Abingdon Woods Proposed Development Halted, Land To Be Reforested Instead

HARFORD COUNTY, MD — Plans to development a 327-acre section known as Abingdon Woods have been halted. Instead, the developer will reforest the site, county officials stated.

The project originally included more than 2 million square feet of warehouses on forested land near residences. The project's preliminary plan was approved in 2020 but later revoked by current Harford County Executive Bob Cassilly's administration with leaders citing the absence of an approved forest conservation plan.

The proposal also faced multiple lawsuits. But a settlement agreement signed earlier this month now ends all pending litigation between the Harford County government, landowner Harford Investors, LLC, and developer BTC III I-95 Logistics Center, LLC. It also revokes all previous approvals of development plans and permits, according to county officials.

Under the agreement, the developer will stabilize areas that had been disturbed, build new stormwater management facilities and reforest portions of the site. That reforestation will include strips of the property bordering Abingdon Road, St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church and the townhomes on Pumpkin Patch Court and Raking Leaf Drive, according to the county.

“Harford County welcomes appropriate development that brings well-paying jobs, boosts economic activity, protects the environment and enhances our quality of life,” Harford County Executive Cassilly said. “That means proposals must fully comply with development requirements before they can move forward – there are no shortcuts."