HAGERSTOWN, Md. — The Hagerstown Mayor and City Council moved forward Tuesday with three annexation proposals covering more than 200 acres, including properties linked to Klein Farm, Meritus Health and a planned industrial site near Burke Holder Lane and McDade Road.
The largest proposal covers about 171.88 acres intended for industrial development, although no specific end user has been identified.
The council also approved annexing about 36.78 acres at Klein Farm and began the process to add around 4.39 acres tied to Meritus Health to the city.
Klein Farm annexation approved
Council members approved Annexation Resolution A-2026-01 for Klein Farm, finalizing the addition of about 36.78 acres to Hagerstown.
The property will be added to the city under RME zoning. The council previously introduced the resolution and held the required public hearing.
After the Klein Farm decision, the council considered two more annexation cases that are still in the early stages of approval.
Meritus Health property moves forward
The council introduced an annexation resolution for about 4.39 acres linked to Meritus Health near Caring Pathway Lane.
The property would be incorporated into Hagerstown under Industrial Mixed-Use zoning, and the council also approved the associated annexation plan.
Council members asked about the wording related to city police, fire, and other services. They also discussed whether future annexation documents should better reflect the mutual-aid agreements between Hagerstown and Washington County.
They noted that emergency services often cross jurisdictional lines and that city and county agencies already help each other when needed.
Nearly 172 acres eyed for industrial development
The largest annexation discussed at the meeting involved land owned by Burke Holder Lane Acquisitions LLC and McDade Road Acquisitions LLC.
The proposed annexation includes about 171.88 acres and would add the property to Hagerstown with Industrial Mixed-Use zoning.
Representatives told the council the property is meant for industrial development, but the exact type and future user have not been decided.
Council members asked the representatives why they wanted to annex the property into Hagerstown.
A representative cited the city’s development review process as one reason for seeking annexation.
The representative said Hagerstown’s site-plan process is predictable and efficient, and that applicants feel comfortable with how the city reviews their proposals.
Burke Holder Lane Acquisitions LLC initially filed the petition with the city on June 30, with Patrick A. Mohler and Denise C. Mohler serving as co-petitioners. At the meeting, it was noted that the Mohlers later sold their property on McDade Road to McDade Road Acquisitions LLC, a company linked to Burke Holder Lane Acquisitions LLC. The annexation plan was then amended to reflect this change of ownership.
Council members introduced and approved the annexation resolution, allowing the proposal to move forward in the city’s annexation process.
Council members also raised questions about parts of the annexation plan, including city services, the property’s location outside a state-designated Priority Funding Area, and whether it has proper access from Logistics Boulevard.
One council member asked if being outside the Priority Funding Area might affect access to state funding for public services after annexation. The question was not resolved during the meeting and will be considered as the proposal moves forward.
Public hearing scheduled for October
Introducing the Burke Holder Lane/McDade Road annexation resolution is not the final approval.
Before the council can take final action, Maryland law requires notifications to certain government agencies and entities, including the Maryland Department of Planning and Washington County Board of County Commissioners.
The city must also satisfy the legal requirements for advertising. Officials said an annexation covering an area like this requires at least four newspaper advertisements, placed at least seven days apart, with the last appearing at least 15 days before the hearing.
Because of these requirements, the public hearing will not take place at the council’s September evening meeting.
The hearing will take place Oct. 27, when residents and others can comment on the proposal before the council takes final action.
