The long-awaited Scenic Manor development at the former Cherry Hill Farm in Havre de Grace is beginning construction.
The development, according to city spokesman Jim Newby, will have 84 single-family homes and the developer is Michael Charlton of Elm Street Development. Charlton, one of the company's vice presidents, is responsible for land development activities in Harford, Cecil and Howard counties, according to Elm Street's website.
The 29-acre property is on Chapel Road, near the traffic circle at Bulle Rock.
"We are very excited to get started on our newest Harford County subdivision," Charlton said in an e-mail Thursday morning.
He said that there will be two entrances off of Chapel Road, and "over 40 percent of the property is being preserved as open space with a large active area that will allow all of the residents to enjoy great views of the bay, as well as walking trails."
According to Charlton, construction began "a few weeks ago" and plans to have it completed by the fall. Elm Street has not selected a builder yet, but is "working with several builders" to finalize the amenities Scenic Manor will offer.
Site development plans were reviewed for the land by Havre de Grace's City Council in December of 2009. In November of 2010, however, the city's planning commission delayed a vote on the plat after a long and heated discussion about the development's proposed homeowners association covenant, according to an article in The Aegis.
Then during the council's Nov. 21, 2011 meeting, Director of Planning Neal Mills reported that the dwellings had been approved.
Trees at the former farm have been cleared, and what appears to be an entrance way has been cut.