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Taneytown council authorizes annexation packet for 3300 Harney, addresses missing sewer easement
Summary
Council authorized the mayor to sign annexation documents to allow 3300 Harney to connect to city sewer and accepted a developer—9s request to record a sewer easement once the city attorney approves the instrument; staff explained the property geometry and next steps for county review.
City staff told the Taneytown City Council on Feb. 10 that a house at 3300 Harney Road has a failing septic system and the property owner wants to connect to the city sewer. To do so the parcel (and two narrow strips between the property and existing city-owned parcels) must be annexed into the city before sewer connection can proceed.
Staff explained survey work revealed a roughly 25-foot strip between the Sewell Farm parcel and 3300 Harney and an additional approximately 10-foot sliver along Harney Road. Both narrow pieces are owned by the larger Roll the Dice LLC parcel; staff said including the strips in the annexation produces a more regular boundary and avoids creating enclaves that would otherwise isolate county parcels.
City staff recommended bringing the annexed land in under R-20 zoning consistent with the comprehensive plan’s medium-density residential designation; staff said treating the parcel as R-10 could potentially permit future subdivision and complicate planning. The property at 3300 Harney was described as vacant (estate situation), and staff said the annexation does not yet finalize any change of use.
On the sewer side, staff reported that a segment of the sewer system previously rehabilitated crosses property without a recorded deed of easement. The Meadow Brook developer recently resurveyed the line and asked the city to accept and record a deed of easement for the sewer infrastructure. Council voted to authorize Mayor Miller to execute the deed of easement and to sign the annexation agreement and the Roll the Dice consent to annex once the city attorney has completed a legal review. Staff said they want to submit the annexation packet to Carroll County at least 60 days before a public hearing so that the hearing schedule can proceed without delay.
Council emphasized that these authorizations do not finalize annexation or easement recording; both actions depend on final survey exhibits and city-attorney approval. The council’s authorization permits staff to move forward with the county submission and to have the mayor sign the documents once legal review is complete.
