The Cambridge City Council met on Monday, October 6, covering zoning, housing, and community development matters. Several items were deferred until the October 27 meeting, including a pair of rezoning ordinances and a contract tied to the city’s flood mitigation project. The council also approved a long-term lease for the Boys & Girls Club, amended housing program rules to broaden eligibility, and adopted an agreement to comply with state requirements for police discipline review.

Rezoning Ordinances Deferred

The Council discussed two major zoning proposals. Ordinance 1258, which would have rezoned a Roosevelt Avenue parcel into the Downtown/Waterfront Development District (DWDD), lost its applicant when the owner withdrew their application. Ordinance 1255, concerning three nearby parcels along Roosevelt Avenue and Washington Street, was introduced but postponed. Both will return for action at the October 27 meeting.

Boys & Girls Club Lease Approved

The Commission unanimously approved a 40-year ground lease agreement with Mace’s Lane BGC LLC, with two possible five-year extensions. The deal addresses earlier concerns raised by commissioners and sets the stage for financing and construction. Officials expect the new Boys & Girls Club to open in summer 2026.

Douglas Street Homes Program Expanded

To address challenges in the city’s Home Ownership Works pilot program, commissioners voted to raise the qualifying income limit for buyers from 80 to 120 percent of the area median income. This change comes after many otherwise qualified applicants were excluded for earning slightly above the previous cap. The adjustment is expected to increase homeownership opportunities, especially with upcoming Chesapeake Court homes.

Police Discipline Oversight Agreement Adopted

The Council approved a memorandum of understanding with the state Office of Administrative Hearings to establish a trial board process for police discipline cases, as required under new state law. The city will pay $200 per hour for law judges, plus related costs. While commissioners noted uncertainty about budgeting for the expense, they voted 5-0 in favor, ensuring Cambridge complies with statewide accountability standards.

FEMA Grant Amendments Postponed

Amendments to the city’s FEMA grant agreements were also tabled until the October 27 session.

 Updates from the City Manager

• The Trenton Street Pumping Station project was identified as a top priority, with funding adjustments underway. 
• The city is preparing a Capital Program for water and sewer infrastructure, potentially supported by a new stormwater utility. 
• Street paving projects are moving forward, with at least $350,000 set aside annually for paving and ADA ramp improvements. 
• The Wallace Building, one of Cambridge’s oldest structures, is slated for turnover to the city with Commission approval. 

 

 

Families, students, and those interested in environmental conservation will have the opportunity to explore the world of marine science next Saturday, October 11, when the Horn Point Laboratory hosts its annual Open House.

The free event, running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., is designed to make science both accessible and enjoyable. This year’s theme, “Make Waves with Science,” ties into a milestone for the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES), which is celebrating its 100th anniversary.

“We want people to see how science shapes their lives every day,” said Horn Point Lab Director Mike Sieracki. “Sometimes science really does make waves, in all the best ways.”

Visitors can get hands-on with exhibits led by the lab’s faculty and students, including a “plankton zoo,” a digital sandbox, a wave tank, and a demonstration of how scientists use DNA to investigate the health of the Bay. 

A touch tank will let kids (and adults) meet creatures from local waters, while tours of the East Coast’s largest oyster hatchery highlight the lab’s role in restoring Chesapeake Bay ecosystems. Children who complete a scavenger hunt will take home a free t-shirt.

The afternoon also features food and treats from local vendors Choptank Oyster Company, Taqueria Floritas, and Chilly Billy’s Ice Cream. Horn Point students will be selling baked goods and snacks to support their campus activities.

Located on 800 acres along the Choptank River, Horn Point Laboratory has long been a hub for research on estuaries and ocean ecosystems. Part of UMCES, the lab’s work on water quality, seagrass, marshes, and shellfish restoration has made it a national leader in environmental science.

The event takes place rain or shine at 2020 Horns Point Road, just off Route 343 outside Cambridge. Comfortable shoes are recommended, and a shuttle service will be available throughout the campus.

For details, visit umces.edu/events/annual-open-house or email Claire Otterbein at [email protected].

 

After 100 years of advocacy, humanitarianism, and service, Former President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024. His dedication to affordable homeownership and his support of Habitat for Humanity for over 35 years of his life is one that made monumental impact all across the world.

President Carter’s passion was fueled in March of 1984, when he worked with Habitat for the first time in Americus, Georgia. He and his wife quickly realized the alignment of Habitat’s mission to their personal values and became regular volunteers and supporters of Habitat. Over the years, President and Mrs. Carter have worked alongside over 108,100 volunteers who have built, renovated or repaired more than 4,447 homes in 14 countries, all while raising awareness of the critical need for affordable housing.

In honor of his passing, Habitat Choptank took time during a recent home dedication on Wells Street in Cambridge to remember him and the legacy he left for us to carry on. Attendees also received a t-shirt in memory of Jimmy Carter, reading “Thanks Mr. President, we will take it from here!”

It is obvious the impact President Jimmy Carter made and continues to make for many individuals all over the world. For those interested in giving in his honor to support the continued efforts of affordable housing in Dorchester and Talbot County, consider donating in memory of Jimmy Carter here. In appreciation, the first fifty donors will receive a commemorative magazine about his legacy.

About Habitat Choptank

Since 1992, Habitat Choptank has made homeownership possible for over 120 families and has completed critical health and safety repairs in partnership with over 300 qualifying homeowners. Income qualifying homebuyers are offered access to affordable mortgage financing in order to purchase new construction or rehabbed home for our project inventory.

Habitat Choptank’s mission is to work in partnership with God and all people to build, rehab, and repair homes, improve the quality of life in communities and help to restore hope in the lives of those we serve. We build strength, stability and self-reliance through shelter. We envision a world where everyone has a safe and affordable place to live, beginning with the eradication of poverty in blighted neighborhoods in Dorchester and Talbot Counties.