Working Waterfront Enhancement Committee

The Rock Hall Mayor and Town Council appointed members of the Working Waterfronts (Enhancement) Committee at their March 10, 2016 meeting.  The Committee includes  the Mayor, Vice-Mayor, property owners and business owners within the Study Area, and representatives from Kent County Department of Planning and the Maryland Department of Planning.

Meeting Reports:

The first Committee meeting was held on March 16, 2016.  The second meeting was held on March 22, 2016, and the third meeting was held on March 29, 2016.  Each meeting has been advertised and the 1st meeting was live-streamed.  The purpose of first meeting was to discuss the role of the Committee and the proposed Work Tasks/Grant.  The Committee also began discussions on a draft RFP outline to solicit a consultant to prepare the Waterfront Master Plan, including an Action Plan and Design Plan.  Committee members were provided links to the Rock Hall Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Code.

Click Here to view the webcast of the first Waterfront Meeting

At the second meeting, the Committee reviewed a draft RFP and discussed refinements to the Study Area boundary, project goals, scope of work tasks, deliverables and project schedule.  Committee members suggested improvements and additions to the draft RFP and agreed to finalize the draft RFP at the March 29, 2016 meeting, for approval by the Mayor and Town Council at their April 4, 2016 meeting.  Committee members have begun to identify stakeholders in the process, including marina slip owners. It is anticipated that the RFP will be available for advertisement after April 5, 2016.  

Committee members also shared the 2011 DNR, Waterway Improvement Capital Program Benefits, Needs, and Opportunities report.  Worth noting in that report was the six (6) foot channel depth of Rock Hall Harbor and it’s Highly Restricted status.  Committee members pointed out that Rock Hall Harbor was dredged in 2015 to a depth of nine (9) feet.  Maintaining this depth is a critical goal of this project.  It was recommended that the Department of Natural Resources assist by ensuring that any reports or websites depicting the harbor depth at six (6) feet to be updated so as to not discourage boating activities.

Task 2: Waterfront Design Master Plan

Status:  Started

On Schedule

Explanation of Problems/Challenges:

The Working Waterfronts Action Plan and the Design Master Plan will be conducted simultaneously.  The Committee member meetings and RFP listed in Task 1, also include the Design Master Plan component.  

Overall Progress Towards Completion:

10%

Staffing Issues/Challenges

Any changes or issues with staffing?  No