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New homeowners say county-installed gate blocks private-road access; councilmember seeks answers
Summary
New homeowners on Cornish Lane said a gate placed by county staff has blocked their permitted access from Baker's Lane, leaving them without reliable vehicle access despite approved permits. They asked the council for help; a councilmember said he visited the site and will pursue responses from Recreation and Parks.
Greg and Marcia Althoff, recent buyers on Cornish Lane in Anne Arundel County, told the council that after county inspections approved their permits and they received occupancy, the county placed a gate on Baker's Lane — a private road they say provides one of two access points to their new home — and neighbors have blocked the other access, leaving the family without regular vehicle access.
Greg Althoff identified his address as 119 Cornish. Marcia Althoff described repeated attempts to reach county offices and the county executive’s constituent services and said they have received inconsistent directions from county staff, including being told at times to deal with Recreation and Parks. She said a county staff member, Jennifer Sullivan, told them they could not use Cornish and that a specialist they hired, John Dowling, confirmed both access roads existed.
The Althoffs said county inspectors had told them the gate should not be there and that the situation has prevented reliable access to a newly completed house. Marcia said the gate has been in place for at least a year and neighbors have placed obstructions in the easement; utilities and cable run along the gated route, they said.
Councilmember Volke (spelled in the record as variants) said he had visited the site, discussed the matter with Recreation and Parks by phone and is awaiting a more comprehensive response. He told the Althoffs he had not “dropped the issue from [his] radar” and would follow up with county staff and the constituents.
No formal council action was taken at the meeting; the Althoffs asked the council to help resolve the access and coordination issues between departments.
