Havre de Grace council adopts annexation plan for portion of Pulaski Highway, waives escrow

The Havre de Grace City Council on Nov. 4 adopted Resolution 2024-29 approving an annexation plan for a portion of property along Pulaski Highway owned by Harbor Shops MD2 LLC. Council voted to waive the standard $5,000 escrow for the petition — city staff said the limited scope of the parcel and minimal expected review costs made the escrow unnecessary — and adopted the annexation plan by roll call vote 5-0.

City staff stated the annexed parcel totals approximately 0.8274 acres. Attorney John Tracy, representing Harbor Shops MD2 LLC, had asked the council earlier in the meeting for a waiver of the escrow requirement and to proceed via a reimbursement agreement so the applicant would pay review costs as incurred.

After adopting the annexation resolution, council introduced a charter resolution (number 303) to effect the annexation in the city charter; the introduction passed on first reading 5-0 and the public hearing on the charter resolution was scheduled for Dec. 16 at 7:00 p.m. Staff said any remaining administrative steps, notifications and exhibits will be part of the charter hearing process.

Votes recorded in the transcript show unanimous affirmative roll calls for the resolution and the charter introduction; the council president confirmed the hearing schedule. No citizen testimony objecting to the annexation was recorded during tonight’s session.