Chapel Hills Farm: Development Disrupting Busy Season

Developer D.R. Horton has broken a promise to minimize disruption around the Reserve at Camp Chapel housing development, according to a Perry Hall business owner and Councilman David Marks. 

Recent road closures at the intersections of Chapel Road at both Cross and East Joppa roads have effectively quashed business at the Chapel Hills Farm and Nursery, according to owner Russell Berk. 

"It's just killing us," Berk said. "Nobody is coming in." 

A representative from D.R. Horton did not returns calls seeking comment Tuesday. 

The farm and nursery opened for the spring in the second week of March and was benefitting from a few warm days heading into its busy April and May season when the road closures began April 8.

"We'll lose the month of April," Berk said, fearing the planned three-week closure. 

The issue, he said, is that signage doesn't indicate that the road reopens daily at 3 p.m.—or at least, it should. Berk said that crews didn't reopen the road until 4 p.m. on Monday. Patch observed the same activity at 4 p.m. on Tuesday.

Councilman David Marks said his office "made it very clear" to developers to minimize disruptions in the area as construction continues. Marks said that the roads would only be closed from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., according to an order from the Department of Public Works. 

"I am very unhappy the signage was not erected as requested," Marks said. "This project is not only a hardship for residents, but particularly a local business like the nursery. I was very clear there should be minimal disruptions."

Adding confusion to the road closures, developers placed a sign that read:

Open to Chapel Nursery 

Cross Road 

Closed 

Starting 3-3-13

Local Traffic Only 

Virtually every line of the sign, as it stood on Tuesday, was incorrect or outdated. (See photo.)

Drivers coming from Belair Road and turning on Chapel Road were detoured at the intersection of Cross and Chapel roads. If drivers followed the detour signs, they would come to the intersection of East Joppa at Chapel, where they would see the sign described above. 

Unfortunately, the sign was placed blocking the turn lane, forcing cars to risk driving into oncoming traffic to get around it. 

Additionally, it appears as though the signs have been reused for multiple closures that have been enforced over the course of construction. Berk and Marks were under the impression that news signs would be crafted for the most recent closure, which began Monday. 

"People think the road is closed permanently," Berk said. "It just doesn't make sense to me." 

Chapel Hills Farm and Nursery is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. The nursery is located at 4356 Chapel Road in Perry Hall. 

Related Content: 

• 3 Weeks of Road Closures Planned for Chapel Road
• UPDATE: 39-Home Chapel Road Development Breaking Ground 'Shortly'
• PHOTOS: 39-Home Chapel Road Development Eyeing Spring Completion
• Marks: No Plans to Widen Chapel Road

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CORRECTION: An original version of this article misstated the location of where one of the road closures began. Patch regrets the error.