Severna Park Preservation Association

Severna Park Preservation Association The Severna Park Preservation Association is a local nonprofit civic organization based in Severna Park, Maryland. It focuses on neighborhood conservation, land-use advocacy, historical preservation, and community planning within Anne Arundel County, Maryland and the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan Area. The association engages with municipal bodies, regional agencies, and national entities to influence zoning, environmental stewardship, and heritage conservation.

History

The association traces roots to grassroots activism in the 1970s amid suburban growth in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, reacting to development trends similar to those seen in Montgomery County, Maryland, Prince George's County, Maryland, and Howard County, Maryland. Early leaders drew inspiration from movements associated with National Trust for Historic Preservation, American Planning Association, and local civic leagues like the Beverly Hills Civic Association and Somerville Civic Association. The group interacted with elected officials from Anne Arundel County Council, officials in Annapolis, Maryland, and planners at the Maryland Department of Planning. Over decades it confronted issues tied to projects by developers, petitions related to zoning in Maryland, and environmental controversies involving Chesapeake Bay tributaries, coordinating with organizations such as the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and the Maryland Historical Trust.

Mission and Activities

The association's mission emphasizes protection of residential character, preservation of historic properties, and conservation of shoreline and watershed resources affecting Severna Park, Maryland. Activities include attendance at hearings before the Anne Arundel County Council, participation in discussions with the Maryland General Assembly, and collaboration with federal programs like those administered by the National Park Service and the Environmental Protection Agency. The association submits comments to commissions including the Anne Arundel County Planning and Zoning Commission and liaises with entities such as the Maryland Department of the Environment, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Educational programs draw on expertise from institutions such as the University of Maryland, College Park, the Johns Hopkins University, and the Towson University historic preservation curriculum.

Membership and Organization

Membership typically comprises homeowners, retirees, professionals, and civic leaders from neighborhoods proximate to waterways like the Severn River, Magothy River, and Arundel Rivers. The association's governance model mirrors nonprofit structures common to groups registered under Maryland Secretary of State filings, with a board of directors, committees, and volunteer coordinators. Officers have historically engaged with officials from the Anne Arundel County Police Department, representatives of the Maryland Department of Transportation, and advocacy partners including League of Women Voters of Anne Arundel County, Sierra Club Maryland Chapter, and Audubon Society of Central Maryland. Membership drives and outreach connect with community hubs like the Severna Park Library, Severna Park Elementary School, and local places of worship.

Notable Projects and Preservation Efforts

The association has been involved in zoning appeals, historic district nominations, and shoreline conservation projects affecting sites near Ben Oaks Park, Kinder Farm Park, and parcels adjacent to Goddard State Park and Sandy Point State Park. It partnered with preservationists to document properties eligible for listing with the Maryland Historical Trust and to advocate for design guidelines related to the Anne Arundel County Historic Preservation Commission. Environmental work included advocacy for buffer zones along the Severn River and collaboration with restoration efforts led by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Anne Arundel Watershed Restoration Action Strategy, and local chapters of the American Littoral Society. The association engaged in planning reviews for residential developments proposed by firms similar to Toll Brothers, Ryan Homes, and Bozzuto, and filed comments referencing statutes such as the Critical Area Act (Maryland). It organized local surveys in cooperation with academic partners like St. Mary's College of Maryland and community groups such as the Historic Annapolis Foundation.

Community Impact and Partnerships

The association's partnerships span municipal bodies like the City of Annapolis and county offices including the Anne Arundel County Office of Economic Development, regional nonprofits such as the Chesapeake Conservancy, and educational partners like the Annapolis Maritime Museum. It has participated in multi-stakeholder efforts with transportation agencies like Maryland Transit Administration and Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration on traffic-calming and pedestrian-safety measures. Public safety and resilience collaborations involved the Maryland Emergency Management Agency and local fire and EMS departments. Through events and forums, the association connects residents with representatives from the U.S. Congress delegations from Maryland and statewide officials, while coordinating with civic organizations including the Rotary Club of Severna Park, Chamber of Commerce for Anne Arundel County, and regional media outlets like the Capital Gazette. Its influence is reflected in preservation ordinances, shoreline-restoration projects, and community planning processes that reference best practices from entities including the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the Society for American Archaeology.

Category:Organizations based in Anne Arundel County, Maryland Category:Historical societies in Maryland