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Havre de Grace adopts sidewalk policy for North Washington Street after minor amendment
Summary
The council adopted Ordinance 12‑10 establishing sidewalk rules for the 100–200 blocks of North Washington Street; a friendly amendment narrowed a Zone 3 restriction to signs only so tables and chairs permitted under other rules remain allowed. The ordinance aims to preserve a six‑foot pedestrian corridor while enabling limited business displays.
The Havre de Grace City Council adopted Ordinance 12‑10 on second reading to establish a sidewalk policy for the 100‑ and 200‑blocks of North Washington Street after a brief council discussion and a friendly amendment.
Council President proposed a minor change to the ordinance’s general provisions to strike the phrase "all items including" and instead reference only "signs placed on the sidewalk within Zone 3," clarifying that Zone 3 permits only sandwich‑board signs and not tables or merchandise. "We want to strike all items including and change the small s to a large s so it reads signs placed on the sidewalk within Zone 3," the council president said; there was no council objection to making that friendly amendment.
Council member Boyer and others discussed practical implications for businesses and pedestrian circulation. The mayor explained the ordinance’s core purpose: guarantee a passable space of at least six feet for pedestrians while allowing standardized business displays where sidewalk width permits. "So the purpose of this ordinance is twofold... to guarantee a passable space of least 6 feet, for pedestrians," the mayor said.
By roll call the ordinance was adopted 6‑0. The new policy establishes three sidewalk zones and permits limited uses by right where the sidewalk width allows while reserving the curb‑adjacent Zone 3 primarily for sandwich signs to protect pedestrian access.
Why it matters: The city recently completed a streetscape project on North Washington Street that widened and textured sidewalks; the ordinance provides rules to balance business activity and pedestrian access in the newly configured public right‑of‑way.
