Council hears engineerreport on Richfield Station: unfinished paving, utilities and long-running developer disputes

Chesapeake Beach engineers told the town council that work in the Richfield Station subdivision remains incomplete in multiple areas and that the town is holding bonds for some outstanding items.

Wayne Newton of Messick and Associates, the town engineer, said unfinished items include final paving, some sewer lines, concrete curbs, stormwater management features and sidewalk connections. Newton said the town has asked the developer to finish work before permitting additional development but that progress has stalled; council members said some of the existing conditions have persisted for over a decade.

Newton said some parts of the development have utilities and other infrastructure exposed and in need of finalization. He confirmed the town is holding performance bonds tied to work in the neighborhood. Newton said one section of the project had been approved before his tenure and that the town had previously paid to complete some improvements under local reimbursement arrangements in other circumstances.

Councilmembers raised the possibility of inspecting bond amounts before committing town funds to complete outstanding work, and suggested exploring whether the town can compel the developer to finish contracted work or, alternatively, use bond funds or town money with later reimbursement.

The council asked staff to follow up on bond details and prepare a status report; the mayor and several councilmembers suggested adding the item to an agenda so the council can examine available leverage and next steps. No formal enforcement action or change to bonding was taken at the meeting.

Public input and council conversation emphasized the urgency for residents living in the development, who have lived with temporary surfaces and exposed utilities for years. The council noted the town administrator and staff can act as local eyes on conditions going forward.