UPDATE: Residents of Greenway Farm in Havre de Grace are escalating their fight for a functional emergency access road, threatening legal action against the city. For over 20 years, the community has lacked a safe emergency exit, raising alarm over potential disasters.
The only access road for the development runs beneath a CSX train line, and with a propane supply company nearby, residents fear a catastrophic incident. “If either of them has a mishap, we would be stranded in our neighborhood with no way to get out,” stated resident Robert Gibson.
When the 150 acres of Greenway Farm were annexed into Havre de Grace in 2004, an agreement mandated that no occupancy permits could be issued until an emergency exit was built. Today, over 480 homes are occupied, yet the emergency roadway remains a dirt path secured by a padlocked fence.
Residents have voiced their concerns at town meetings and through numerous emails to city officials since 2022, but they feel ignored. “I just want to live in a safe neighborhood, and we shouldn’t have to fight for that,” said Courtney Bridges, a resident since 2016.
City officials argue that the existing road complies with the law due to an agreement made with developers in April 2004, which permits the use of a “crusher run” access road until a final version is completed. However, residents see this as inadequate.
In response to the growing outcry, city officials announced plans for a new enhanced emergency access road. According to Adam Rybczynski, senior aide to the mayor, this new road will connect Greenway Farm to an upcoming 20-acre portion of Bulle Rock, also under development. “We have made a good-faith effort to address their concerns,” Rybczynski said.
The new roadway will be 20 feet wide and gated, accessible only to first responders. However, the timeline for completion remains uncertain, leaving residents anxious about their safety in the meantime. Bridges insists that immediate improvements to the current emergency access are essential and is calling for a halt on any further construction of homes until these issues are resolved. “This is a hill I am willing to die on for my community’s safety,” she declared.
As tensions rise, the residents of Greenway Farm are prepared to take their fight for safety to the next level, potentially igniting a legal battle with the city of Havre de Grace.
The situation is developing, and further updates are expected. Stay tuned for more information as residents continue to push for immediate action to secure their neighborhood’s safety.
Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at [email protected], 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.
