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Bel Air commissioners approve purchase of 0.38-acre strip at South Atwood for possible emergency access
Summary
The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners voted unanimously Jan. 14 to adopt Ordinance 836-24, authorizing purchase of about 0.38 acres at the dead end of South Atwood Road to preserve a potential emergency access connection tied to the Homestead Wakefield Elementary School project.
Bel Air — The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on Jan. 14 unanimously approved Ordinance 836-24 to purchase roughly 0.38 acres at the dead end of South Atwood Road from Wakefield Manor Associates/Care of Mount Royal Management Co.
Town staff said the parcel would allow for construction of an emergency access road originally planned as part of the Homestead Wakefield Elementary School project and recommended preserving the land while future decisions about engineering and county funding are resolved.
Town staff briefed the commissioners at a public hearing. Staff said a site survey completed in late 2024 clarified the exact boundaries and allowed the ordinance to be written so the town could complete settlement. Town staff also reported the county has declined to allocate money to build the roadway for the school board at this time. The school board had earlier planned to engineer and build the roadway; county officials told town staff the funds are being directed elsewhere.
"It is still our collective belief that we should continue through and purchase the property," town staff said during the hearing, noting the purchase preserves an option if the county- and school-led McFall Road access later proves unworkable.
Commissioners debated whether to buy now to retain a future option or to defer because the immediate school-access project has stalled. Several commissioners said acquiring the parcel now is prudent because future opportunities to buy a subdivided strip may not recur and owning the property would reduce cost and logistical barriers if the town later needs to use it for emergency access.
On a motion introduced during the meeting, the board approved Ordinance 836-24 by roll call: Commissioner Rutledge — Aye; Commissioner Chismar — Aye; Commissioner Taylor — Aye; Commissioner Chance — Aye; Chair Eddy — Aye. Mr. Krantz recorded the vote. The ordinance passed 5–0.
The town packet and staff presentation referenced Resolution 1235-24 (Aug. 19, 2024), which initially approved a purchase contract but did not include a survey describing the parcel precisely; the new ordinance memorializes the specific parcel and authorizes settlement.
Town staff said the parcel is about 0.38 acres and currently consists of trees and grass. If the emergency road is never built, staff said the town does not have a specific alternate use for the strip but noted it could remain green space or be incorporated into future school-site planning.
The board approved the ordinance at the work session. Town staff said they will retain the parcel on the town’s property rolls for potential future use.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance 836-24 (Purchase of ~0.38 acres at dead end of South Atwood Road for emergency access related to Homestead Wakefield Elementary School project): Approved, roll-call vote 5–0.
