Council approves license for Hager 5 LLC near Cultural Trail amid fencing and access concerns

The Hagerstown Mayor and City Council on May 27 approved a license agreement permitting Hager 5 LLC to occupy city‑owned land adjacent to the Hagerstown Cultural Trail for improvements at the Antietam Paper Building, 37 West Antietam Street. The agreement allows the company to construct a deck, steps and patio adjacent to the trail but states the improvements may not obstruct the trail itself.

Council members asked for details about the extent of the license area and whether fences or other barriers might reduce the trail’s openness. A council member asked whether the license allows fencing along the entire length or only in a small, defined area; city staff responded that the applicant had not submitted detailed plans and that the license limits use to the space between the building and the cultural trail. The staff presentation also noted the city engineer must approve the design.

One councilmember expressed concern that earlier visions for a wide, promenade‑style trail near the stadium had given way to a narrower sidewalk in current plans and worried that incremental improvements could “marginalize” the Cultural Trail’s intended openness. Staff replied the license agreement includes a condition restricting the licensee’s use to the city parcel shown in the drawing and that the license does not allow improvements to occupy the painted trail area.

The council moved and passed the license agreement. The motion approves the license terms as presented; staff indicated the license will include language that limits use to the city property shown on the drawing and that city staff (including the city engineer) must approve final designs.