made.  the county.  3    Worchester, Prince Georges, Frederick, and Montgomery. The code and compliance updates are As of now, there may bea as many as 250: short-term rental owners in the County that would be Ifthel Kent Narrows Foundation would liket to make recommendations tot the Planning Commission, thel letter must bei received by Tuesday, April 30. Thel Foundation may make additional recommendations. at thep public hearing or send al letter once the public hearing is Pat Worns made a motion tos send al letter supporting the ordinance with the understanding that additional comments or recommendations. may be added afier the Ordinance: is heard publicly. The Stephanie also updated thel Foundation on COUNTY ORDINANCE NO. 24-03. (TACO23-03) Al BILLI ENTITLED AN ACT CONCERNING the pier length extension review by the Queen Anne's County Board of Appeals. The bill amends Article VI,S 18:1-41 of the Code of Public Local Laws of Queen Anne' s County, Maryland. The amendment adds provisions to allow for non-water dependent structures on State of private wetlands within the critical area while Itallows, for example, a type ofa ancillary use, like restaurant seating on aj pier. Thisi is fora property that already has a commercial use. Iti must be within the critical area and designated There are certain parameters ast to what the size can be and the existing pier that it's on. It can't Thet text amendment has gone through the Planning Commission. They sent ai favorable recommendation tot the County Commissioners. The Critical Area Commission has approvedi lit. Thisi is standard language with critical area and the environmental article. She explained thatt the definition of water dependent is a use that essentially needs water to operate, like the marina. Permitted non-water dependent uses are listed in the proposed Ifit's an existing pier built prior to 2012, there'sas specific size standard. And then after that,  being addressedi inj jurisdictions throughout the Country.  affected.  completed. RESOLUTION  Board unanimously approved.  intense development area, so this affectsi is most oft the WVC: Zoning.  increase thes size oft that pier.  ordinance.  there'sa certain size standard.  The ordinance may come up for a vote inl May.    She alsor reported no movement on thet text amendments associated with the Jemal Properties Ord #23-02 ort the original Ord #23-02 to add] Bonus Provisions for residential density in the WVC that are part ofar redevelopment of dilapidated or abandoned structures. 25 DU/acre and % of retail commercial or services not to exceed 5%. The last action was on November 14, 2023. Stephanie will update the KNDF report to reflect the updated information tor remove the Holiday  Innj proposed expansion.  Economic and' Tourism Development (April Plummer)  Aprill Plummer gave the report on! behalf oft the Tourism Division. The County visitor guides, willi includea a separate outdoor guide and trail maps. They are scheduled tol be delivered inl May. The Office advertised ini the Bay Bridgel Boat Show (produced by Annapolis Boat Show) at the Bay Bridge Marina. This) year the office did not have ab booth buti instead placed adsi in the Boat  Show materials and co-op promotions. Parks and Public Landings (Steve Chandlee)  Ani inaugural flag raising eventi is scheduled for Memorial Day at the Wells Cove Public) Landing area. Thej projecti is almost complete. The areai ist tol be renamed Veteran's] Point at Wells Cove. The project came about through a donation by thel Earl and Barbara Griffin Foundation. An  official dedication even will bel held on 11/1latllam. The Skatel Park in Stevensvillei is near completion.  Thel Bike and Pedestrian Plan is completed. The execution of thej plan will take many years to get offt the ground, ast the first several years will require approvals from numerous state, federal, and local agencies. Funds will alsol have tol be raised. He was asked about the preferred placement of thel Rt. 50/301 crossing. Hei responded that place would be att the Cracker Barrell crossing over to Planning for the Independence Day celebration at Kent) Narrows on. July 4i is underway. The ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the CHVC project is this afternoon. Ferry Point Park andt thel landing in front oft the visitor center is now ready for use. The northernmost part of the shorelinei is designated for fishing. Thej pier is open, and boats may stay there for three hours. All sites are open from sunrise tos sunset. No other restrictions are posted at  thee existing trails at thel library and schools.  this time.  Director's Report (Gigi Windley) Transportation/ Transit New) Bikel Rack tol bel Installed  A bike rack willl bei installedi int the Kent] Narrows West Commuter lot.    The outcry from commuter bus riders regarding cancellation ofs somer routes appears tol have been effective. Thel MTA routes tol Kent] Island willl be continued, but thet frequency ofs service willl be An email witht thei information about the. Jake Brakel Noise was sent tot the State and County An email about the following issue with the slopes on the southeast side of the drawbridge was Botht the Wedding Give Away: at the Hyatt Place and the Brew) Fest at the Crab Deck were attention getting events for Kent] Narrows. A: significant amount of! publicity was generated result. The event att thel Hyatt was part ofar radio promotion. Several other businesses from asa Kent Thel Maryland Office ofTourism Development held a day-long seminar at the Hyatt Place on Wednesday. Destination marketing and other tourism-related businesses and attractions attended. This was a great] PRI boost for Kent) Narrows. Gigi reviewed the opportunities that the MOTD will offerl local Destination Marketing organizations and businesses as they launch ai major Kent Narrows Boatel held an open house and aj prize basket give away April 12-April 14. Wye Thel Kent Narrows Boat] Expo, produced through Knot 10, continues through April 28. The docks  reduced. Reported to SHA/MDOT Officials.  