Comings and goings: More houses in Hagerstown, restaurant opens, changes at pet hospital

Mike Lewis, The Herald-Mail
·4 min read

More single-family houses proposed for Hagerstown

A new, 36-lot subdivision of single-family homes could be built on property off Virginia Avenue in Hagerstown.

The subdivision is related to a proposed 360-lot development that sits on neighboring property. That 115-acre parcel is in the process of being annexed into the city.

A new 36-lot development of single-family homes is being proposed for property off Virginia Avenue and Marion Street. It would link with a larger development of about 360 homes on 115 acres. The larger development is going through the planning and annexation process.
A new 36-lot development of single-family homes is being proposed for property off Virginia Avenue and Marion Street. It would link with a larger development of about 360 homes on 115 acres. The larger development is going through the planning and annexation process.

The city's planning commission last week approved the development plan for Virginia Commons, Phase I, according to an email from Kathleen A. Maher, the city's director of planning and code administration.

The next steps would be the submission of a final plat of the 36 lots, infrastructure improvements, easements and other details, and approval of the plat by the Planning Commission, she wrote.

Streets in the area have been platted for decades, Stephen Bockmiller, the city's development planner and zoning administrator, wrote in a memo to the planning commission.

The streets in the 36-lot subdivision would be connected to the streets in the larger development after annexation, the memo states.

Staff recommended approval of the development plan.

Grand Opening for Zach Greenlee’s Fireside Restaurant & Lounge

Zach Greenlee’s Fireside Restaurant & Lounge will celebrate a grand opening at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

The restaurant is at 1716 Underpass Way, connected to the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham hotel.

Zach Greenlee will officially open his new restaurant location, Zach Greenlee’s Fireside Restaurant & Lounge, on Tuesday. The restaurant at 1716 Underpass Way is connected to the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham hotel.
Zach Greenlee will officially open his new restaurant location, Zach Greenlee’s Fireside Restaurant & Lounge, on Tuesday. The restaurant at 1716 Underpass Way is connected to the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham hotel.

The Fireside will be Greenlee's second restaurant. He also owns Zach Greenlee’s Trackside Steak & Seafood at 15124 National Pike, near the Hagerstown Speedway.

Immediately following the celebration, the restaurant will be open for service, according to a news release from the Washington County Chamber of Commerce.

State opens new field office

Officials recently cut the ribbon for Maryland's new Parole and Probation Hagerstown Field Office at 100 W. Franklin St.

Martha Danner, director of Maryland's Division of Parole and Probation, joins Secretary Robert Green of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, department employees and others as they cut the ribbon for the new Parole and Probation Hagerstown Field Office on April 22.
Martha Danner, director of Maryland's Division of Parole and Probation, joins Secretary Robert Green of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, department employees and others as they cut the ribbon for the new Parole and Probation Hagerstown Field Office on April 22.

Robert Green, secretary of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, was among those attending the event.

According to a news release from the department, the first-floor space improved access for clients and a brighter office and improved floor plan for employees.

The Division of Parole and Probation employs 25 in the office. Overall, the Department of Public Safety has more than 1,100 employees in Washington County

Joining Green for the ribbon cutting were officials of the Maryland Department of General Services, the Maryland Department of Labor, Washington County Sheriff Doug Mullendore and re-entry specialist Bill Gaertner from Gatekeepers in Hagerstown.

Mid-Atlantic Veterinary Hospital under new management

The Mid-Atlantic Veterinary Hospital is in the midst of a reopening, operating as a Heart + Paw Partner Practice.

A full-service veterinary center, Mid-Atlantic aims to provide stress-free wellness services, including medical care, preventive health care, surgery, diagnostic services and radiology for pets in one location.

There also is a pet pharmacy within the facility at 1125 Professional Court.

The Mid-Atlantic Veterinary Hospital is at 1125 Professional Court.
The Mid-Atlantic Veterinary Hospital is at 1125 Professional Court.

With the practice owner retiring late last year, Mid-Atlantic was scheduled to close at the end of July, according to a news release from the company.

But Heart + Paw, one of the fastest growing veterinary care, grooming and dog daycare center groups in the country, stepped in. Over the past few months, Heart + Paw team has been upgrading equipment, installing new technology and hiring veterinarians, technicians and staff.

“We are honored by the opportunity to re-open this clinic and again become a trusted and flourishing service to the community,” David Lasus, CEO of Heart + Paw, said in the news release.

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The practice’s lead veterinarian, Dr. Brittany Cole, has experience in general practice as well as in mobile medicine. Cole is a graduate of the University of Glasgow School of Veterinary Medicine and a Maryland native who now lives in the area.

Mid-Atlantic Veterinary Hospital will host a grand reopening in the next few months. Details are forthcoming.

New electric vehicle charging station open

EVgo Inc. has opened an electric vehicle fast-charging station in the Valley Park Commons off Wesel Boulevard.

The shopping center is home to Sam's Club, Martin's grocery and other businesses. The four-stall charging station, at 1580 Wesel Blvd., was unveiled during a ceremony April 25.

EVgo, which bills itself as the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles, has opened a new station in the Valley Park Commons shopping center off Wesel Boulevard.
EVgo, which bills itself as the nation’s largest public fast charging network for electric vehicles, has opened a new station in the Valley Park Commons shopping center off Wesel Boulevard.

“The electric vehicle charging station in Hagerstown, which will charge four vehicles at a time, is a particular point of pride for us because it is the first to be completed and operating as part of our Electric Corridors Grant Program in Maryland," Suzanne Dorsey, assistant secretary of the Maryland Department of the Environment, said in a news release. "Our partnership with EVgo has resulted in this station and four other stations — in Oxon Hill, Silver Spring, Towson and Halethorpe — will be similar to this one."

The new station was primarily built in partnership with Nissan and partially funded through Maryland’s Electric Corridor Grant Program, according to EVgo.

Mike Lewis covers business, the economy and other issues. Follow Mike on Twitter at MiLewis.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: Houses proposed for Hagerstown; changes at restaurant, pet hospital