Gerald Donovan presents the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa expansion plan.
Chesapeake Beach, MD – Big changes are in the works for the local bayside business popularly known as the Rod ‘N’ Reel. The restaurant location, which expanded to include a second restaurant and a multi-story hotel, is a long-time family business that will celebrate its 70th anniversary this year. The venture is now called Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa (CBRS). On Monday evening, Feb. 1 CBRS owner Gerald Donovan gave town residents an overview of plans to expand business. The presentation was made at the Chesapeake Beach Town Hall and was part of Mayor Bruce Wahl’s monthly “Mayor’s Night Out” meeting for citizens.
The expansion project, which will be built with private money, is expected to take two years to complete. The construction project will result in the expansion of the hotel, the building of an atrium to connect the existing four-story hotel with the Rod ‘N’ Reel Restaurant site. Donovan said the plan is “to tear down the lowest and oldest part of the Rod ‘N’ Reel” to make the structure compliant with new federal flood plain regulations. It is on the current Rod ‘N’ Reel footprint where the hotel expansion will occur. “We’ve got to get out of the flood zone,” said Donovan.
Donovan said he has consulted with numerous architects and real estate experts in formulating the ambitious plan.
The structure to be built where the Rod ‘N’ Reel—a two-story building—is currently located will have three additional levels for hotel suites. Donovan said CBRS’ wedding accommodations will also be expanded.
A parking structure, retail units—including space for another restaurant, an arcade, gift shop and wedding-related business—will also be included on the site. Donovan told The BayNet that the parking facility, which will accommodate over 700 vehicles, would not be a pay-to-park operation.
Donovan admitted the parking facility is “a major change” to the town and the thought of constructing it is “very scary.” He added, “our area is primed for more visitors.”
While several citizens expressed concerns about the planned parking facility, arguably the most controversial component of Donovan’s expansion plan is construction of 58 luxury apartments at a site on Fishing Creek that will be called Harbor Vista South. Donovan said the top-floor units would be age-restricted, the complex would be “pet friendly” and would provide residents with boat slips. He does not believe these added residences will impact local schools. “We think we are going to improve the quality of our little town,” said Donovan.
Before Wahl, who succeeded Donovan as Chesapeake Beach mayor eight years ago, took questions and comments from the audience, his predecessor explained how the project would get off the ground. “We need a zoning permit and a building permit,” said Donovan. “No special exceptions, no variances—we want this to be clean as a whistle.”
Donovan acknowledged some town residents might be fearful of the expansion plan. “This is not my first rodeo,” he said. “I don’t expect everybody to fall in love with this. But this is our property, too. This is about opportunity and doing something special. I’m not here to ask for anyone’s approval. That’s up to planning and zoning.”
Chesapeake Beach Town Council Vice President Pat “Irish” Mahoney told Donovan the 58-unit apartment building “is a great concern” to citizens and asked the former mayor to conduct an environment impact study first. Additionally, the apartments will add more vehicles on the road and “will exacerbate our traffic. I don’t believe an apartment complex is small town.”
Donovan countered that his entire expansion project complies with the town center plan. Earlier Donovan stated that a traffic study had been done regarding the impact of the expansion plan and that with the completion of the new Route 261 bridge spanning Fishing Creek the Route 261/Mears Avenue intersection will still be better than it is today.
“We are dependent on the new bridge, too,” said Donovan who indicated his expansion plan could not start until the new bridge is in place. Currently, the bridge expansion, a state project, is stalled due to issues Baltimore Gas and Electric is having with the relocation of utility lines.
Paul Dougherty, who resides near CBRS, asked Donovan about his plans for protecting nearby homeowners from littering, loiterers, noise and light pollution once the complex is expanded. Dougherty indicated all of those are ongoing issues.
“This is the first I’ve heard of your complaints,” said Donovan. “We will bend over backwards to help you.”
Donovan also found support for the plan. Wahl called CBRS “really the heart of commercial businesses in town, the lynchpin.” Once the project is completed, “significant” tax revenues for the town would be the result, Wahl predicted. “This is going to keep your taxes from going up.”
“I think we need to be a little open-minded,” said lifelong town resident Mary Matheson, who recalled a time when Chesapeake Beach had a seedy appearance and image.
Donovan told the audience the project would be environmentally friendly and construction of a bio-retention facility would assure any water runoff from the property would be clean.
The project will be presented to the Chesapeake Beach Planning and Zoning Commission at their Feb. 10 meeting. The panel’s approval of the project is needed for Donovan’s plan to go forward.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
