May 9, 2023 Public Input Session for Proposed Town Hall/Police Department Building
April 26,2023 Presentation of Conceptual Plans for the New Town Hall/Police Department Building
February 23, 2022 Town Office and Police Station Study Report
The Town of St. Michaels is moving forward with proactive measures to mitigate rising tides. The Commissioners of St. Michaels have recently approved a set of ambitious recommendations from the newly empaneled Climate Change/Sea Level Rise Commission. The CC/SLR Commission has identified priority projects based on long range predictions outlined in a report from GMB Engineers/Architects. The study predicts increasing tide levels over the next 30 years that will cause serious flooding along the Town’s waterfronts.
CC/SLR Chairman Roy Myers presented the aggressive project schedule to the Town Commissioners on August 25th. The Commissioners have approved the plan and will be working with the CC/SLR Commission to secure the necessary funding and grants to move the plan forward. Engineering studies will be underway over the next year and will be followed by the following specific projects:
2023 to 2025 Projected Timeframe
• Construction of E. Chew/W. Harbor Road Improvements
• Begin Phased construction of Honeymoon Bridge, Harbor walkways, Burns, Mill and
Cherry Streets Master Plan.
• Grant and Engineering Design completed for Muskrat Park and Church Street area.
• In conjunction with adjacent properties, complete strategies/plans for Mulberry Street,
Westside Harbor residents, Carpenter Street and San Domingo Town residents.
2025 to 2030 Projected Timeframe
• Complete Construction of Muskrat Park Improvements
• Complete Engineering Studies for Mulberry Street and Carpenter Street
• Complete construction of Master Plan – Construction for Honeymoon Bridge, Harbor
walkways, Burns, Mill and Cherry Streets
• Complete Engineering Plans for San Domingo/Back Creek harbor side of St. Michaels.
• Assist Westside Harbor residents in their plans as appropriate.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND A COPY OF THE GMB STUDY, CONTACT THE TOWN ADMINISTRATOR ROB STRAEBEL AT: rstraebel@stmichaelsmd.gov or more information HERE.
Climate Change/Sea Level Rise Commission BayLand Presentation at Community Input Session on March 16, 2023
Anna Johnson, Project Engineer with BayLand Consultants & Designers, Inc., held a community input session with a power point presentation on “San Domingo Creek and West Side Stormwater and Harbor Infrastructure Assessment and Flood Mitigation Study”. This informative presentation can be found HERE. BayLand is interested in your feedback regarding flooding concerns, areas of peak interest, and any mitigation solutions you would like to see implemented. Please visit this link, complete the attached form and return it to Anna Johnson, PE at ajohnson@baylandinc.com.
GMB Community Input Session Open House for West Harbor Road/East Chew Avenue Sea Level Rise and Stormwater Flooding Conceptual Design on March 30, 2023
Brent Jett, P.E., CFM, CC-P, Sr. Project Manager/Coastal Resiliency Group Leader (and author of the initial Harbor and Stormwater Infrastructure Study) along with other Architects/Engineers with George, Miles & Buhr, LLC (GMB), held an open house on “Resiliency Through Restoration: West Harbor Road/East Chew Avenue Flood Mitigation Feasibility Assessment and Conceptual Design” to allow the community to ask questions and provide crucial community input, while taking time to better understand this study. An aerial view depicting the area of interest for this study may be viewed HERE. GMB is interested in your feedback regarding flooding concerns, areas of peak interest, and any mitigation solutions you would like to see implemented. Please visit this link, complete the attached survey and return it to Brent Jett, PE at bjett@gmbnet.com.
St. Michaels Preparing for Nuisance Flooding
Andrew Thaler, from the Climate Change/Sea Level Rise Commission and developer of the St. Michaels Floodwatch, and Kate Vogel, from Maryland DNR and MyCoast web application, have presented both the Floodwatch project and MyCoast app during Lunch and Learn sessions at both the Talbot County Library St. Michaels and Easton branches. More recently, they were interviewed by WBOC’s Lauren Miller to explain how their interactive technology is helping to prepare and educate our communities about nuisance flooding along the Eastern Shore. Please take a moment to watch this interview by clicking on the attached link HERE.
