Now is the time to come together to ensure the future of our beloved St. Michaels.
I first learned about the proposed new hotel in town about a week ago and was dismayed to see that the fringe naysayers and reactionaries are already voicing their opposition. As the Owner/Operator of St. Michaels Marina LLC, I know that my business is dependent on keeping our town picturesque, quaint, delightful and charming because that is why our tourists, upon whom our economic future depends, keep coming back. Those of us in the business community no more want to diminish or damage the wonderful image of our town than do the “Warriors of St Michaels.”
This hotel, located at 906 S. Talbot Street, St. Michaels, MD, has already met all the requirements for approval and our town’s tourist industry and resultant economy needs it to happen. It is a mid-range hotel and has been designed to fit into our current architectural style, visual aesthetic and village atmosphere while serving an underserved market. It will provide over 70 beds near the marina and in a market segment that is currently lacking. We need these beds. Many of the visitors at the marina want to stay in a hotel room and get off their boats for a break. However, most of the time there are no beds available in town.
A few years ago we had a lovely mid-range, 111-bed hotel called the Harbourtown Resort in Martingham. It subsequently became a golf club, and we lost those rooms. Yet another reason to welcome this new hotel project which will meet a definite need. Without it, many of our visitors may go elsewhere, costing all of us the benefit of their spending in town. I have personally witnessed this many times every season.
There is absolutely no evidence that the hotel will harm the environment. In fact, it is being developed on land that once housed an auto repair shop, which can be, in fact, an actual threat to the environment. The hotel will also provide the town with considerable tax revenue, keep our current tourist base from eroding and probably bring in new tourists.
Our competitors in surrounding counties are always evolving in an effort to capture our business and yet there are those who seem to want to reduce our tourism industry. Let’s not succumb to a fear of tourism. Our town relies on tourists to survive. A modest, tasteful mid-range hotel will not impact our quaint, charming and beautiful town image. Rather, it will help preserve it.
We are faced with a very promising opportunity to help insure the economic future of St Michaels. The project has already complied with all required permit regulations and is taking measures to fit in to the town’s style and image. Why not embrace it and work together to welcome the hotel to our community.
Michael T. Morgan
Owner/Operator
St. Michaels Marina LLC
Steve Lingeman says
A few years ago, while planning an event in Talbot County, I counted the available beds. There we not enough to house this group as well as the normal tourist count and wedding parties. Talbot needs more hotel rooms at various room rate price points.
The proposed hotel is in the perfect location and traffic in and out of the hotel driveways will not create any additional congestion on Talbot Street.
Tracy Thomas says
The perfect location is not right across the street from our schools.
Hedley Batters says
Completely agree with Mr. Morgan’s sentiments
Tracey Johns says
As a previous chair of the tourism advisory board for the Town of St. Michaels, I agree. The loss of Harbortowne’s rooms to tourism deeply affected Talbot County in its entirety, putting us at a disadvantage for funding, taxes, a welcoming place with plenty of rooms, etc. related to tourism, and the number of beds in a destination. Thank you Michael for writing this.
Melissa Mahoney says
There are no actual facts in this letter.
In regards to thisbletter written by Michael T. Morgan, we would like to clear up the misinformation stated. While we appreciate the opinion of all St. Michaels residents, Mr. Morgan has not attended any of the Town Hall meetings regarding the hotel project and admittedly, he has just learned of the project last week. At least two of us has attended, in person, every meeting where the hotel was on the agenda for the last several months.
The proposed hotel to be located at 906 S. Talbot Street, St. Michaels has NOT met any requirements or been approved in any way. The architecture has NOT met the Planning Commission’s approval as having “been designed to fit into our current architectural style, visual aesthetic and village atmosphere”. As of the most recent St. Michaels Planning Commission meeting on July 5, 2022, the proposal has been kicked back to sketch plan review because the plans were not approved at the previous Technical Advisory Committee meeting. This means that the proposal is back at the beginning stages. The proposal now has to be resubmitted as a sketch plan, if passed it would then go on to the Planning Commission. As for the Town not having any available rooms, we have spoken with several B & B and Inn owners that are only at approximately 60% capacity, even on a busy July weekend. The Harbourtowne Inn is also currently being renovated to reopen as a hotel.
There is not a “fear of tourism”, the fear is for the safety of our students and the environment. We all welcome and promote tourism. Some of us work or have worked in the lodging industry. What the property was has no bearing on what is potentially being built. A 75 room Hampton Inn is not a “modest, tasteful mid-range hotel” as Mr. Morgan states but “a chain of moderately priced, budget to midscale limited service hotels with limited food and beverage.” according to Wikipedia.
