The Annapolis City Council passed legislation Monday that redraws the city’s ward boundaries.
In the new configuration, Ward 1 moves west, along West Street, claiming Brewer Hill Cemetery from Ward 2 and part of the Germantown community east of Woodlawn Avenue and south of Cedar Park Road, as well as properties along the eastern edge of South Cherry Grove Street, McKendree Avenue down to Kentwood Streetabsorbing in Ward 4. Ward 3 and Ward 8 remain the same.
Ward 1 also absorbs properties near where Koons Annapolis and Annapolis Hyundai dealers are located in Ward 4. Ward 1 gives up it’s southern portion of Bates Middle School, including Silopana Road, Spa Drive and Acton and Boxwood roads to Ward 6.
In 2022, a taskforce made up of members from the city’s eight wards put out three maps showcasing how the boundaries could change and then evaluated feedback from the council and the public.
Every 10 years, following the completion of the U.S. Census, a group of city residents is asked to examine the city’s ward boundaries and redraw them if necessary to ensure equal representation. Monday’s vote follows the proposals laid out in the third map, known as Map C.
The ward’s don’t have to be exactly equal in population, but each must be within 5% above or below the population average, about 5,119 people. The total Annapolis population increased by more than 2,500 people — from 38,394 to 40,951 in the past decade — which is a 6.7% increase, according to 2020 census data.
Before Monday night’s vote, two wards fell outside those parameters. Ward 7 had a population of 4,692, or 171 below the population average. Ward 2 had a population of 5,441, which is 66 people higher — or about 1.7 percent — than the population average, census data shows. Now, Ward 7 has a population of 5,246, which is 127 people — or about 2.5 percent— more than the population average. Ward 2 has a population of 5,034, 85 people less than the population average.
Overall, Ward 5’s population decreased. Previously, it had a population of 5,295 and now has one of 4,982 which is 137 people — or about 2.7 percent — below the population average. Ward 5 gives up properties along Primrose Road, north of Tyler Avenue and Garden Gate Lane, Roselawn Road and Rosecrest Drive to Ward 6.
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Elly Tierney, a Democrat from Ward 1, was the only council member to oppose the changes because she wanted to continue representing Truxton Heights, a neighborhood off of Spa Drive.
“I love that neighborhood. It is diverse,” Tierney said. “They take really proud ownership of their homes.”
In 2023, Tierney helped the neighborhood secure a capital improvement project to fix ongoing stormwater management issues. Construction is expected to begin next year.
The new boundaries will not take effect until the 2025 municipal election.
Other business
The Annapolis City Council no longer requires applicants for a liquor license to be a city or county resident. The legislation follows a legal opinion from Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown.
In it’s final act of the meeting, the City Council postponed making a decision on Annapolis Ahead 2040, the comprehensive plan to guide the use of land, water and infrastructure, among other things. The new deadline is July 12 and the next council meeting is May 30.