St. Michaels Awarded Flooding & Stormwater Mitigation Project Grant
The Town of St. Michaels has been awarded another large grant to tackle the threat of rising sea levels. Working with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management, the Town has secured a $210,000 federal grant. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved this grant money for the Town’s Harbor Flooding and Stormwater Mitigation Project.
This federal grant follows two state grants amounting to $115,000. These grants from the Department of Natural Resources are currently funding concept designs for two flood-prone areas.
The grants are the results of efforts by the Town’s Climate Change/Sea Level Rise Commission which was empaneled in the summer of 2021. Commission Chair Roy Myers says, “This latest grant builds upon our current efforts to complete the concept designs for flooding mitigation in our main harbor areas. We are grateful to MDEM and FEMA for their support and are looking forward to working with them on the implementation of this grant.”
St. Michaels Commissioners President David Breimhurst says, “This is terrific news for St. Michaels and for Talbot County. St. Michaels is home to the County’s second largest employer and is the primary source of the County’s multi-million-dollar tourism industry. Protecting our Town from the threat of sea level rise is our top priority. We congratulate and thank Mr. Myers and his commission for the many hours of hard work that have paid off with these significant grants.” The CC/SLR Commission’s work has become a vital element of the town’s long range plans and will help shape the Town’s 2025 Comprehensive Plan. The Commission has been reaching out to the public for guidance and is providing updated information. Recently, the state Department of Natural Resources partnered with the CC/SLRC, linking its online MYCOAST tool with the St Michaels Floodwatch website. The Floodwatch interactive tool was created by Commission member Andrew Thaler and can be found online at http://stmichaelsfloodwatch.com. There is also a link on the town website, stmichaelsmd.gov Residents can use the tool to understand how their Talbot County properties might be affected by sea level rise projections. Roy Myers says, “It is a graphic view of why the town needs to plan today for tomorrow’s sea level rise and stormwater flooding.”
The Historic District Commission usually meets on the 1st Thursday of the month at 3 p.m. Unless notice is given of an alternative venue, all meetings will be held at the Boy Scout Cabin, located at 407 St. Mary’s Square. Applications must be submitted 10 days prior to the meeting date by noon.
6-15-23 Historic District Commission Public Draft Agenda – CANCELLED NO AGENDA ITEMS
6-15-23 HDC Packet – see individual applications below
Applications
FORTHCOMING
ZOOM MEETINGS
The Historic District Commission will have in-person attendance and will continue to use Zoom for meetings. If you have not used Zoom, please take a few minutes to download the free app to your computer or smart phone prior to joining the meeting HERE.
Join meeting on computer or smart phone with video and audio on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3264261778
Meeting ID: 326 426 1778
Join meeting by phone with audio only on Zoom:
1-301-715-8592
Meeting ID: 326 426 1778
For more information, please contact the Town Office at 410-745-9535 during regular business hours.
Meeting dates (Submit dates by noon Monday)
JANUARY 5, 2023 (DECEMBER 26, 2022)
FEBRUARY 2, 2023 (JANUARY 23, 2023)
MARCH 2, 2023 (FEBRUARY 20, 2023)
APRIL 6, 2023 (MARCH 27, 2023)
MAY 4, 2023 (APRIL 24, 2023)
JUNE 1, 2023 (MAY 22, 2023)
JULY 6, 2023 (JUNE 26, 2023)
AUGUST 3, 2023 (JULY 24, 2023)
SEPTEMBER 7, 2023 (AUGUST 28, 2023)
OCTOBER 5, 2023 (SEPTEMBER 25, 2023)
NOVEMBER 2, 2023 (OCTOBER 23, 2023)
DECEMBER 7, 2023 (NOVEMBER 27, 2023)
Rules and Procedures
Historic District Commission Rules of Procedure
Please note: All agendas are DRAFT DOCUMENTS until the day of the meeting.