sent tol Kent Fender, with copies to district two and county roads officials. Spring Events at the Kent Narrows Waterfront Increased in 2024  Narrows and QAC participated in the giveaway, which totaled $50,000.  imitative toj promote the Chesapeake Bay area.  River] Marine offered "Demo Day" in conjunction with thel Boatel event. att thel Hyatt Place and Safe Harbor South and the Crab) Desk were utilized.    Seasonal Openings Flooding  Thel Big Owl opened on) Monday, April 15. Red Eyes will open the weekend ofMay 4.  April 12, 2024, Storm Related Flooding  Storm related flooding caused business delays and closures. The Jetty, Fisherman'sa and the Crabl Deck opened late (4:00 p.m.) on April 12. Thel Narrows and Bridges opened on time. Harris and) Dessert First opened around lunchtime. The Yacht Club entrance was underwater for most of the day. Some retaill businesses closed for the day due to flooding  and/or because employees hada a difficult time getting to work. April 19, 2024, CBEC was closed on duet to extreme high tide flooding. Kentnarrowsmd.com: was updated tor reflect and highlight the Spring) Events. KNDF has asked for ab bid on1 thei next edition of thel Kent Narrows' Travel Guidea andi is The Watermen'": s Way Heritage Traill Mapi is being updated to reflect all the new businesses, trails, etc. The companion piece that will focus mainly on pathways and trails New post cards and the updated new trifold maps willl be printed this month. KNDF spoke with reps from Plastic) Free QACt tol brief them on our activities and KNDF provided Maryland Office of Tourism Development with photo content for  Marketing: and) Public Outreach  thep process of developing new content.  through Kent] Narrows is also underway at the designer.  hopefully to coordinate clean-up efforts. Chesapeake Storyteller program.  Dennison Contracts  The contracts for 2024-25 are in hand. There was a delay because the primary point of contact left the company and some oft the contracts require adjustments based on the new plantings and maintenance areas at the CHVC. The County will pay for the CHVC mowing until July 1, then ther responsibility falls tol KNDFifthef funding is approved by the Commissioners.  OLDBUSINESS  Ramp Closure/Bay Bridge Traffic Management Town) Hall  KNDF attended the Town Hall on April 183 at Bayside Elementary School.  7    Maps were reviewed and comments from the public werel heard. Ther ramp closures and detours will affectt the eastern side of] Kent Island. No closures are: scheduled for thel Kent Narrows exits. Ramps from MD 81 to westbound US 50/301 and) Duke St. to westbound US 50/301 willl be closed Saturday, Sunday, and) Monday holidays from 12p.m.to6p.m. These closures will be in effect each weekend from May 18 through September. Detour signs willl bej posted, directing motorists to access westbound US 50/301 via Castle Currently, there are no plans to closet the Shopping Center Rd. (services area) ramp to westbound  Marina Rd. US 50/301. Tour Boat/Water Taxi  The effort to attract at tour boat /water-taxi servicet tol Kent Narrows continues. Some outreach has occurred tol helping facilitate connections with) Four Seasons, Castle Marina, and other communities. Thel Parks and) Public) Landings Department hasi indicated the: supplier wishes to use thej public landings; agreements will need tol be drawn up. It may be that this the Tour  Boat will work out of one of ther marinas here.  year  NEWI BUSINESS Tourism Week 5701 Fund) Draw  National Tourism Weeki is May 19-25. Gigi will send out the Toolbox produced U.S. Travel Al letter tot the Commissioners requesting a draw ont the 5701 funds for $65,000 will be prepared. This will ensuret that there are: adequate funds in thel KNDF checking account to cover Maryland Legislative Session Updates on bills that could affect business int the Kent Narrows Special Taxing District. Thel Maryland General Assembly finished up this week. Many bills that affect tourism passed. Thej proposed) I-Gaming bills remained highly controversial and didi not  tol board members and local businesses who wisht toj participate.  by  until the new funds are made available, usually in August.  operations  pass.  HB 0185/SB0095 (Hartman) tax to 6%! passed. Passed.  Eastem Shore Code Counties Maximum Hotel Rate. Passed. Allows QAC to raise hotel HB0765/SB 231 (Walls). Property Tax Credit for Hotel or Residential Development  8    SB0014/HB 1281 (Hartman)  Economic Development Tourism Zones Designations and Benefits  Passed with amendments toi include counties. Tourism Corridor sign program.  Other pieces ofl legislation related tot tourism passed, includinga a bill toi revamp the The funding for thel Maryland Office ofTourism Development remained flat this year  following many years of regular incremental increases.  Business Round) Robin Update  Jeff Smith reminded the group that thel Motoring Festival willl be held. June 15 and 16 at the Some discussion occurred related to thel Bay Bridgel Boat Show and the fact that it may not be held on the current sitei in the future. Thisi ist because oft the new development planned for the site. Bill Oertel spoke about the: soft opening ofThel Pearl, thei new bar and dining area on the top floor of Harris Crab) House. Ther renovation allows customers tol better enjoy the views oft the  Yacht Club.  Kent Narrows. RESOLUTION  Jeff Smith madea ai motion to adjourn the meeting. Thel Board agreed.  Ther meeting adjourned at 10:34a.m. Respectfully submitted,  Georgeanna (Gigi) Windley, Executive Director Kent Narrows Development Foundation  Certification:  Ihereby certify that thisi isat true and correct copy of thel Minutes that were adopted by the  Directors oft this Foundation onl May 28, 2024. O Patricial P. Woms, Secretary, KNDF  9