Harford County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Harford County Board of Estimates approves $12.4M bridge replacement

The Harford County Board of Estimates approved a $12,375,300 contract to replace the Abingdon Road bridge over CSX Transportation at its Aug. 18 meeting, the most consequential decision in the past week. The project is funded 80% federally and 20% by the county. All motions passed unanimously, with two members absent, except for one property acquisition that passed 4-0-1 with one abstention.

Board of Estimates approves $12.4M bridge and other spending

The board approved 18 items, including:

• $12,375,300 for the Abingdon Road bridge replacement (unanimous)
• $4,769,223 change order for the Sod Run Wastewater Treatment Plant UV disinfection upgrade (unanimous)
• $913,927 for two ambulance boxes and one remount (unanimous)
• $717,322 for a sewer extension on Magnolia Road (unanimous)
• $358,985 for Lake Serene trail resurfacing (unanimous)
• $208,777 for design of the Joppa yard trim facility (unanimous)
• $77,588 for a new Ford F-350 utility truck (unanimous)
• Property acquisition (4-0-1 vote, one abstention)

Other recent meetings

Several other county bodies met in the past two weeks, but none took public votes or made decisions.

• **Administrative Charging Committee** (Aug. 11 and Aug. 18): Both meetings were procedural, covering agenda approval, case review, and lessons-learned discussions. No decisions were listed.
• **Community Input Meeting** (Aug. 11): A proposed 2 MW community solar project at 3619 Clayton Road in Joppa was discussed. The project is intended to serve over 300 residents and businesses. No decisions were made.
• **Board of Ethics** (Aug. 12): Met in closed session to discuss Ethics Complaint 26-02, under Maryland law provisions for confidential investigations. No public action was taken.
• **Environmental Advisory Board** (Aug. 18): Reviewed the July meeting summary and toured the Anita C. Leight Stream Restoration Project. No decisions were listed.
• **Development Advisory Committee** (Aug. 19): Reviewed two subdivision proposals on agricultural land: a re-subdivision on Mill Green Road and a subdivision on Durham Road. No decisions were made.

Coming up

• **Community Input Meeting** (Aug. 25, 6:00 pm, McFaul Activity Center, 525 W. MacPhail Road, Bel Air): A proposed 2 MW solar facility near 3012 Ward Road in Forest Hill, presented by Forest Hill Solar, LLC.
• **People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board** (Aug. 25): Hearing on application No. 6057 by Donna Cicone and Charles Phoebus.
• **Community Input Meeting** (Aug. 26, Norrisville Library & Recreation Center, 5310 Norrisville Road, White Hall): A proposed 2 MW solar facility near 4025 Norrisville Road in Jarrettsville, presented by Norrisville Solar, LLC.
• **Development Advisory Committee** (Sept. 2): Review of a re-subdivision of the St. Clair E. Hess estate on Fallston Road in Bel Air, creating a 4.456-acre lot.
• **Board of Ethics** (Sept. 2, 6:30 pm, virtual): Closed session to discuss Ethics Complaint 26-06.

Harford County roundup: Royal Farms, solar, and townhouse proposals on recent agendas

Over the past two weeks, Harford County boards and commissions held several meetings, but none resulted in final decisions. The most consequential item on the agenda was a proposed Royal Farms convenience store and gas station at 2201 E. Churchville Road, which was the subject of a community input meeting on July 27.

Development proposals

Royal Farms (July 27) – A community input meeting was held for a proposed Royal Farms Store #280: a 5,154-square-foot convenience store, carry-out restaurant, and gas station on 1.94 acres zoned B2 at the southeast corner of E. Churchville Road and Schuck's Road. The applicant, Tanya Bensinger of Warfield Engineering, presented the plan and gathered public feedback. No decisions were made.

Solar and townhouses (Aug. 5) – The Development Advisory Committee (DAC) reviewed two preliminary site and concept plans. The first was Quirauk Peak Solar, a 2.0 MW AC community solar energy generating system on 53.85± acres at Federal Hill Road (MD 165). The second was Red Pump Crescent, a proposal for 46 townhouse lots on 10.278± acres at Red Pump Road. At a separate DAC meeting the same day, the Red Pump Crescent item was reviewed again, while the Quirauk Peak Solar item was postponed.

Other boards and commissions

People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board (July 28) – The board met to approve minutes from June 25, 2026, review applications, receive a People's Counsel update, and discuss cases on layover. The next meeting is scheduled for August 25, 2026.

Police Accountability Board (July 28) – The board held a routine meeting with only procedural items: welcome, approval of minutes, committee reports, and public comment periods. No specific policies, cases, or contracts were on the agenda.