TALK OF THE TOWN NEWSLETTER
A Newsletter of the Town of St. Michaels, Maryland – Summer 2023 Edition
A Newsletter of the Town of St. Michaels, Maryland – Winter/Spring 2023 Edition
A Newsletter of the Town of St. Michaels, Maryland – Fall 2022 Edition
A Newsletter of the Town of St. Michaels, Maryland – Summer 2022 Edition
The Climate Change/Sea Level Rise Commission consists of seven members appointed by the Commissioners of St. Michaels, with an ex-officio member from the Town Commissioners and the Planning Commission. Preference will be given to Town Residents on the Commission. Membership shall consist of representatives of the Waterways Management Advisory Board, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, waterfront business owners, and town residents, both waterfront and non-waterfront. The Panel meets as frequently as needed, but no less than once every three months.
The Commissioners have been studying Climate Change and Sea Level Rise and see the effects on St. Michaels. Chapter 14 of the St. Michaels Comprehensive Plan 2015, entitled Climate Resilience, recognizes the challenges associated with being a coastal community on the east coast with low sea-level, high water tables, and hurricane risks, and recognizes that it is crucial that the Town improve its resiliency measures, and as such have created this commission.
Climate Change/Sea Level Rise AGENDA, February 10, 2022
ZOOM MEETINGS
The Climate Change/Sea Level Rise Commission will hold Zoom meetings until further notice. If you have not used Zoom, please take a few minutes to download the free app to your computer or smart phone prior to joining the meeting, click HERE.
Join meeting by computer or smart phone by clicking link below:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3264261778
Meeting ID: 326 426 1778
Join by phone with audio only:
+1 301 715 8592
Meeting ID: 326 426 1778
Harbor and Stormwater Infrastructure Study
To read the study click HERE.
The Town of St. Michaels, MD received a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Grant through the State of Maryland Community Resilience Program to perform an analysis of the St. Michaels harbor and stormwater infrastructure, while considering projected sea level rise over the next thirty years. The study’s objective was to develop viable, cost efficient strategies to increase the town’s resiliency relative to both rainfall and tidal induced flooding. Eight areas of study were determined, and six flooding and sea-level rise projection maps were created as part of the study scope of work. The critical study areas were evaluated within these flooding and sea-level rise scenarios to evaluate risk and define future City mitigation and adaptation efforts. Importantly, this report outlines the Next Steps our Town might take to prepare for and put plans in place to begin these mitigation efforts. The report was prepared by George, Miles & Buhr, LLC.
Click here to watch a video about the St. Michaels Farmers Market
Follow the Farmers Market on Facebook
When: Saturdays starting in April, 2023, from 8:30am-11:30am
Where: 206 S. Talbot Street St. Michaels MD (between Knotty Living and Pemberton Pharmacy)
Saturday rain or shine, April through November. Public parking lot next to Pemberton’s. Local fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, flowers, booze, and more, all grown or made within a 60-mile radius. Our vendors are all eagerly awaiting the opening of the Market season and we might even have a few new vendors in our Pop-up Tent…..come check it out.
It takes a village and WE NEED YOU!
EMAIL: stmichaelsmarket@gmail.com
Location: Muskrat Park on Green Street
Times: June 8 through August 31, Thursday nights from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
If it’s summer, it’s Summer Concerts in Muskrat Park. These free Thursday night concerts are sponsored by the St. Michaels Community Center (SMCC) and local businesses acknowledged at each concert. So, bring a chair or a blanket and a picnic and enjoy our beautiful waterfront park and great music! For the Music line-up this season CLICK HERE.
Please, no alcoholic beverages in Muskrat Park.
Photo: Courtesy of SMCC
Dates: Friday & Saturday, Father’s Day Weekend, June 16-18, 2023
Fri. 10am – 5pm; Sat., 10 am-5 pm: Sunday, 10 am-3 pm. Entrance included with CBMM general admission – tickets valid for two consecutive days.
Location: Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, 213 N. Talbot St., St. Michaels, Md.
Ticket Prices and Advanced Tickets: cbmm.org/antiqueandclassic
Wooden and fiberglass classics, vintage racers, and other antique boats return to the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum from June 16-18 for the 35th Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair.
Hosted by the Chesapeake Bay Chapter of the Antique & Classic Boat Society, this Father’s Day weekend tradition is one of the largest classic boat shows in the Mid-Atlantic region and annually brings a sense of nostalgia to the Miles River and CBMM’s waterfront campus.