Mr. Morgan’s statement “The project has already complied with all required permit regulations and is taking measures to fit in to the town’s style and image.”, is completely FALSE. The Town is currently awaiting comment from multiple State and regulatory agencies on the impact the hotel would have. We are not against the hotel, we would welcome it in a location outside of town limits and away from schools, a daycare and a public pool.
If you would like the facts on the hotel project please contact St. Michaels Town Hall and request the plans, attend the Town Hall meetings, please do not listen to rumors and gossip.
“Warriors of St. Michaels”
Michele La Rocca says
You are brave to step forward and support this project. Projects easily gain opposition but those in support rarely step forward for fear of the naysayers. I worked in the development business for nearly 40 years so I know of what I speak. What you said needed to be said by someone in a lead position in the business community that knows the facts first hand. I hope the project succeeds. I agree with your position.
Al DiCenso says
Now that Mr. Morgan has made the entire situation very clear, and blown away the hysteria bandied about by the nay-sayers, I heartily add my voice in approval.
Melissa Mahoney says
What has Mike made clear other than everything he states as fact is not true?Absolutely nothing has been approved for the motel and they have in fact withdrawn their proposal, which Mike would probably know if he took the time to learn the truth before spreading lies.
G.johnson says
Totally agree with everybody….guests staying at this hotel will walk into town… every business in town will benefit… enough of the negative (attracts sex predators… traffic congestion… etc). Saint Michael’s will benefit from the hotel… saint Michael’s warriors get a life…
Bob Jones says
Mr. Morgan takes the time-worn and entirely predictable approach of the self-interested opportunist. Yes, that label is in return for his opening salvo attacking anyone who disagrees with him as being “fringe naysayers and reactionaries”. Being disagreeable instead of aggreeably disagreeing has been made de rigour by our twice-impeached former president. From him we learned that everything after the slander is BS.
Open St. Michaels up to everything that might attract or accommodate more tourists and boater$ for Mr. Morgan’s marina is (1) not necessarily desired by other community stakeholders, and (2) opens the tautology window that if one in-town chain hotel will put more money in another business’ coffers, two, three, or more is even better. This is a floodgate waiting to be opened.
The lot in question is on the most traffic-clogged intersection in town, because of the schools (elementary, middle and high). Sure, it may be great for a few boaters who can walk to convenient lodgings (impact being specious and hypothetical in numbers) but the rest of the traffic the motel will need to generate will be considerably less convenient to all other personal, recreational, tourist, residential, schoolbusses, and tradespersons traffic. This is an apple vs truckloads of oranges.
Developers have never seen a pig of a project that they couldn’t put lipstick on. But such projects are still pigs.
If I owned the marina, I would want this project, too. And a parade of them, ad infinitum. My guess is that the yay-sayers for this private industry scheme are on the “fringe” and the taxpayers who fund the infrastructure that is a gift to marinas and hotels is in the majority.
Melissa Mahoney says
Very well said Sir! If you are so inclined please check out the Warriors of St. Michaels, Maryland Facebook page. We are doing our best to stop this intrusive motel and we would love to hear more from you.
Tom Buckmaster says
Mike…thanks for speaking up. We can’t let the BANANA crowd limit responsible growth of our critical hospitality sector.
What’s BANANA? Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything….thats not a thoughtful or responsible community strategy.
Andrea Roberson says
The comments in Mr. Morgan’s letter regarding the status of the hotel are completely fraudulent and without merit. The Planning and Zoning Commission has asked the hotel to start over from sketch, this means the proposed hotel has not been approved. I have been to most of the meetings regarding the proposed hotel, whereas Mr. Morgan states he just found out about the proposed hotel last week.
We live across the street from the current gas station and proposed hotel. The other day, a pedestrian was walking across the crosswalk and nearly hit by a car, which in turn almost led to a 4-car pileup. Traffic on Talbot St is already congested. Many days we have to wait several minutes for traffic to pull out of our driveway. Adding a 73-room hotel with 73 to nearly 300 people and cars will only add to the congestion, noise and safety concerns. If this budget hotel is added, we are concerned for the safety of our homes and the safety of our children. The local community pool and daycare face the proposed hotel and the elementary, middle and high schools are behind. This is not the proper location for a large hotel. Accidents and crime can happen anywhere, but adding this large hotel is only inviting a problem. The Maryland Department of Education has recently been made aware of this hotel and will be addressing the town.
Mr. Patel, who owns the St. Michaels Inn and the one wanting to purchase this property for a Hampton Inn, mentioned his weekly capacity at the St. Michaels Inn is only 30-35%. When asked about staffing since so many businesses in St. Michaels have problems staffing, he mentioned he would bring about 20 staff members in from out of town and house them at the St. Michaels Inn. If that many vacant rooms are currently available at the St. Michaels Inn, why would another hotel be needed? When asked about overflow parking, he said he would park them at the St. Michaels Inn and shuttle them over. We all know guests will find the first available spot, which could be the neighboring businesses, Talbot Street, nature trail parking lot or school parking lot. With all of these statistics, another hotel does not seem to be needed in town.
