About eight people gathered outside the Mercedes-Benz of Annapolis dealership on Saturday morning, hoisting signs and distributing flyers to passing motorists in a direct pushback against an exterior overhaul at Sixth Street and Severn Avenue.
Corporate Facade Replaces Traditional Brick
The transformation strips away the familiar red and tan brick of the longtime commercial site, swapping it for a predominantly black-and-gray color scheme. The palette appears consistent with branding used at other Mercedes-Benz locations.
Yet city records confirm the dealership holds an approved permit to complete the exterior renovations. Because the business secured proper municipal authorization, neighborhood critics have redirected their questions away from illegal construction and toward the city’s review process itself.
A Shift in City Hall Approvals
The core dispute centers on how the project gained approval from Annapolis Planning and Zoning Director Christopher N. Jakubiak. Original design approvals issued in 2005 explicitly required unpainted brick as a major condition for the site. When Mercedes-Benz submitted an initial application for the changes in 2024, city officials initially rejected the proposal.
Following that initial rejection, the dealership submitted a revised application incorporating relatively minor changes. Jakubiak subsequently approved the updated site design. Representatives from the Eastport Civic Association contend that residents who participated in the original review received no notification when the revised application returned for consideration.
Municipal Code and Director Authority
Under Annapolis municipal code, site design plan approval is required for alterations to most buildings other than single- and two-family homes. The code grants the Planning and Zoning Director authority to determine whether modifications to previously approved site plans constitute major modifications. The exact criteria that shifted the rejected 2024 application into an approved status remain unclear.
Clashing With Eastport Gateway Standards
The property sits near the Eastport Bridge, subjecting it to additional design considerations. Zoning regulations for the Eastport Gateway Conservation Overlay District mandate that certain development undergo site design review to ensure streetscape elements remain compatible with the neighborhood’s general character. These rules specifically incorporate the Fourth and Sixth Street Streetscape Design Plan adopted by the Planning Commission in 2005.
Broader municipal site design standards require buildings to relate harmoniously to surrounding properties and the city’s historic character. Planners give special consideration to portions of buildings visible from public streets and neighboring properties. While the dealership’s black-and-gray facade appears consistent with corporate branding, the Eastport Civic Association believes the exterior violates the intent of the property’s 2005 site design approval.
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