Whitehall Manor Resource Information

The proposed National Park Historic Site, Whitehall Manor, has strong interest (both Pro and Con) from the Broadneck community. Here are resources to help you understand the issues and documents associated with the effort to educate ourselves.

LEGISLATION

The Federal legislation introduced at the end of July 2023, The Chesapeake National Recreation Area Act, is sponsored by MD Senator Van Hollan, and MD Representative Sarbanes. You can find out the details of this process (legislative text, maps, etc) here: https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/cnra

LINK TO PRESS RELEASE ON THE INTRODUCTION

Legislative Links:

Links to contact your representatives at the Federal level:
Senator Chris Van Hollan
Representative Johnl Sarbanes

Maryland Legislative District 33C
State Senator: Dawn Gile 
State Delegates: Heather Bagnall

Maryland Legislative District 30A
State Senator: Sarah K. Elfreth 
State Delegates: Shaneka Henson/Dana Jones 

MODIFICATIONS FROM THE DRAFT LEGISLATION

A communication from Senator Van Hollan’s office to interested parties:

Today Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes, joined by colleagues from both sides of the aisle, are introducing the Chesapeake National Recreation Area legislation. As you know, Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes released the CNRA discussion draft and map for public feedback in November 2022. The legislators hosted a nearly six-month public comment period, which included several listening sessions with groups such as local elected officials, neighborhood community organizations, and interested parties across the watershed. Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Sarbanes worked with the CNRA Working Group to review the feedback they received from all sources to determine what changes to the draft legislative text were necessary to address the concerns and suggestions that were presented by the public.

Substantive edits to the text were made based on community feedback and technical edits were also made to align the CNRA legislation with existing statute:

Substantive Edits based on Public Feedback Concerning Traffic and Community Engagement:

• Includes explicit language to require NPS to conduct transportation planning assistance on the initial sites within the CNRA. NPS will work to minimize the traffic burden on surrounding communities.
• Directs NPS to prioritize water and trail access to certain CNRA sites, in a manner that does not modify their existing regulatory authority with respect to navigation or regulation of commercial or recreational fishing activities.
• Instructs NPS to collect community feedback on traffic at the initial sites selected for inclusion.
• Allows NPS to conduct additional transportation and visitor experience planning activities for future CNRA sites.
• Allows grassroots organizing expertise to be represented on the Advisory Commission. 

Technical Edits:

• Aligns the definition of “the Bay” with statutory definitions of the Chesapeake Bay watershed also referenced in the text.
• Clarifies that NPS may use Burtis House for historic and cultural interpretive services in addition to administrative and visitor services uses.
• Clarifies that NPS may lease or enter into a cooperative management agreement for an administrative location in Annapolis – instead of requiring NPS to acquire property by purchase or donation.
• Clarifies that NPS may acquire, lease, or enter into a cooperative management agreement for an interpretive and visitor services uses near Fort Monroe.
• Aligns the description of an eligible site with existing definitions of national significance.
• Clarifies that NPS shall set terms and conditions for voluntary partner site and cooperative management agreements based on the needs of individual sites.

We thank you for your engagement and feedback during this process. Your thoughts and comments have been very helpful, and we hope that you continue to work with us now that the bill is introduced.

For additional info, please visit https://www.vanhollen.senate.gov/about/issues/chesapeake-national-recreation-area where you can find links to our FAQ page and more.

Thank you for your time,

Sung Chung (she/her)

Legislative Correspondent
U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen
730 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Office: (202) 224-4654

BACKGROUND

National Park Service Chesapeake Gateways office and the Volpe Report.

A Zoom video meeting, sponsored by the Broadneck Council of Communities, illuminates the status of the Brandywine Foundation’s preliminary work to research the possibilities of a partnership with the National Park Service. Through the auspices of the support group within the NPS, the Chesapeake Gateways office, a “Rapid Assessment” report of possible uses of the Whitehall Manor site was generated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Volpe Center.

• Link to the Volpe Report

• Link to Video of the the BCC sponsored Zoom Meeting

PETITION

A petition sponsored by residents of Whitehall Road, the Whitehall Area Communities Group ([email protected]) is being offered up as a way to build support to remove Whitehall Manor from the CNRA Legislation. 

Link to the Whitehall Petition