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Havre de Grace council approves food-forest, composting, zoning and lease measures; sets Annapolis priorities
Summary
The Havre de Grace mayor and city council on Oct. 21 approved a package of measures: continuation of a Todd Park food forest and a Hutchins Park composting program, zoning amendments adding definitions for group housing and accessory units, renewal of a lease in a city right-of-way, and three calendar resolutions including legislative priorities for 2025.
Havre de Grace — The mayor and city council on Monday approved multiple ordinances and resolutions affecting parks, zoning and a city right-of-way, voting unanimously to move forward with community programs and code updates.
The council adopted Ordinance 11-63 on second reading to formalize an agreement with the Havre de Grace Green Team to continue the food forest at Todd Park. Council Member Boyer described the project as a long-running community resource: "the green team has for several years managed a food forest, that's available for anybody within the community to go and and pick fresh fruit," she said, and urged residents to volunteer to "adopt" trees for maintenance.
Also approved on second reading was Ordinance 11-64, extending a composting agreement at Hutchins Park with the Green Team and a collection partner referenced in the record. Boyer called the pilot "overwhelmingly successful," saying "all 4 bins are completely full and all of that waste instead of going to the landfill is being diverted and is made into usable soil," and described the program as net neutral compared with tipping fees.
On zoning, the council introduced and adopted first readings of two related measures. Ordinance 11-67 would amend Chapter 205 to address accessory dwelling units; a public hearing was set for Nov. 4. Ordinance 11-68 adds a definition and conditional-use provisions for "group housing," and gives the Historic Preservation Commission a role to review certain site plans and Board of Appeals approvals. Council members discussed the need for a planning commission presentation and additional review before second reading; a public hearing was announced for Nov. 18.
The council also approved Ordinance 11-65 on second reading to approve and ratify Ordinance 11-59, with Council Member Robertson noting it updates fiscal-year language from FY25 to FY26.
On a lease matter, the council introduced Ordinance 11-66 (first reading) to renew a lease between the city and Go Havre de Grace LLC for a 1,400-square-foot area of city right-of-way at North Union and Franklin. Councilors said the new term extends the prior two-year lease to five years and that the rent is $1 per square foot, which was discussed as $1,400 per year for the leased area; a public hearing on that ordinance is scheduled for Nov. 4.
Council also adopted three calendar resolutions: approval of a replacement sign at 400 North Union Avenue (Calendar Resolution 2024-26), a license agreement to construct an ADA ramp and steps at 123 South Washington Street (Calendar Resolution 2024-27), and a resolution establishing the city's legislative priorities and authorizing the mayor or designee to advocate in Annapolis for the 2025 General Assembly session (Calendar Resolution 2024-28). The mayor's designee noted the packet includes a priority on elections.
All roll-call votes on the items reported to the council were unanimous (6-0). The council’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Nov. 4, where several of the introduced ordinances will be scheduled for public hearings.
