Planning Commission forwards 2024 Envision Havre de Grace comprehensive plan to city council

The Havre de Grace Planning Commission voted 4-0 on Feb. 20 to authorize the chair to sign a resolution formally forwarding the 2024 Envision Havre de Grace comprehensive plan to the city council.

Planning staff presented the 13‑chapter, roughly 350‑page plan and a draft resolution that the commission was asked to adopt so the document could move into the council’s legislative process. Planner Diane Claire told commissioners the text is available on the city website and that council planned a work session on the plan and the fee schedule on Feb. 26 at the Star Center.

Commissioners reiterated that the resolution formalizes the action the commission took in October 2024 but meets a procedural requirement in the land‑use code that a resolution, not just a letter, accompany the plan transmission. One council member on the commission said she would recuse herself from the vote because she has been involved in council deliberations on the document; the recusal was noted before the roll call.

Roll call on the resolution recorded four yes votes: Harry Miller, Chip Place, Ed Girono, and Chair Volney Ford. The chair said he would sign the resolution that evening and transmit it to mayor and council. Commissioners discussed that the council may remand the plan back to the commission or propose amendments — particularly on housing density and historic‑preservation design guidelines — and noted a 90‑day period in which council action could be required.

Next steps: the commission’s signed resolution will be delivered to the city council and the document will proceed to the council work session and subsequent council actions referenced in the land‑use code.