This morning while walking the nature trail, I was saddened to think of this large structure replacing our beloved trees, invading the nature trail that took so long to build and the destroying the homes of the wildlife. If Mr. Patel is insistent on building a hotel, please choose a different location.
wendy schied says
Agree 100%!!!!!!!!!!!
Brian Wroten says
“There is absolutely no evidence that the hotel will harm the environment. In fact, it is being developed on land that once housed an auto repair shop, which can be, in fact, an actual threat to the environment.”
There’s literally a bald eagle nest on the property right now.
Rev Julia Hart says
Mr. MORGAN,
I am not a naysayer, a person on the fringe, a reactionary, nor do I consider myself a Warrior. I am a taxpaying resident of St Michaels. My family has been in Talbot County for 350 years. “We” have farmed, worked the water, lived within and outside of the Town, served in the many wars over 350 years. Served this town and its churches in many capacities. We built houses, and ships; including the famous Pride of Baltimore among a fleet of Kemp designed and built Clipper ships.
Now, we welcome visitors and tourists. We enjoy greeting and talking with them from our front porch. Most are just a one day visit, which they seem to be satisfied with. Indeed the stats quoted on occupancy (less than full) more or less prove that to be true. Point in case, if St Michaels Inn has enough spare rooms to accommodate staffing, then where is the need?
I agree wholeheartedly with the comments of concerned citizens on the location for all the many reasons they give. Concerns which I share. I also agree that we do not need a chain hotel. I do not see how that fits your image Mr. Morgan of, “keeping our town picturesque, quaint, delightful, and charming.” A cookie cutter chain hotel would not uphold that image.
About 10 miles away in Easton there is a whole string of cookie cutter chain hotels. Wouldn’t we ALL hate to see that begin to happen here.
We do not need to be all things for all people!
Dave Rost says
Well said and as a boater to the town frequently agree
wendy schied says
What is your definition of “frequently”?
Charles Barranco says
If we are to believe Mr Morgan and Mr Patel that more rooms are needed even though motel capacity rates are significantly less than 100%, (30-35% according to Mr Patel, so much so that he can house workers for the proposed motel), why not allow residents of St Michaels to offer their homes as Air BnBs otherwise known as STRs. They are very profitable for the owners and can fill the need for the much needed rooms that Mr Morgan and Patel believe the Town needs to keep business alive and well. I am sure tourists would jump at the chance to stay in a lovely St Michaels home.
Why destroy it with a chain budget motel that creates more congestion at the busiest intersection in St Michaels.
Lisa Doby says
I think it’s much needed. I will also bring new job opportunities. People stop complaining the Eastern Shore needs upgrading.You will see how much the tourist will the thank you. Now let’s talk about opening up a McDonald’s or Burger King something for the children/adults. Everybody can’t or don’t eat seafood.
I WITH YOU ON THE HOTEL… GOOD LUCK!!
Brian Wroten says
When I think “eastern shore” the first thing that comes to mind is “giant fast food franchises”.
wendy schied says
Hampton Inn – Easton
Holiday Inn Express – Easton
St. Michaels Harbor Inn
St. Michaels Inn
Inn at Perry Cabin
The Wildset Hotel
Parsonage Inn
Tidewater Inn
Hambleton Inn B&B
Tilghman Island Inn
Lowes Wharf
Wades Point Inn
Hummingbird Inn
Parsonage Inn
The Oaks
Old Brick Inn
I could go on and on…
Why do you want one more hotel when there are literally hundreds and hundreds and HUNdreds of hotel rooms?
Debbie Jackson says
Not to mention all the AirBNb’s and all the short term rental houses.
Diane smith says
Melissa Mahoney what dog do you have in this fight? Are you concerned with competition? Do you own a rental property? For someone who wants to stick to the facts, what facts/proof do you have that putting a hotel a block away from a pool or school creates an increased risk to the community and what statistics to you have showing that adding that hotel to where there was a rickety gas station is a risk as well?
Christopher Thomas says
Regardless if anyone wants the hotel or not, the data presented in this article is incorrect. The hotel’s plans have not met the requirements for the zoning in that area as of yet: version 1 of the sketch plan was rejected, and version 2 was withdrawn by the applicant prior to their TAC review. Version 3 with be under reviewed when the applicant asks to get their plans reviewed by the planning commission, which hasn’t happened as of yesterday’s meeting.