The festival runs from 10am-5pm on Friday and Saturday and 10am-3pm on Sunday. For advance tickets and more information, visit cbmm.org/antiqueandclassic.
In addition to the wide range of vessels on display representing a multitude of makers and eras, the Antique & Classic Boat Festival is accompanied by a juried Coastal Arts Fair showcasing vendors whose products, services, and art represent boats, the water, and coastal life.
Driven by the Antique & Classic Boat Society – Chesapeake Bay Chapter’s mission of continuing the legacy of these venerable vessels through preservation, restoration and education, the festival will feature a lineup of 10 seminars on Friday and Saturday highlighting experts, historians, and authors. Other festival highlights include a Field of Dreams for those looking to buy, boat rides, a nautical flea market, and a children’s scavenger hunt, as well as a DJ spinning classic tunes.
This three-day celebration of the past, present, and future of antique and classic boating invites guests to take a step back in time.
Builders represented at the festival typically include Chris-Craft, Lyman, Gar Wood, Elco, Thompson, Trumpy, Owens, Egg Harbor, and other great classic marques. Owners of boats in all phases of restoration in the following classes are expected to participate, as part of a varied collection featuring historic (up to 1918), antique (1919-1942), classic (1943-1975), late classic (1976-1997), and contemporary (any wooden boat built within the last 25 years) examples.
This year’s festival highlights the theme of “Show Us Your First Love,” inviting boat owners to display their boats and share stories about what first launched them on their lifelong love of classic and antique boats.
Two-day admission to the Antique & Classic Boat Festival is $19 for adults; $16 for seniors (65+), college students with ID, and retired military with ID; $7 for active military with ID, CBMM members, and children 6–17; and free for children 5 and younger.
In addition to advanced sales online for Friday/Saturday and Saturday/Sunday, tickets will be available at CBMM throughout the festival. No single-day tickets will be sold to this rain or shine event.
Additional free event parking for Saturday’s festivities will be available at St. Michaels Middle/High School, with a complimentary shuttle service to and from CBMM.
REMINDER: For safety reasons, non-service dogs need to be kept home during CBMM festivals, including the Antique & Classic Boat Festival and Coastal Arts Fair. Carry-on alcohol from dock or land is prohibited.
For more information, call 410-745-2916 or visit CBMM.
2023 Fireworks in St. Michaels Harbor! Scheduled for Saturday night July 1, 2023, shortly after dusk with a rain date on July 2, 2023. Bring your lawn chairs and find a good spot in town! The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum will be open to the public for viewing. Or, come by boat and anchor out in the Miles River! Photo by Graham Scott-Taylor
St. Michaels Museum at St. Mary’s Square will once again sponsor a traditional Independence Day Celebration, at their Museum located at 201 East Chestnut Street on St. Mary’s Square, featuring their 2022 exhibit “The Hambletons of Martingham and Perry Cabin”.
The Children’s Parade will kick off the 2023 celebration on Tuesday, July 4, beginning at 10:00am. All children, residents or visitors, are welcome to participate. Patriotic dress is encouraged for children, bicycles, tricycles, wagons, and pets! Following the parade, children will enjoy Magician John Dodge and The Fish Mobile. The parade route will begin at St. Michaels Museum (201 East Chestnut Street) at 10:00am, they will head west to Talbot St., turn north until reaching Willow St. (just past Christ Church), at which time they will continue to Church St. then down Mulberry St. until reaching St. Mary’s Square and arriving back to St. Michaels Museum.
At 10:45am our Traditional Program will begin with Boy Scout Troup 741 raising the flag and leading the Pledge of Allegiance.
A formal program will follow on our Teetotum Porch with a Benediction and patriotic and folk songs by the Royal Oak Musicians.
Featured speaker CBMM Curator and Talbot County Councilman Pete Lesher will speak on “A New Birth of Freedom”.
St. Michaels Museum will be open after the program, with free admission. Refreshments will be available from the St. Michaels Fire Department and the Boy Scouts Troop 741.
Come join us to celebrate our Nation’s Birthday!
