Residents of Greenway Farm Threaten Legal Action Over Unsafe Access Road

URGENT UPDATE: Residents of Greenway Farm in Havre de Grace are gearing up for potential legal action against the city over a critical safety issue—an inadequate emergency access road that has remained unresolved for over 20 years. With only one access route that runs beneath a CSX train line, residents fear that an emergency could leave them trapped in their neighborhood.

“We would be stranded in our neighborhood with no way to get out,” warned resident Robert Gibson. Concerns are heightened as a neighboring industrial propane supply company operates less than a mile away, raising the stakes for the community’s safety.

When Greenway Farm’s 150 acres were annexed for development in 2004, city officials passed legislation mandating a functional emergency roadway before any occupancy permits could be issued. Despite this, over 480 homes have been built, while the supposed emergency route remains a dirt path, blocked by a padlocked fence.

Residents, including Courtney Bridges, have voiced their frustrations at public town meetings and through numerous communications to city officials since 2022, demanding action. “I just want to live in a safe neighborhood,” Bridges said, expressing her exhaustion over what she perceives as city inaction.

City officials maintain that the current emergency route meets legal requirements under an agreement made with developers in April 2004. According to Chris Ricci, the city’s director of administration, the roadway can remain unpaved as long as development continues.

However, in response to ongoing concerns, the city has announced plans for a new emergency access road that will connect Greenway Farm to a new section of Bulle Rock. Officials claim this new route will be fully funded by the developers and is intended to enhance safety measures. Yet, the timeline for completion remains unclear.

Bridges and other residents remain skeptical. “We are requesting that the current emergency roadway be paved immediately,” she stated, stressing that construction of new homes should be halted until the access issue is resolved. “This is a hill I am willing to die on for my community’s safety.”

As tensions rise, residents are determined to ensure their voices are heard and that their safety is prioritized. Watch for further developments as this situation unfolds.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at [email protected], 443-651-0101, or follow him on X @mthubb.