House For Rent Jessup Md

Former Rock Hall clam house eyed as site for inn

ROCK HALL - A move to turn the clam house at 21083 Chesapeake Ave. in Rock Hall into a "Maritime Inn" came under fire from residents at the mayor and council meeting in mid-July.

Residents said there was little notice of the town's plan to adopt a zoning text amendment to help the potential buyer. Also, although the town manager, mayor and council were involved in the text amendment in late June and early July, residents expressed dismay that the public's first glimpse came the night before at the July 13 town planning commission meeting.

Councilman Butch Price said the planners did not act on a July 5 mayor and council letter because they did not have enough information.

At the July 14 meeting, Town Manager Ron Fithian gave the clam house's history. He said it was bought about 20 years ago by the Maryland Food Center Authority (MFCA) of Jessup.

He said there's a proposed "motel partnership," which would involve an unnamed investor and the MFCA.

"A gentleman called me and asked would they be willing to sell it," he said, so he called MFCA Executive Director Don Darnall, who he has known for a long time. Then, "I told this gentleman they don't want to sell."

Christine Feldmann in Comptroller Peter Franchot's office confirmed July 12 the building is not for sale. Franchot is an MFCA board member, though he delegates meetings to a subordinate, she said.

Fithian said the man said he wanted to go into some sort of partnership and put in an 18-room hotel, offering to invest $750,000 in one with all rooms overlooking the water. It would include a 25- to 75-percent split (with the MFCA getting 25 percent) until the investor was paid back, and then 75-25, Fithian said.

The building is in an area reserved for maritime businesses like seafood or boatbuilding. The amendment to allow a "Maritime Inn" in the Marine Water Dependent district is required before anything more can be done.

Mayor Bob Willis said the building might fall down before they ever got another tenant.

David Jones Sr. commented from the audience, "Somebody in this room is pushing this project forward."

Another audience member asked who it is: "Is it a secret?"

"I don't want to see him scrutinized," Willis replied.

Kevin Flynn of Philadelphia's Flynn Company said July 13 that he has been working on the idea for about six months. He realized there would have to be a zoning change and it's become a hot topic in town "just in the last two weeks.

8066 Savage Guilford Road, Jessup, MD 20794

ONLY 2 REMAIN! New opportunity to own in Howard County. TWO one-half acre homesites located in historic Savage! Choose from models ranging from 2800 to 3200 square feet. Homesite 15 will include a beautiful in-ground pool. Just minutes from Columbia Town Center, Route 32 and I-95. This community is almost sold out.  Stop by and see our completed model and see how we build!

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