Hagerstown reviews executive summary of draft 10-year downtown plan; consultants seek feedback

HAGERSTOWN — At a Dec. 16, 2025 work session, city staff introduced an executive-summary presentation of a draft 10-year downtown plan and asked the public and council for feedback.

Doug Greaser, identified in the session as the presenter for the agenda item, said Urban Partners is the consulting firm on the plan and that the firm also assisted with Hagerstown’s 2014 downtown plan. "We're looking to solicit feedback, tonight as well as into next week, but we're gonna be back in front of you again in January, for incorporation of the final plan," Greaser said.

Chris Lankanau, a consultant with Urban Partners, introduced himself to the council and attendees and began the firm’s presentation, saying he had worked on the earlier plan and that Urban Partners is leading the current update. He also noted a colleague, Isaac, as part of the project team; Isaac did not speak in the provided record.

City staff characterized the session as an executive-summary presentation rather than a final hearing or vote, and indicated the consultants will return in January with a revised plan incorporating feedback. The transcript does not record a formal vote, an adoption, or specific funding or implementation decisions during the portion of the meeting provided.

Next steps noted in the discussion: attendees may submit feedback through the week following the work session, and staff and consultants plan to present a revised plan for formal consideration in January. Attendance counts and details about public-comment submissions were not specified in the provided record.