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Council hears public comment on proposed North Washington Street sidewalk policy
Summary
At a public hearing Oct. 20, Havre de Grace officials heard from one downtown business owner about an ordinance to establish a sidewalk policy for the 100–200 blocks of North Washington Street. The owner said he had no major objections but asked for better outreach and raised practical concerns about signage and door swings.
The Havre de Grace mayor and city council held a public hearing on Oct. 20 for Ordinance 12‑10, which would establish Chapter 150 of the city code titled “sidewalk policy,” regulating public sidewalk use in the 100 and 200 blocks of North Washington Street, including enforcement provisions and penalties.
Joe Smith, who said he owns a business at 212 North Washington and lives in Havre de Grace, told the council the policy will affect multiple businesses but that he had “no major issues” with the draft. Smith said he had noticed city staff measuring the sidewalks weeks earlier and had already checked the available space for an A‑frame sign. “Our A‑frame signs are permitted pretty much between the back of the new benches that are there out to the curb, and that seems to be sufficient space for us,” Smith said, while noting a possible problem if car doors swing into signs.
Smith urged the city and council to improve outreach to affected merchants before policies like this are adopted. “It would have been nice to have gotten a heads up … A simple, hey, heads up, this is happening, would have been sufficient,” he said, noting several council members belong to the downtown merchants Facebook page and could use that channel for notice.
The ordinance description read into the record cites the city’s authority under Article 11E of the Maryland Constitution, the Local Government Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, and sections 33 and 34 of the Havre de Grace City Charter. The text as announced said the new chapter would provide regulation of public sidewalk use for the targeted blocks and provide for enforcement and penalties.
No other members of the public spoke, and the council closed the public hearing at approximately 7:06 p.m. There was no council action on the ordinance that night; the hearing record was limited to the single public comment and the formal reading of the ordinance’s scope.
Why it matters: The ordinance would create enforceable rules for how sidewalks are used downtown, including where business signage and other encroachments may be placed. Affected businesses say they want clarity but also better notice before rules are finalized.
