From Harford County government:
Edgewood residents have repaired dilapidated private roads in their neighborhood, thanks to a partnership between their homeowner’s association and Harford County government. The First Watergate North Association, Inc. received a $140,000 low interest loan from Harford County’s Department of Housing and Community Development to pay for repaving, new curbing and other repairs to Grempler Way, Brookside Drive and Simons Court. The work was completed in July by a local paving company following a competitive bid process. Funding for the loan originated with the Maryland Community Legacy Program.
“I am pleased that my administration was able to help Edgewood residents and their homeowners association with these long overdue repairs,” said County Executive Barry Glassman. “We hope to continue working with citizens seeking to improve their communities.”
The Glassman administration recently merged the Harford County Housing Agency and the Community Development division of Community Services to create Harford County’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCHCD), which handles all housing-related services within the County.
“We were happy to be a part of this cooperative effort with the First Watergate North Association,” said HCHCD Director Len Parrish. “We hope that area residents will continue coming together to provide a clean, safe environment for their neighbors and themselves.”
County Executive Glassman and Director Parrish visited the area on Thursday, joined by Peter Occorso, president of the First Watergate North Association, and Pastor Lester Lee, association vice-president.
“It’s definitely helped people to see the improvement and the direction the neighborhood can go,” said Occorso. “We still have work to do, but we hope the streets are a first step in a positive direction.”
With the pot holes fixed it will be easier to get out of the neighbor hood after the drive by shootings. They can get in and get out before the the Po Po can arrive.
Wow, did any of my tax dollars go into paying for this?
It was a loan, so my tax dollars will be repaid.
Yes, it’s all financed by the taxpayers…and low interest loans still means a hefty subsidy even though there may be payment terms. I understand the need to enforce regular maintenance and upkeep in low income areas but it’s still private property which means the taxpayers are footing the bill to upgrade and add value to somebody else’s deed. I certainly hope there’s some sort of provision in place to review existing Homeowners Association Records because that pool of money needs to be drained first to pay for this and should not be somebody’s slush fund while they wait around for “us” to pay for landscaping and street repairs.
Who owns this property? Probably someone well connected politically, I would assume.
Are all roads in a neighborhood with a home owner’s association considered private? Or is the above referenced area unique in the fact that they must pay for their own road repairs. Hopefully, someone commenting here can educate me on this topic…..without being nasty and calling me stupid.
I believe that the builder of a new development can request that the county take over the roads, but only if those roads meet specific minimum requirements. If they were built on the cheap, the HOA continues to own them and is responsible for maintenance.
Thank you, Joe. My next question is how do I find out if our roads are private or public? I know the county came in a few years ago in my neighborhood and put down some crappy material that they consider asphalt like. So, I guess maybe I answered my own question. I just never heard of the private roads versus public roads in a neighborhood. The roads are certainly in serious disrepair at a number of locations throughout Harford County, my area included. And those of you who are serial commenters, who really dig insulting folks, unlike Joe Belair who was thoughtful enough to help me out, please don’t suggest that I go and pave my own roads. I also understand that some roads are state, some are county, and now I know some are private. A number of roads are federal. I just want to know who is responsible to repair what, especially with the tax money we allow to be taken from what we earn.
Maintenance is the only thing that matters in regards to a road. Repaving, and snow removal, everything else will be taken care of by your respective locality wherever and whatever, example; speed limit sign needs replaced, water main issue, etc.
Why does it matter and what do you need with the information?
“Knowledge itself is power,” Sir Francis Bacon, 1597, “Meditationes Sacrae.” Got it, methane producer?
You can tell if a road is private or public by the color of the sign. If it is a blue sign then the road is owned by the community association. If it is a green sign then it is owned by the county. If the developer builds the roads to Harford County specs then they can request the road be dedicated to the county. If they choose to go the cheap route and not build to specs then the roads are dedicated to the community association and the association has to pay for everything relating to the roads. Pot holes, re pavement, snow removal, etc.
Thank you very much, GRBEAN1966. I had no idea about the color of the road signs, either. I’m appreciative to those that I’m able to learn from, without being insulted.
@K
While I can’t speak for your homeowner association regarding the roads, I have a second home in Ocean Pines MD, on the eastern shore. Ocean Pines is a major HOA and is approximately 47 years old. It is mostly built out with very few undeveloped lots. It consists of approximately 8450 homes in what is essentially a resort community near Ocean City MD.
Ocean Pines is still responsible for maintaining the community roads, however the association could have requested the county to begin maintaining the roads after the community was built out. Turning over road maintenance to the county does not come without a price in your homeowner tax assessment. We do have several bridges in our community over various waterways within the OP community. The state is responsible for 80% of the cost of bridge replacement and the association responsible for 20%.
There are some instances where the county is responsible for road maintenance and repair. Since water and sewer belong to the county, any damage to a road that is the result of water or sewer line repair or the replacement of water or sewer line is the responsibility of the county. This past spring, Worcester County had to repave almost 1.25 miles of road due to replacement of an old deteriorating water line, with more of the same in coming years as the 45 year old water/sewer lines need replacing.
Bottom line, it’s never a simple answer as to who is responsible for road maintenance. Your Homeowners Association should be able to tell you if your roads are private or public.
Thank you, Ralph! Your information is very helpful and thought provoking. I can and will definitely find out about the roads in my current development. But, now that I’ve learned about private roads, if and when I purchase another property regulated by an HOA, I will find out beforehand about their roadways.
And K you also have to educate yourself here in Harford and many counties in MD about other things. Like the maintenance of sidewalks in communities that have HOAs and who is resposible for their upkeep. Some are maintained by the county and some are the responsibility of the homeowner. Then there is that “right of way ” between the curb and your sidewalk. How about when the county salts the roads so much in you neighborhood that after a few years the salt eats up your driveway’s end?
Then the police enforcement issue. Only certain traffic regulations are enforceable by the police on a private road that is “open to the public in general”, so you must think about that. You seem like a nice person asking for advice, mine is buy a nice place without an HOA and check the neighbors and area prior to doing so. Will save you many headaches in life. Good Luck!
Just Saying, thank you very much for your help! HOA’s as a group, generally speaking, vary in cost and regulatory behavior(s). Therefore, I’m in agreement with you. There is so very much to learn with regard to the locale in which a person lives.
If you have a blue sign it is private. Green it is public.