Historic Preservation Commission (Aug. 5) – The commission discussed the Oakington Peninsula site visit, federal Section 106 compliance for the Susquehanna Rail Bridge archaeology, a progress report on the Mt. Zion Church (HA-308) bell tower reconstruction, an update on the Harford Forward Master Plan with community survey, and planning for a design guidelines workshop.

Commission on Veterans' Affairs (Aug. 6) – The commission reviewed reports from past events, including the Women's Veterans Day Brunch and Veterans Resource Fair. Members discussed the feasibility and scope of a funeral home and cemetery support project, including throughput research and eligibility. They also planned for Operation Inspire Adaptive Sports Day on August 15 at Schucks Road Park and the County 9/11 Day of Remembrance on September 11 at the Equestrian Center. The commission identified a need for representation from VFW Posts 10028, 8126, 10146 and VVA Chapter 588.

Board of Electrical Examiners (Aug. 6) – The board reviewed rules and regulations concerning the 2023 National Electrical Code. It specified that Exception No. 2 to subsection 210.8(f) will remain in effect until the 2026 National Electrical Code is adopted.

Coming up

Community Input Meeting (Aug. 11) – A proposed 2 MW community solar project at 3619 Clayton Road in Joppa, intended to provide energy to over 300 residents and businesses, will be discussed.

Development Advisory Committee (Aug. 19) – The committee will review two subdivision plans in Council District D: Plan P324-2026 to re-subdivide Lot 1 to create Lot 9 (10.401± acres) on Mill Green Road, and Plan P334-2026 to subdivide remaining lands to create Lot 6 (33.091± acres) on Durham Road.

All recent meetings were agenda-only; minutes have not yet been published. Final decisions on these items are pending future action.

Royal Farms proposal at 2201 E. Churchville Road heads community input meetings; DAC to review solar and townhouse plans

Harford County residents got a look at a proposed Royal Farms convenience store and gas station on E. Churchville Road during a July 27 community input meeting, one of several recent advisory board gatherings where no formal decisions were made. All recent meetings listed below were agenda-only, with minutes not yet published.

Royal Farms proposal at 2201 E. Churchville Road

A community input meeting on July 27 covered a proposed Royal Farms Store #280 at 2201 E. Churchville Road. The project would include a 5,154-square-foot convenience store, carry-out restaurant, and gas station on 1.94 acres zoned B2. The site sits at the southeast corner of E. Churchville Road and Schuck's Road. Tanya Bensinger of Warfield Engineering is listed as the applicant. No decisions are made at community input meetings; the session was for presentation and public feedback.

Environmental Advisory Board hears stream restoration presentation

The Environmental Advisory Board met July 21 to review its May 2026 meeting summary, hear county updates, and discuss new business. Danielle Hankins, Harford County MS4 Program Administrator, presented on the Anita C. Leight Stream Restoration Project. No votes or decisions were listed on the agenda.

People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board

On July 28, the People's Counsel Citizens Advisory Board was scheduled to approve minutes from June 25, 2026, review applications, receive a People's Counsel update, and discuss cases on layover. The board's next meeting is scheduled for August 25, 2026. No decisions were listed on the agenda.

Police Accountability Board

The Harford County Police Accountability Board held a routine meeting July 28. The agenda included welcome, approval of minutes, committee reports, and public comment periods. No decisions on specific policies, cases, or contracts were scheduled.

Coming up

• **Aug. 5 — Development Advisory Committee:** Reviewing Red Pump Crescent, a proposal for 46 townhouse lots on 10.278± acres at Red Pump Road. A separate item, the Quirauk Peak Solar project — a 2.0 MW AC Community Solar Energy Generating System on 53.85± acres at Federal Hill Road (MD 165) — is listed as postponed.
• **Aug. 5 — Historic Preservation Commission:** Discussion of the Oakington Peninsula site visit, Section 106 correspondence on Susquehanna Rail Bridge archaeology, an update on COA-2025-03 (Mt. Zion Church bell tower reconstruction), and a Harford Forward Master Plan update with community survey.
• **Aug. 6 — Commission on Veterans' Affairs:** Discussion of funeral home and cemetery support, review of past events including the Women's Veterans Day Brunch and Veterans Resource Fair, and planning for Operation Inspire Adaptive Sports Day on Aug. 15 at Schucks Road Park and the County 9/11 Day of Remembrance on Sept. 11 at the Equestrian Center.
• **Aug. 6 — Board of Electrical Examiners:** Reviewing rules concerning the 2023 National Electrical Code, with Exception No. 2 to subsection 210.8(f) remaining in effect until the 2026 code is adopted.
• **Aug. 11 — Community Input Meeting:** A proposed 2MW community solar project at 3619 Clayton Road in Joppa, intended to provide energy to over 300 residents and businesses.