At the Havre de Grace mayor and city council meeting on Oct. 20, multiple Bayview Estates residents and homeowners association leaders discussed a contentious playground replacement and related permitting, while one resident said the city should reconsider the permit because of potential wetland and safety constraints.

Cindy Erizarry, a Bayview Estates HOA board member, told the council she joined the board in 2024 to fix mismanagement and stormwater issues. She said a fellow resident, Robert “Bob” Schwartz, has pursued “personal agenda” tactics against the board and city agencies and urged the council to consider that history when reviewing related complaints.

Christopher Ward, president of the Bayview Estates HOA, said the community inherited a “train wreck” and has worked to restore the park and organize neighborhood events. Ward described efforts to repair a playground first installed in 1997 and to add features and programming to serve families on the hill above downtown.

In contrast, Bob Schwartz told the council he believes the city’s permit for the park was issued without adequate due diligence. Schwartz said the permittees were given an address for the park that he characterized as a “straw address,” and he said there are "non‑tidal wetlands" adjacent to the site with a 75‑foot buffer that would render the parcel not buildable. He also told the chief of police the address 201 Mallard Court would not be recognized in emergency systems and suggested the permit should be rescinded or applicants notified.

HOA vice president Jackie Baker described a separate but related incident in which volunteers painted a curb to reserve an egress for maintenance access. Baker said the HOA asked city crews about painting the curb and, when a staff member arrived to paint, she and the HOA leadership believed city staff had authorized the work. Baker said they did not intend to violate rules and would have removed paint had the city asked. She said the paint was red and white because parking signs are red and white; she understood the proper color would have been yellow.

Board member Bill Simone disputed claims that the HOA was building large stadium features, saying the improvements are limited to a second picnic table, a bench and a motion‑activated light.

Mayor (name not specified in record) told the meeting the city acted “with full consultation with the city attorney and director of planning and the director [of] administration” when issuing the permit and that “the city of Havre de Grace did what we believe is in the best interest of the people.” He also noted an appeals process exists and said the board of appeals is the proper forum for disputes about permit issuance.

No formal action on the park permit was taken at the meeting. Speakers asked the council to consider neighborhood outreach, clarify permit addresses in emergency systems and ensure future work follows applicable wetlands and safety rules.

Clarifying details from the meeting record: Robert Schwartz described the adjacent area as having “non title wetlands” and a 75‑foot buffer; he said the park permit lists “201 Mallard Court,” which he characterized as a straw address not appearing in the emergency system. Jackie Baker said the curb painting occurred after a city crew member agreed to paint during a maintenance visit and that the HOA would have removed paint if asked. Bill Simone said lighting planned for the park is a single motion‑activated fixture, and seating additions are modest.

The council did not vote on the specific permit at the Oct. 20 meeting. Officials repeated that appeals of permit decisions should be filed through the city’s Board of Appeals and that staff reviewed the application before issuing the permit.